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Alexander Dean

mikejee

Super Moderator
Staff member
Alexander Dean was an engineer and millwright , born in Scotland around 1810. By 1841 he is living in Lower Hurst St, together with his wife Elizabeth and two other engineer millwrights, William Dean (20) and George Harkes (20), William presumably being his younger brother. In the 1841 directory he is listed as engineer and machine and portable corn mill maker, at 229 Sherlock St., just round the corner from Hurst St, having just separated from a partnership with Evan Evans, having paid off debts himself and moved his works from Cambridge St.
aris.b.gaz. 5.4.1841.jpg.
By the 1845 directory Alexander has moved to 116 New Canal St as an engineer, millwright, machinist & manufacturer of agricultural implements and at that sddress for some time he was in partnership with Geroge Ryland, George presumably being the monetary partner, though this partnership split in 1848.

aris.birm gaz. 27.11.1848.jpg

By this time , however Alexander's firm was becoming well known for it's innovative and useful machines and was winning prizes for them, and by 1855 iits advertisements covered a wide range of items

Alexander dean. Pictorial times.7.3.1846.jpgAris Birm Gaz,19.1.1846.jpgaris birm gaz. 4.7.1842.jpgaris birm gaz. 17.7.1843.jpgFarmers magazine 1849.jpgadvert po directory 1855.jpg
It would appear that in 1857 the firm was dissolved, in that another firm took over its patterns and the premises became vacant. He certainly seems to have come down in the world , as in the 1861 census he describes himself as a machinist, but he is listed as exhibiting at the Warwickshire Agricultural show at Aston Hall in 1862, presumably as an independent engineer or as an employee or on behalf of William Powell , 36,37 Aston road

aston park show warw.agr soc.birm ga,19.9.1862.jpg
 
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