May & Co Engine Maker

[Heartland]

This engine was part of the exhibits at the 1862 Great Exhibition
May were Birmingham maker of fixed steam engines

 

[mikejee]

This would presumably be Walter May and co, who then were at the Suffolk Works in Berkley St. In the mid 1880s the Suffolk Works are shown in red on the map, though they may not have been as extensive in 1861

 

[Pedrocut]

1863 Walter May shown also at Tennant Street.

 

[Pedrocut]

1862 International Exhibition - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[superdad3]

Later became May & Mountain. Went into liquidation in 1880.

 

[Richard Dye]

This would presumably be Walter May and co, who then were at the Suffolk Works in Berkley St. In the mid 1880s the Suffolk Works are shown in red on the map, though they may not have been as extensive in 1861

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A little off topic but looking at Mikes map, you can see SO many companies that have or are developing businesses with technology (probably did not use that term then) that would help propel innovation to new levels. I understand that many/most did not make the long term but they helped create a foundation. Maybe I am just a romantic but hats off to all of those companies and their leaders!

 

[superdad3]

A little off topic but looking at Mikes map, you can see SO many companies that have or are developing businesses with technology (probably did not use that term then) that would help propel innovation to new levels. I understand that many/most did not make the long term but they helped create a foundation. Maybe I am just a romantic but hats off to all of those companies and their leaders!

I couldn't agree with you more. Links with Birmingham Industry and entrepreneurs are everywhere you look. Just looking at the history of Blackpool Tower and blow me, guess who made the steelwork? The same engineering company who made the steel girders for the original Austin Works! It was Heenan & Froude. Originally a Manchester company, they opened a works in Aston Lane, in 1886. Sadly the works was transferred tio Worcester in 1903.

 

[Richard Dye]

I couldn't agree with you more. Links with Birmingham Industry and entrepreneurs are everywhere you look. Just looking at the history of Blackpool Tower and blow me, guess who made the steelwork? The same engineering company who made the steel girders for the original Austin Works! It was Heenan & Froude. Originally a Manchester company, they opened a works in Aston Lane, in 1886. Sadly the works was transferred tio Worcester in 1903.

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That is exciting to see so many ships utilizing the spherical engines in one year, so long ago. Having spent most of my life trying to come up with ideas and better ways to do things, the first time out is the most difficult. That’s what Birmingham factories did. In part because Britain was probably the first industrialized nation and Birmingham was the city of 1,000 trades. Derivative ideas were considerably less difficult to develop than the original original!