Butler Machine Tool Co
of Victoria Iron works, Adelaide Street, and Mile Thorn, Halifax
Founded by James Ryder Butler who was an apprentice engineer at the Dean Clough Mills in the 1850s.
1868 J. Butler and Co was founded by James Butler.[1]
By 1872 he had changed from making textile machinery to machine tools.
1876 The partnership between George Dennis and James Butler, machine tool makers of Halifax, was dissolved[2] (or this was on 1879 according to the obituary of James Butler).
1880 Butlers moved into premises on Adelaide Street, Halifax which included a foundry.
1917 The larger Mile Thorn Works opened a short distance away, in addition to the Adelaide Street works. This company made a wide range of machines including lathes and planing machines.
1919 Private company incorporated[3] which acquired J. Butler and Co; Harold Butler, son of the founder, was chairman and managing director.
1926 'The news of the death of Mr. R. H. Hayhurst which took place at his residence, 36, Clapton-mount, late on Saturday night, will come with great regret to his many friends in Halifax. Mr. Hayhurst had not enjoyed the best of health for some time past; but he went to his work occasionally until the last few weeks. He was not a native of Halifax, being born in Wyresdale, near Lancaster, 68 year. ago. As a young man he went to Keighley, where he trained as a draughtsman with Mr. Croft Butterfield, and later was some time with Messrs. Dean, Smith and Grace of that town. From Keighley he went to Worcester, where he remained for five years. He left the latter town for Halifax to take up the position of chief draughtsman at Messrs. Butler's Machine Tool Works, with whom he was for the last 26 years. He always took a deep interest in scientific subjects. and for a good many years was an active and enthusiastic member of the Halifax Scientific Society. ...'[4]
1928 'HUGE MACHINE FOR NEW ZEALAND.
Made in a Halifax Workshop.
Visit of the High Commissioner.
An interesting visitor to Halifax, today, was the Hon. Sir C. James Parr, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for New Zealand, the purpose of his coming being to inspect a huge machine which has been built for the New Zealand Government railways by the Butler Machine Tool Co., Ltd., Halifax. ..... The machine the Butler Co. has built has a total weight of approximately 40 tons, and its title is a "Sixty inch draw-cut shaper." It is a general purpose machine, capable of planing, shaping, boring, milling and drilling. The main stroke bar is steel forging ten inches square, and is bored to carry a five inch boring bar through the centre. The main carriage, which carries the bar, is mounted on a massive column, which in turn slides on a long bed. The work table is 12 ft. square, and carries various smaller tables and jigs for accommodating such pieces as locomotive cylinders. The main driving motor is 15 h.p., and provides numerous speeds. A 7½ h.p. motor on the carriage controls all the quick-power adjustments. The machine is operated from the front, complete with complete electrical controls (by the Metropolitan Vickers Electric Co., Manchester), and the whole carriage is balanced by a counter-weight of 6½ tons, which slides up and down inside the column. The machine, which has 6 ft. of travel, horizontally and vertically, was set in motion for the High Commissioner and the rest of the party of inspection, and keen interest taken in its work.'[5]
1935 Description of 48-inch stroke shaping machine. It could also be adapted for milling.[6]
Member of the Associated British Machine Tool Makers Ltd
1936 Extension at Mile Thorn
1937 Public company incorporated to acquire the business and assets of the private company of similar name with Harold Butler and several other Butlers as directors[7]
1961 Machine tool makers specialising in planing, slotting and shaping machines ranging from 2/10 tons and heavy machines up to 150 tons. [8]
Early 1960s recession in the machine tool industry, especially the heavy machines used by shipbuilding and other heavy industries
1966 Acquired by B. Elliott and Co which aimed to grow to a size comparable with other machine tool groups[9]
1968 Plano-milling machine. [10]
1972 Received support for a project from government programme for the machine tool industry [11]
By 1974 the company was reporting its results separately, described as part of the B. Elliott Group.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Halifax Today
- ↑ The Times, Jan 21, 1937
- ↑ The Huddersfield Daily Chronicle, January 17, 1876
- ↑ The Times, Dec 30, 1919
- ↑ Halifax Evening Courier - Monday 24 May 1926
- ↑ Halifax Evening Courier - Tuesday 10 July 1928
- ↑ Engineering 1935/03/29
- ↑ The Times, Jan 21, 1937
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ The Times, Apr 28, 1966
- ↑ The Engineer of 16th August 1968 p258
- ↑ The Times, Mar 15, 1972