11 Avenue Road Chelmsford, England CM2 9TY
William Marshall, Sons & Company of Gainsborough, Lincoln,
United Kingdom, have been engaged in the design and manufacture of
agricultural implements and machines since 1848 right through to
the present time. A fascinating book on the history of the firm has
just been written by Michael Lane, entitled The Story of the
Britannia Iron Works.
It is a most detailed and comprehensive account of the artifacts
manufactured by Marshall’s over almost 150 years, and also
gives an insight into the growth and evolution of the firm and of
the personalities involved.
Marshall tandem roller, Works No. 87125, built in 1933. It has
steam steering with instant reverse and a vertical boiler. Photo
taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair 1991.
Marshall portable, works No. 86161, built in 1931. It’s
driving a rack saw bench which was made in 1852. Photo taken at the
Amberly Chalk Pits Museum in 1989.
In its early days Marshall’s concentrated on the design and
production of threshing machines, then in 1857 it produced its
first portable steam engine. Twenty years later the first steam
traction engine left the Britannia Works, and in 1894 steam rollers
began to be manufactured there. Although Marshall’s built an
experimental gas engine in 1881, it was not until 1906 that their
first internal combustion powered tractor left the factory. From
then on, although producing steam powered engines for about another
30 years, much effort was applied to improving the internal
combustion tractor, culminating in the present day production of
their well known Track-Marshall range. Meanwhile, as steam powered
vehicles were being phased out, a whole range of diesel engined
rollers began to be produced.
Marshall 8 ton steam roller, Works No. 79669, built in 1925.
This was the last steam roller to be used by a local Council and
was retired in 1983 after working for that time. Photo taken at the
Amberly Chalk Pits Museum in 1989.
The author takes the reader through all these design and model
changes to both steam and internal combustion powered machines, and
touches on such matters as the use of the Corliss oscillating valve
which was patented by George H. Corliss, the owner of Corliss,
Nightingale & Company of Rhode Island, for which Marshall’s
became the sole licensee in the United Kingdom. Mention is also
made of the 1923 Millars-Marshall tandem steam roller, which was
based on an American patent, and of the subsidiary company, set up
in the United States, of Marshall-Richards. Although the main
thrust of the book is the definitive descriptive illustrations and
detail of all the Marshall engines and tractors over almost 150
years, the author does not lose sight of the fact that
Marshall’s were engaged, over a long period, in the manufacture
of stationary engines, boilers, flax harvesting machines, drilling
rigs, cement and concrete mixing machines, saw benches, etc. Also,
during the First World War, they built Bristol fighter aircraft,
and in the Second World War they made naval gun mountings,
ammunition hoists, rocket launching platforms, pom-pom guns and
ammunition. They even built four very hush-hush miniature
submarines (X-Craft) which were used to blow up German ships in the
Norwegian fjords. It might be thought that a factual account of the
history of a particular firm might be as dry as dust but this is
certainly not the case in this book. The author, Michael Lane, is a
former Chairman of the National Traction Engine Trust and has from
a very early age been keenly interested in steam engines,
especially railway locomotives and traction engines. He was the
owner of the magnificent 1925 Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive;
called Ex-Mayor, Works No. 4000, and he spent many years on its
full restoration. He has written several other books including The
Story of the Steam Plough Works which is the history of John Fowler
(Leeds) Ltd., and all are written in a lucid and easily readable
style.
The Story of the Britannia Iron Works, in 8? inch by 12 inch
format, with over 300 illustrations, would make an attractive
addition to anyone’s library but it is almost essential reading
for Marshall collectors and enthusiasts or for those interested in
the evolution of design and manufacture of engines in the United
Kingdom.
The book can be bought from booksellers in the United States, or
from Cimino Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 174, Carle Place, New
York, NY 11514, telephone 516-997-3721. The price per copy is
$42.00 at press time.
Pat Freeman is the Publicity Officer of the Road Roller
Association. Should you wish to join the RRA or wish for any
information on British engines, please write to him.
