Binks Wire Rope Manufacturing
A History
early 1830s |
George Wright Binks was a
foreman Ropemaker at Woolwich Dockyard. (a) |
1834 |
G. W. Binks' first
experiments in the use of soft iron wire instead of hemp. (a) |
Mid 1830s |
Wire
Rope first used by fishermen in
Clinthorpe, in Lincolnshire (b) |
the first ship fitted out
to test the strength and working of wire rope was the vessel
'the Marshall of Grimsby'. (b) |
George Wright Binks convinced
the Royal Navy to replace hemp rope on its fleet of ships with wire rope.
(c) |
Late 1830s |
G. W. Binks's work was connected
with some of the pioneering wire-rope manufacture carried out by Andrew
Smith & Company in Millwall. (a) |
Abt 1853 |
G. W. Binks
went into partnership with
James
Stephenson in Millwall to make wire-rope. (a) |
July 31, 1858 |
We learn from a foreign exchange that a series of experiments were
recently made at the Woolwich dockyard, England, to test the comparative
strength of wire ropes manufactured by Messrs. Binks & Stephenson, under a
new patent, and those made under an old one. The new ropes were made of
the patent wire invented and manufactured by Webster & Horsfall,
Birmingham, which is unquestionably the most remarkable yet produced, the
weight which a very small sized coil will bear is almost incredible. The
breaking strain, under the old patent and under the new, may be best
judged by the comparison made. Thus, an inch and a quarter rope, made
under the old patent, broke under a weight of 2 tons 5cwt, while under the
new, to break the same thickness, it required no less than 4 tons 19 cwt.
A weight of 4 tons 6 cwt broke a rope of two inches diameter, made under
the old patent, while it required 9 tons 10 cwt. to break one of the same
size under the new patent. The British Board of Admiralty have the matter
under consideration, with a view to its application to the rigging of the
ships of the Royal Navy. It may not be generally known, but it is none the
less a fact, that a portion of several miles' length of the Atlantic cable
(where it is supposed the greatest strain will be exerted) is made of this
very wire of Webster & Horsfall. The wonderful superiority in point of
tenacity of this patent iron wire may be judged from the fact that a
single strand of No. 9 (about the thickness of about one eighth of an
inch) will bear 3,390 pounds before snapping, whilst the same sized
strand, made of the "best charcoal iron" snaps at 1,250 pounds weight.
We understand that there is an agent of Messrs. Webster & Horsfall in
New York, who is about making an arrangement for the introduction of the
wire rope of these manufacturers into this country. (Scientific
American, 31.07.1858)
Source:
http://geocities.com/threesixesinarow/webster.htm
|
Abt 1860 |
The Binks & Stephenson partnership broke up. James Stephenson
went on to make wire-rope and submarine cable at Joad &
Curling's old premises on the north side of Cuba Street. (a) |
October 21, 1862 |
Daily News , (Kingston ), Oct. 21, 1862
ROUND WIRE ROPE
For Ship's Standing Rigging, Jib Stays, etc.
The subscriber informs the owners and masters of vessels, that he has been
appointed by Binks & Brothers, of London, makers to the Admiralty, their
agent for Western Canada for the sale of their Patent Wire Rope. This rope
costs one quarter less than hemp rope, is more durable, is always taut,
and is much neater than the old style. The barque British Lion is fitted
up with wire rope furnished by these manufacturers.
The following are the circumferences of rope manufactured by Binks &
Brothers:- 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 3, 3 1/4, 3 1/2, 3 3/4,
4, 4 1/4, 4 1/2, 4 3/4, and 5 inches.
Price Lists and all further information can be obtained on applications to
R. Gaskin, Agent for Western Canada. Kingston, Oct. 20th
|
Abt 1863 |
The firm of Binks
Brothers moved to
Strafford Street.
(a) |
September 5, 1908 |
The company named Binks Brothers Limited was
formed to acquire and take over the business carried out by
Jabez Binks, Arthur William Binks & Thomas William Graham at
Strafford Street, Millwall, East London.
The above were named as the Directors. (d)
|
1908 |
The Company Secretary was Henry George Raffan (d) |
1912 |
Edith Pollie Binks* was made a Director in place of Jabez Binks
who had died. (d)
*Polly Edith Binks
(Daughter of Jabez Binks) |
Probably 1912 |
Robert Raffan, a foreman at the works, who
lived at 105 Denmark Street, Plaistow was made a Director as was
Henry George Raffan, Company Secretary, living at 31 Wallwood
Street, Burdett Road. On the Company documents Robert and Henry
were noted as Ordinary New Directors. (d)
|
December 18, 1943 |
Robert Raffan died. Henry George Raffan’s
address was 71 Sandringham Road, New Barking. Arthur William
Binks and Henry George Raffan were also Directors of Hawkins(?)
Binks Limited. (d)
|
March 20, 1954 |
an Extraordinary General
Meeting was held at Great Tree, Chagford, Devon to agree a
Special Resolution. |
July 28, 1954 |
An EGM was held at 14
Strafford Street, Millwall. The documents were signed by
R.H.Raffan, Chairman and Director and R.D.Fraser Secretary. |
1964 |
The
Greater
London Council (GLC) issued an order for compulsory purchase of
the works. (a) |
1970 |
The works finally closed in 1970, Binks Brothers Ltd being taken
over by British Ropes Ltd, which moved the business to Charlton.
(a) |
Wire and Fibre Ropes -
A report on the supply and exports of wire rope, fibre rope and
cordage
Presented to Parliament
in pursuance of Section 9 of the Monopolies and
Restrictive Practices
(Inquiry and Control) Act 1948 - Ordered by The House of Commons to
be printed 20th November 1973
Chapter 3 (page 16)
.........British Ropes Limited was formed in 1924 by a merger of 8
companies of
which 7 were manufacturers of wire rope and one a manufacturer of
binder
twine. In 1925-26 9 more wire rope manufacturers, 4 specialist
wire drawers and
4 fibre rope manufacturers entered the group. The group acquired
further
interests in soft fibre cordage and related products in the
1930's. Over the years
a number of factories were closed and a considerable amount of
re-organisation
effected with the result that by the end of 1945 the group had 7
wire rope
factories and 4 fibre rope factories of which one produced
substantial quantities
of soft as well as hard fibre cordage.
In 1948 the Bristol Wire Rope Company Limited and in 1954 Wm Cooke
&
Company Limited, both manufacturers of wire ropes became
subsidiaries of
British Ropes (it had an interest in BWR since 1925 and in Cooke
since 1948).
From 1959 onwards the company's most important acquisitions in the
United
Kingdom were the following:
Date of Acquisition |
Company |
1959 |
R Hood Haggie & Son Ltd |
1962 |
D Morgan Rees & Sons Ltd |
George Elliott & Co Ltd |
1963 |
Newburn Cordage Ltd |
1963 |
Garnock Bibby & Co Ltd |
1963 |
Wrights Ropes Ltd |
1967 |
The London Spinning Co Ltd |
1967 |
Webster & Co Ltd |
1968 |
Healey Brothers Ltd |
1970 |
Binks Brothers Ltd |
1971 |
The Gourock Ropework Co Ltd |
|
May 29, 1970 |
Miss K.S. Raffan and Mr.
R.H. Raffan resigned as Directors. (d) |
April 12, 1973 |
EGM documents were signed
by P.C.Ambrose Secretary. (d) |
May ?, 1975 |
The Annual Return of
Binks Brothers was presented by Bridon Limited of Doncaster (a
company within British Ropes and now all part of FKI plc). Noted
on the return was an agreement by Bridon to acquire the share
capital of Binks Brothers. (d)
The shareholders were
D.L.Raffan, Bridge End,81 The Ridgeway,
Westcliffe On Sea
S.R.Raffan, 13 Cliff Parade, Leigh On Sea.
S.R.& D.L Raffan, as above.
Personal Representative of H.A. Brown
deceased
Personal Representative of A.M. Brown
deceased
A.M. Blamires, Leeds
D.E.S Meek, New Zealand
R.H.Raffan, 18 Stonehall Avenue, Ilford.
K.S.Raffan as above
E. Raffan as above
R.D. Fraser, 7 Woodstock Road, Croydon.
Bridon Limited
The company had not traded during
1977.
??????
At winding up the Registered Office was Warmsworth Hall,
Doncaster.
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