The following was compiled by Miss E. Shuttleworth, Mr. L.R. Smith, and
Mr. T. Gardner and was presented to Mr. Francis W. Smith Esq. on his
retirement on 28 December 1955 after 50 years with Dilworth & Carr
Ltd., Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, England
In September 1905, Mr. Francis Walter Smith joined
Dilworth & Carr Limited in a junior capacity. No doubt, on that
day, when he first entered the building, he little realised that the
greatest part of his next fifty years would be spent there.
The
firm at that time were interested principally in the installation of
central heating plants, and the foundry was engaged in a small way on
the casting of socket and spigot piping.
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It was realized after a short time that Mr. Smith's abilities were such
that he could be more usefully employed in obtaining orders, and he
therefore became the outside representative of the firm. His keenness
and initiative were so appreciated that by 1912 he had been appointed
Secretary and also Director of the Company.
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For many years the Firm has supplied boilers to
market gardeners and the heating trade, apart from using them in its
own heating installations, and the first pattern for the 'C' Type
Ribble Boiler was made in 1913. Also during the same year the first
consignment of flanged pipes was sent to the Ship Street Barracks,
Dublin. These pipes were only 4" and 6" diameter, but it was from this
small beginning that the foundry gradually developed this type of
casting.
It is interesting to note that during this period the Firm purchased
their first machine - a drill made by William Allen of Manchester, and
this is still used for rough drilling work.
Early in the first World War, Mr. Carr, the Managing Director, joined
the Forces and was killed in action within a few weeks of landing in
France, and Mr. Smith was appointed to succeed him as Managing Director
at the early age of 33 years.
At the time of his appointment, there was an overdraft of £12,000
and a scarcity of work, but Mr. Smith, with his usual business acumen,
realised that our resources were not being utilised by the Government
Departments for the war effort, and various officials were contacted
with the result that a considerable volume of orders were received for
the manufacture of bombs and other war material.
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During the war, one of the largest heating contracts ever carried out
by the firm was secured at the White Lund Munitions Works, Morecambe,
the final figure being in the region of £60,000.
The Red Lion Tavern, which adjoined the offices at that time, was
condemned by the local authorities as a drinking house and its licence
was not renewed, so the Firm purchased these premises and they were
used for quite some time as a store.
In 1917 an extension was made to the foundry, which today is kown as
the Scotch Foundry. This was necessitated owing to the increased amount
of foundry work which resulted from the large number of orders received
for flange pipes and socket and spigot pipes.
Shortly after the war it was felt that the business should be expanded
to cover the southern area of England, and in 1920 the London Office
was opened at 59/61, New Oxford Street.
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During the "twenties" the activities of the company were still confined
to the heating and ventilating contracts, but the foundry increased its
output and capacity to produce larger types of flanged castings up to
48" bore.
1922 was the year of the Preston Guild, and a display of the Firm's
more popular products was included in the Guild procession.
In 1924 the London Office was moved to larger premises in Russell
Square to cope with the additional contracts in the southern area.
During the early part of the 1930's the Firm suffered, along with the
rest of the country, owing to the depression, but old employees still
often remark that, although there was a shortage of work, the Firm did
not stand off any workmen, and kept them employed at a time when many
other firms were having to close down.
It was in 1932 that Mr. Smith first contacted a firm in London with a
view to making emulsifiers for them, and later the first order was
received. This business has gradually expanded until today the Firm is
solely responsible to these customers for the major portion of their
products, which involve the making of special castings of a very high
standard.
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Round about the same time the Company was approached by another firm to
make their Underfeed Stokers, and several hundred of these were
manufactured, which entailed additional work in the Foundry and also in
the Fitting Shops in building up the complete assemblies.
In 1934 the Firm started making Superchargers and the offices were
extended (using the site of the Red Lion Tavern) to accomodate the
extra staff required, and new workshops were built for the assembling
and testing of the superchargers.
The activities of the Heating Department were developed to include the
fitting up of hotels with hot and cold water supplies, and a special
literature was compiled by Mr. Smith for the purpose of advertising to
the Hotel trade.
In 1936 the Company received its first order from The United Glass
Bottle Manufacturers Ltd., for machining spare parts, and in 1937 the
machining of parts for the Aircraft Industry commenced.
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The presentation of a silver salver was made to
Mr. Smith on October 27th, 1939, on the completion of 25 years' service
with the Company as Managing Director. The following is a copy of the
presentation speech made by Mr. Makin:-
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Threlfall, ladies and gentlemen, you are called to this
rather informal but interesting gathering on the occasion of the
completion of 25 years' service by Mr. F.W. Smith as managing director
of this company.
"It is my privilege to have been with him for the whole of that period
and under his leadership to have seen the progress of Dilworth &
Carr Limited.
"I am also proud to have the honour of making him, on your behalf, a
small present to which you have all willingly subscribed.
"As you are no doubt aware, I am the oldest serving member of the
staff, and I recall the time of Mr. Smith's appointment - a time when
the firm was a small concern compared with its position today.
"The Company's progress has been due in no small way to Mr. Smith's
leadership and management. The outbreak of the last war called for
expansion in modern methods and machinery, owing to the changes in
industry. The situation was taken in hand immediately to meet war-time
demands. |  |
"The post-war period called for tact and ability to meet the slump in
trade which followed and, with his usual determination as a background,
the firm survived with a steady although depleted trade.
"In my experience I have always found Mr. Smith resolute and firm, and
of sound judgement, and I am sure that everyone who has come into
contact with him must agree that they have generally received a square
deal.
"Ther have been time when small differences have cropped up, but personally I have always agreed that the best man won.
"It is perhaps expecting too much to hope that Mr. Smith may be here
for another 25 years, but I am sure I am voicing the feelings of all
present when I say I hope a good many more years may be set aside in
which the firm may continue to bebefit by his guidance.
"And now I will ask Mr. Smith to accept this Salver as a small token of
appreciation from the members of the staff (including London Office),
and I trust it will serve as a tender reminder of their appreciation of
your valuable services."
Preston-October 27th, 1939
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With the end of the war came the re-adjustment of production, and the
turn over to goods required for peace-time pursuits. The output of
parts for The United Glass Bottle Manufacturers was greatly increased,
and the manufacture of complete machines for this Company began. The
first machine built was the Uprighter, and since then sixteen of these
have been made. It is interesting to record that the first Uprighter
was assembled from photographs as no assembly drawings were available.
The Firm found itself inundated with orders for flanged pipes, the
majority of which were required to equip Power Stations, not only in
this country, but all over the world. At one period the Firm's Order
Book included orders for 35 stations. Apart from the flanged piping, a
large volume of work was received for assemblies in connection with Ash
Handling Plant for Power Stations.
Female labour in the Machine Shops was dispensed with as the type of
work in which the shops were now engaged did not require unskilled
labour, and the skilled labour force was strengthened by the return of
many employees whose services had been lost during the war.
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On the night of 29th February, 1948, the Pattern Shop was destroyed by
fire. It was replaced by a more modern building, and the opportunity
was seized to equip it with up-to-date machinery.
In April 1950, a presentation was made by the Firm to sixteen employees
who had been with the Company for 20 years or over, Mr. F.W. Smith
making the presentation on behalf of the Directors. The employees
concerned are listed below:- |
| NAME | Years of
Service | NAME | Years of
Service | NAME | Years of
Service |
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| Andrew Alexander | 30 | James Brown | 25 | Thomas Hindle | 22 |
| James McLay | 29 | John Nightingale | 24 | Joseph Atkinson | 21 |
| Leslie R. Smith | 28 | Thomas Parkinson | 24 | Thomas Briggs | 21 |
| Harry Hancox | 27 | John Atkinson | 23 | Richard Farnworth | 21 |
| Richard James | 27 | Clifford Green | 23 | Thomas Harrison | 20 |
| Robert Hodson | 26 |
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In 1950, the controlling interest of the Company
was taken over by the United Glass Bottle Manufacturers Ltd., Mr. Smith
retaining his position of Chairman and Managing Director.
The nature of the Company's business remained the same after this
amalgamation, but a considerable impetus was given to the manufacture
of complete machines for glass bottle making of a larger size than had
hitherto been attempted, the largest of these being the Westlake
Machine for the manufacture of stemware.
In 1951 it was realised that the existing cupola, which had given
yeoman service, would not last very much longer, and an additional
cupola of 5 ton capacity and mechanically charged was therefore
installed.
About this time also a lease was negotiated with the owners of Ribble
Bank Mills to acquire the premises for the storage of patterns. The
ground floor was re-arranged so that the assembly of large machines
could take place in this building, thus avoiding congestion in the
existing machine shops. |  |
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On April 11th, 1951, Mr. Smith had the honour of being presented to His
Majesty, The Late King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Mr. Smith was presented in his capacity as Vice-President of the
Preston & District Engineering Employers' Federation.
The Folowing is an extract from the "Lancashire Evening Post" in connection with this occasion:-
"The King, Queen and Princess margaret signed the visitors' book, watched by attendant William Hogg. |
"The Mayor then presented Mr. Julian Amery (M.P. Preston North), Mr.
E.A.A. Shackleton (M.P. Preston South), Alderman F. Jamieson (Deputy
Mayor) and Mrs. Jamieson, Alderman Mrs. Pimblett (Honorary Freeman of
the borough), Alderman R.C. and Mrs. Pye, Alderman W. and Mrs Beckett,
Alderman J. Herbert, Alderman A. Wilson, Councillor J.F. Gray,
Councillor J.W. Taylor and Mrs. Taylor, Councillor Mrs. M.A. Wignall,
Mrs. W.E.E. Lockley (wife of the Town Clerk), Mrs. H. Garth (wife of
the Chief Constable), Mr. W. Allison Davies (President, Preston and
Chorley Hospital Managemant Committee), Rev. W.G. Fallows (Vicar of
Preston), and the Very Rev. Father F. McGuiness (Roman Catholic
Church), Rev. N. Armstrong, minister at Lancaster Road Congregational
Church.
"Mr. Edward G. Lee (Preston Textile Employers), Miss Jessie Watson
(Preston Textile Employees), Mr. F.W. Smith (Preston Engineering
Employers), and Mr. Robert Bamber (Preston Engineering Employees)."
At the present time the Firm's activities are
restricted by the limitation of manpower, but the volume of turnover
continues to increase, the 1954 figure being the highest in the history
of the Company.
Although most people associated with Dilworth & Carr Ltd., realise
that it is principally through Mr. Smith's efforts that the Firm has
grown from its humble beginnings to its present position, they do not
all fully appreciate the immense amount of time and energy, very often
at great personal inconvenience, that he has expended to bring about
the present status of the Company.
He was a season ticket holder on the London,Midland & Scottish
Railway for 40 years, covering journeys from Glasgow to London, and he
invariably made the journey to London twice a week, and on one
occasion, three time in the same week. He left no stone unturned in his
endeavour to obtain orders, and at one time during the slump period, he
made the journey to the North of Ireland for the sole purpose of
obtaining an order to the value of £60.
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Not sparing himself in his efforts to increase the business turnover of
the firm, he expected the same enthusiasm from his staff, and generally
this was given wholeheartedly. He inspired loyalty and devotion to the
firm, as is proved by the large number of employees who have been with
him for over twenty, and in a few cases, over thirty years.
All his staff and many of the firm's customers will fel a grevious loss
on his retirement, and we can be certain that Mr. Smith's achievements
and personal magnetism will be a legend in the firm for many years to
come.
Go to Mr. Smith's Family Card
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