• NARRATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY.
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The Evolution of the Prominent Concerns in the British Commercial Vehicle Industry which have Made History by the Pursuit of a Progressive Policy.
JOHN FOWLER AND CO., LTD.
ItTOST OF those makers of petrol-propelled vehicles who AIL figure prominently in the commercial-vehicle industry of to-day have been established during the twentieth century, for, prior to this period, the merits of this class of vehicle for goods and passenger • transport had not been adequately proved, although early experimenters had sufficient faith4in their efforts to perceive the market which would ultimately exist. for it. In the case of the steam vehicle, however, this obsen, vation does not truly apply, formany of the present-day ina.nufaeturert of machines of this type have been intimately connected with some branch of general engineering for many years. In some cases then' association dates back to the middle of the past century, for the use of steam for power purposes, particularly in connection with the requirements of the agriculturist, was experimented with long before consideration was given to the possible use of a volatile fuel,
In fact, we think it probably true to say that most of the modern manufacturers of steam tractors and certain mechanical plant for use in connection with the tillage of land were.primarily interested in the early days of their formation with the manufacture of horse-drawn' cultivating machinery. 'With the arrival of the mechanical age they have, of course, been compelled to keep abreast of the times, and their activities are now chiefly associated with the production of various forms of vehicle for use on the farm and on the road.
We can cite John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., as an example of the evolution of a company from •the era-of the
horse-drawn appliance to that of the mechanical vehicle, and can best give an indication of the progress which they have made by giving a short epitome of their growth and development.
'fhe,company was founded in 1850 '.by Mr. John Fowler, who was born at Melksharo, Wilts., on July 11th, 1826. Mr. Fowler had a concise knowledge of the clay lands of Essex and of the need for some efficient system of drainage, and he accordingly introduced mole draining by portable engine and winding dram, and he exhibited examples of his invention at the West of England Shows in 1850 and received awards for them. He had work carried out for him at the Airedale Foundry, Hunslet, then controlled by Messrs. Kitson and Hewitson and by Messrs. Stephenson, who had works in Newcastle, where a double-drum windlass tackle driven by a portable engine was manufactured. At this period the principle of the balance plough -was evolved, and the first appliances of this kind were constructed with main beams of wood.
The present works of the company in Hunslet, Leeds, were established by Mr. Fowler in 1860, and in 1864 he came into touch with Mr. D. Greig, of Harviestan, Kincardineshire, with the resta that the latter was eventually induced to join him as pra-ctical adviser and a partnership reaulted. After Mr. John Fowler's death Mr. Greig had as partners Messrs. William, Robert and Barnard Fowler and Mr. R. W. Eddison and Mr. R. Wigram. All the original partners are now deceased, but on the early foundations laid by these pioneers their worthy successors have built up an.extensive business.
The principal product of the company in their early days was cultivating machinery, for which they acquired a worldwide reputation Ten years after the formation of the company, a Continental branch was established at Magdeburg, Germany, from which date up to 1914 a very extensive business was conducted, the machinery produced in these works being emplc.yed in tillage of land for the growth of cereals, beet sugar, vines and other crops. The year 1887 saw the company undertaking manylarge and important contracts in the field of general engineering in addition to agricultural work, and locomotives, winding engines, steam portable engines, stationary engines and electric light and power installations figured on the manufacturing programme. By a process of evolution at the works and the establishment of branches abroad, it was found that steam ploughing machinery and traction engines would keep the works occupied to its full capacity. Since that date the works have expanded in a marked degree; and in addition to this plant the company have made specialities of light railway machinery and road-making plant., under the latter heading being steam and road rollers, road spraying and resurfacing plant, scarifiers, water-carts, etc., the most recent addition to their long list of manufactures being the construction of concrete-mixing and chuting plants, stone and rock crushers, etc.
The history of the company in recent years is linked up with the activities of Mr. Alfred Fowler and Mr. R. H. Fowler, nephews of the founder. Mr. R. H. Fowler died in May, 1919, and to his credit stands a record of mechanical and commercial ability of the highest order. During his 30 years as chairman and managing director he was admitted on all sides to be one of the greatest authorities on cultivation by mechanical means. He joined the company in 1876, and by his zeal and enthusiasm developed and extended the business Sounded by his predecessors. The patent office records provide ample evidence of his constant readiness to encourage the use of contrivances to reduce manual labour and to place the products of the company in the front line so far as the 'application of mechanical power to agriculture was concerned. _During the Boer War the company supplied numerous traction engines of every description for hauling wagon loads of troops, ammunition, stores, etc., and in addition many armoured road trains. In the •Great War they played a prominent part in connection with the manufacture of heavy gun carriages, the Paravane (a device used with success against the submarines) and Tanks of various types. After the death of Mr. R. H. Fowler, his son, Mr. C. H. Fowler, took over the position of managing director, a post which he holds at the present time. He has had a unique experience in both practice and theory, and his exhaustive knowledge can be relied upon to stand the company in good stead in future developments which may be planned. The company's first -commercial road vehicle was 'manufactured in the year 1904, this being a three-cylinder tractor fitted with a Walschaert valve gear. It was sprung both at the front and rear and was provided with ■two speeds. Three years later a similar type of tractor was being produced, but it incorporated certain improvements in its design, and both the front and rear wheels had been reduced in size..
In 1908 a compound-cylinder tractor fitted with Firth's valve gear was constructed, and eight years later a compoundcylinder tractor fitted with Stephenson's link motion was put into production, and so satisfactory has this last-named vehicle proved to be in actual service that it is still being made at the present day with but slight modifications to the criginal design.
The general design of certain of the company's early and modern tractors can be gleaned from the pictures which we reproduce, although it is not possible to make comparisons of details of construction. All these tractors were built to weigh about 5 tons in working order, BO that they come within the compass of the Heavy Motor Car Act. The company's modern Herculestractor weighs 7k tons and falls within the provisions of the Light Locomotives Act.
Some idea of the growth of the company can, be adduced from the fact that in 1860 the space taken up for the manufacture of vehicles was four acres, whereas at the present time the works devoted to the production of similar machines covers approximately 16 acres.