Harrison Castings 1911-2011

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 1

H A R R I S O N C A S T I N G S LT D

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 2

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 3

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 4

Harrison Castings Limited Gough Road, Leicester LE5 4AP, UK Telephone: +44 (0) 116 276 9351 Fax: +44 (0) 116 246 0199 Email: contacts@harrisoncastings.com Web: www.harrisoncastings.com

Produced by Hargrave Design This edition printed in March 2011 Š Harrison Castings 2011

Inside back cover photography

by Rosie Harrison

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 1

1

HARRISON CASTINGS

B A S E D I N L E I C E S T E R F O R 1 0 0 Y E A R S , H A R R I S O N C A S T I N G S LT D I S N O W T H E L A R G E S T A N D M O S T T E C H N I C A L LY A D VA N C E D A LU M I N I U M S A N D F O U N D RY I N T H E U K .

To celebrate our centenary we have produced this photographic record of the company’s earliest beginnings up to the present day. This record not only represents the history of Harrison Castings but also gives an insight into foundry life over three generations of family ownership.

Robert Charles Harrison. Founder of R.C. Harrison & Sons Ltd. 1874 - 1949

Its founder Robert Charles Harrison, who had already worked for 20 years from the age of 17 with iron founders S Russell & Sons, set up his own small foundry in the stables behind his home in the village of Keyham in 1911. Today the foundry employs 120 personnel and produces over 1,500 tons of aluminium sand castings per annum for national and international markets.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 2

2

HARRISON CASTINGS

Articles of indenture dated 1891

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 3

3

1911 - 2011

Robert Charles Harrison (founder of R.C. Harrison & Sons Ltd) was born in 1874 in Leicester.

At the age of 17 he was apprenticed to S. Russell & Sons (Iron Founders) of Leicester.

Staff at S Russell & Sons Leicester 1891 Robert Charles Harrison, aged 17, front row third from right

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:48

Page 4

4

HARRISON CASTINGS

In 1911 he left S Russell & Sons and established his own foundry in a stable at the rear of his home, The White House, Keyham in Leicestershire.

First employees of Robert Charles Harrison’s foundry in Keyham 1923. L-R: Tom Smith, Clarrie Timson, Tom Buswell.

Seated: Bert Sanderson, Len Perkins, Les Newcombe

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:49

Page 5

5

1911 - 2011

The Harrison children in a pump liner casting 1919

Clarrie Timson at work in the foundry

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:49

Page 6

6

HARRISON CASTINGS

In 1919 Robert Harrison purchased some derelict property in Causeway Lane, Leicester, and established another foundry.

In 1930 the foundry in Keyham was run

by Robert Harrison and the one in Causeway Lane by Rowles Harrison, both sons of the founder.

The company’s earliest customers included Gimson of Leicester, J. M. Smith (Coppersmiths), Dryad, and Worthington SImpson.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:49

Page 7

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:49

Page 8

8

HARRISON CASTINGS

In 1939 the Keyham foundry was closed and the Causeway Lane foundry was compulsorily purchased by the Leicester City Council.

The proceeds from the sale enabled a new foundry to be built in Gough Road.

Soon after, the company was incorporated and became known as R. C. Harrison & Sons Ltd.

The new foundry of R.C. Harrison & Sons, Gough Road, Leicester 1939

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:50

Page 9

9

1911 - 2011

Employees at the Gough Road foundry in 1940.

George Kirby, Jack Platt, Cliff Holmes, Johnny Williams and Charlie Latham

The same employees received their 25-year long service awards in 1965

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:50

Page 10

10

HARRISON CASTINGS

Rowles Harrison

Aluminium alloy compressor castings, used on the first jet engine to fly, designed

by Frank Whittle

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:51

Page 11

11

1911 - 2011

Compressor casings cast in 1941 for Frank Whittle’s company, Power Jets Ltd. The Gloster-Whittle E28/39 became the first turbojet powered aircraft to fly successfully.

A model of the first jet engine to fly, made at the Gough Road foundry.

Now in South Kensington Science Museum

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:52

Page 12

12

HARRISON CASTINGS

Aluminium castings produced in the Gough Road foundry during the 1940’s and 1950’s.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:53

Page 13

13

1911 - 2011

L-R Bill Randall & Charlie Latham, producing a sand mould for an aluminium beam casting

15ft long aluminium beam castings made for Wadkin Ltd, Leicester

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:53

Page 14

14

HARRISON CASTINGS

In 1949 Robert Charles Harrison died, and his sons Rowles and Robert became Joint Managing Directors.

Post war expansion brought further growth for the company.

Customers during this period included Wadkin, Jones & Shipman, Adcock & Shipley, Stibbe and British United Shoe Machinery.

J R Harrison, Managing Director 1949 - 1979

E R Harrison, Managing Director 1949 - 1976

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:53

Page 15

15

1911 - 2011

One of the largest aluminium castings ever to be made was cast at the Gough Road foundry in 1953.

15ft diameter, 4 tonne aluminium wheel made for Dunlop of Leicester

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:53

Page 16

16

HARRISON CASTINGS

Bronze Cross (10ft high) and candlesticks (7ft high) commissioned for St Paul’s Cathedral, London in 1958

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:54

Page 17

17

1911 - 2011

The Gough Road foundry in the 1950’s.

Members of the Institute of British Foundrymen visit the foundry in the 1950’s.

L-R, from man in white smock: George Turner, Rowles Harrison, Robert Harrison, Frank Large, Tony Sharp

Works outing to Skegness in the 1950’s.

L-R Rowles Harrison, Winifred Alsopp, office manager

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:54

Page 18

18

HARRISON CASTINGS

Castings produced at the Gough Road foundry during the 1960’s.

L-R Horace Gwinnett and Robert E Harrison

The training school was established in 1965 for foundry apprentices

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:55

Page 19

19

1911 - 2011

Aluminium casting for GEC turbines

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:55

Page 20

20

HARRISON CASTINGS

Jack Platt casting mould

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:55

Page 21

21

1911 - 2011

The foundry during the 1970’s.

Electric furnace installed in 1977

Santoch Singh and Tadeusz ‘Skud’ Szkudlapski casting bronze

Robert and David Harrison, sons of Rowles Harrison, appointed joint Managing Directors in 1979

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:56

Page 22

22

HARRISON CASTINGS

The foundry during the 1980’s.

In 1988 the company became jointly owned by Robert & Peter Harrison, grandsons of the founder.

Board of Directors, 1986.

L-R Peter Harrison, Terry Lock, Robert Harrison, Rowles Harrison, David Harrison, Tony Sharp and Brian Harrison

75 year anniversary stand at the NEC in 1986

New diecast foundry.

Brian Harrison is pictured centre in white coat

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:57

Page 23

23

1911 - 2011

Peter Harrison, joint Managing Director

Robert Harrison, joint Managing Director

Non-ferrous metal merchanting division

Mike Cole and Robert Harrison discuss the manufacture of castings for the Rolls Royce Warrior fighting vehicle

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:57

Page 24

24

HARRISON CASTINGS

During the early 1990’s and into the new millennium the foundry moved away from traditional green-sand moulding and introduced resin-bonded sands.

During this time the whole foundry was re-equipped and modernised.

In 1994 the company changed its name to Harrison Castings Ltd.

New fettling shop, 1994

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:57

Page 25

25

1911 - 2011

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:57

Page 26

26

HARRISON CASTINGS

Despatch Warehouse

Gas turbine turbocharger casting weighing 105kgs

Fettling Shop

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:58

Page 27

27

1911 - 2011

With the demise of the machine tool and knitting machine industry in Leicester, the company established new markets in the large diesel engine, power generation and medical sectors.

Diesel engine oil filter housing weighing 74kgs

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:58

Page 28

28

HARRISON CASTINGS

Angola - Cummins QSK60 1 engine

Varian Medical body scanner

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:58

Page 29

29

1911 - 2011

Clients world-wide have benefitted from the company’s expertise.

The following photographs illustrate some current products incorporating castings produced by the company.

KMG PC5500w 2 x K1500E mining shovel, Yakutiya, Russia, powered with Cummins engine

Chuquicamata Mine, Chile

Cummins engines manufactured in Daventry

SGT-400 Gas Turbine, Siemens, Lincoln

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 30

30

HARRISON CASTINGS

Vessel propelled by one Cummins QSK60-M 2200hp engine

Komatsu 930E with a Cummins QSK78 3500HP engine

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 31

31

1911 - 2011

BJ Services Gorilla Fracturing pump, powered by a Cummins QSK60 engine

Oil and Gas ESB application, Argentina.

5 x Cummins QSV91 and 5 turbines In parallel

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 32

32

HARRISON CASTINGS

Photo imaging drum weighing 250kgs

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 33

33

1911 - 2011

The company is now the largest aluminium sand foundry in the United Kingdom and currently employs some 120 personnel, producing over 1,500 tons of aluminium sand castings per annum.

Board of Directors 2011 Standing l-r: Martin Beach, Finance Director; Mick Jenny, Technical Director; Mike Cole, Managing Director Seated l-r: Peter Harrison, Joint Chairman; Robert Harrison, Joint Chairman

Thank you to all our employees, customers and suppliers past and present, for their support and dedication.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 34

We make the patterns.

We manage the foundry.

We sell the castings.

We make the cores.

We make the moulds.

We run the office.

We inspect the castings.

We make the moulds.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 35

We fettle the castings.

We fix the machines.

We melt the metal.

We deliver the castings.

We do the lifting.

I clean up after everyone.

HC book final 110512:Layout 1

19/5/11

10:59

Page 36