Fowler 8 Ton Steam Roller Serial No: 15490 1920
"Annie" 1920 Fowler 8 Ton Steam Roller Serial No: 15490. John Fowler began business in Bristol during 1850, by forming a partnership with a fellow Quaker, Albert Fry, as agricultural implement manufacturers and traders. On the dissolution of the partnership in 1856, Fowler moved to London to concentrate on his consuming interest in steam cultivation machinery. Here he was a sole trader with no manufacturing works of his own, using variously the firms of Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson (of Leeds), Robert Stephenson & Co, (of Newcastle), Ransomes & Sims (of Ipswich) and Clayton & Shuttleworth to supply him with goods. In 1860, Kitsons, now restyled as Kitson & Hewitson, became sole suppliers and Fowler simultaneously began construction of his own works, the Steam Plough Works alongside Leathly Road, Leeds on land adjacent to and purchased from Kitsons. In 1861William Watson Hewitson joined Fowler in partnership, as Fowler & Hewitson . Next year with the Steam Plough Works completed, all production was moved there from Kitsons. Hewitson, however, died in May 1863 leaving Fowler to continue alone, now trading as John Fowler & Co., though assisted by his brother, Robert Fowler, who ran the London office in Cornhill. John Fowler suffered a nervous breakdown in mid 1864 and to help ease his load entered into a partnership with Robert Fowler on August 2nd of that year. Unfortunately while still recuperating he sustained a fall on a foxhunt from which he died on December 4th, 1864. John Fowler & Co., was then continued by Robert Fowler and Robert Eddison, under the careful terms of Fowler's will, being subsequently joined by David Greig, Reginald Wigram and Barnard Fowler as fellow partners. In 1886 the limited company of John Fowler & Co., (Leeds) Ltd., was formed, merging with Marshall, Sons & Co. Ltd., of Gainsborough in 1947 to form Marshall-Fowler Ltd. Production finally ceased at the John Fowler Works, as the Steam Plough Works had been re-christened, in early 1975, John Fowler & Co. (Leeds) Ltd., still remains a registered company, although now very much in abeyance. John Fowler & Company (Leeds) Limited was one of the best-known manufacturers of traction engines in the UK. Fowlers were especially noted for the development of ploughing by steam. Steamrollers were introduced in 1887, oil engined rollers in 1920. After Aveling he company were the second largest producers of steamrollers. Around 10% of all Steam Rollers produced in the United Kingdom were built by Fowlers. |