Andrew & James
Stewart Ltd.
Andrew & James Stewart Ltd., Manufacturers of Iapwelded Iron & Steel Boiler
Tubes, & Wrought Iron Tubes & Fittings for conveying Gas, Steam, Water, &c., 41,
Oswald Street, Glasgow.
This is one of the largest, if not, indeed, the largest,
firm in the iron and steel tube trade, and has achieved an unsurpassed
reputation, not only in this immediate district, but in all parts of the United
Kingdom and abroad. The work of the firm is extremely comprehensive in its
character, and embraces every branch connected with iron and steel tube making
and kindred industries.
A very good idea of the manufactures of this firm may be
obtained from a description of their exhibit at the Glasgow International
Exhibition, necessarily condensed, as space will not permit of a full and extended notice. There are in the Machinery Section several fairly good
collections of wrought-iron and steel tubes, but undoubtedly the most extensive
show is made by A. & J. Stewart, Limited, and, considering that tubes are things
which do not lend themselves to artistic display, the firm may be congratulated
upon making such an effective exhibit. The outside of the stand is arranged in a
form which resembles the front of an organ, the shortest tubes used being 12
feet long by 1/4 inch diameter, and the longest 18 feet 6 inches by 12 inches
diameter. The lengths might have been 30 feet, but the Executive Committee
declined to admit longer lengths. In the centre of the stand is a triangle
formed of tubes, made up on one side of round tubes ranging from 2 inches to 8
inches inside diameter, and on the other side, of square tubes from 1 1/2 inch to 7
inches inside diameter. On the pinnacle is placed a single tube of 20 inches
inside diameter by 1/4 inch thick, and 12 feet long, and within it the smallest
iron tube ever made, the internal diameter being 1/16 part of an inch. Between the
outer lines of the triangle, smaller tubes are arranged both in triangular and
cross-like forms.
The next feature of the show that is noticed is a specimen of
two tubes put crosswise, and welded in the centre. The welding, which has been
done by hand, not only proves the excellence of the quality of metal used, but
reflects the highest credit upon the workman that performed the operation.
As a
further test of the quality of metal, there is shown a coil of 260 feet of
2-inch tube, made square shape in eighteen turns, without a single join or
exhibiting the least sign of defect. A similar thing has been done with 200 feet
of 2-inch tube, but this is a circular coil.
Then, as a sample of bent-work,
there is shown a 3-inch tube bent in eight turns, each 6 feet high, after the
fashion of the pipe of a bombardon or euphonium. Other specimens displayed
consist of a 12-inch T-piece, forged by hand, and beside it is placed a 3/16-inch
T-piece, also forged by hand ; a 5 1/2-inch flanged tube with the flange welded
on, and another tube with a collar and loose flange ; pieces of steel tube
crushed cold under a steam hammer.
The tests to which these tubes have been
subjected show that the metal has been double folded without breaking in the
slightest degree ; a set of boring-tubes; several stay-tubes which are thickened
by 1/8 inch at the place where they are threaded ; and a set of galvanised tubes
from 1/4 to 4 inches ; point and signal rods for railways, telegraph poles,
rollers for weaving machines, printing machines, and shafts and piles ; rigging
screws, to refer in detail to each of which is utterly impossible within the
space at command.
In joints there are shown several specialities of this firm,
two or three of which are illustrated in the accompanying woodcuts, which
almost explain themselves : one is a flanged joint, Stewarts patent ; another is
a conical screwed joint with recessed sockets for extreme pressures, one block
showing the outside, and the other a sectional view of socket.
The business was originally established in Glasgow in 1861 by Andrew Stewart. He
afterwards assumed his brother James as a partner, and the business was then
carried on by Andrew and James Stewart; but having
rapidly developed a very extensive and thriving trade, the firm was in July,
1882, formed into a private limited company, the shares in which are held by
the heads of the late firm and their chief officials.
The well-known Clyde Tube
Works belonging to the firm are located in Coatbridge, where also are situated
the Sun Tube Works, lately remodelled so as to enable the firm fully to meet the
increasing demands for their products. Both these establishments are admirably
fitted with a complete equipment of the most modem and improved forms of patent
machinery, no expense having been spared to render them complete in every
detail. At the two Coatbridge works the principal products of the firm are
manufactured, and these cover a very wide scope of operations.
One of the chief
features
is the manufacture of lap welded iron and steel tubes for marine, locomotive,
and stationary boilers. This is a branch to which the very special attention of
the firm has always been given, and in which the most marked success has been
achieved. A further leading speciality is the manufacture of oil-well boring
tubes and casing tubes, and oil line pipes, which are exported to all the
oil-bearing regions of the world. There is an ever increasing demand both in
this country and abroad for supplies of wrought-iron screwed and socketed tubes,
for the conveyance of gas, steam, water, compressed air, &c., &c.; and in this,
as in the other branches of the trade, the firm has taken and still occupies the
leading position. Among other specialities may be particularisedartesian well-boring
tubes, boring tubes forsalt wells, blast furnace tuyere coils, bedstead and
railing tubes, square, oval and rectangular tubes, gas valves, stocks, taps and
dies and other articles appertaining to the tube trade.
An interesting feature of their exhibit is a collection of old pipes of
lead, wood, stone, &c., from the year 90 A.D. down to the modern steel tubes
which the firm supplied for conducting water across the well-known Tay Bridge
for the water supply on the south side of the river.
Shortly after the formation of the limited company the proprietors bought the
Clyde Pipe Foundry in Firhill Road, Glasgow, largely increasing the scope of
their operations. The works in Firhill Road are devoted exclusively to the
manufacture of cast-iron pipes for the conveyance of gas and water, and for
almost every purpose to which they may
be put. Thus the business carried on by the firm covers a wide area and embraces
a most important branch of trade.
A large number (about a thousand) skilled and experienced workmen are constantly
employed at the various works under very careful supervision, and only work of
the highest class is allowed to emanate from the various establishments of the
firm.
The head offices and warehouse are at 41, Oswald Street, Glasgow, where a
numerous and efficient staff attend to the requirements of customers.
Few firms have gained such a great reputation, and none occupy a more prominent
position in the trade, and their name and character for good work is known all
over the world.
