Glasgow Iron and Steel Company, Limited

GLASGOW IRON & STEEL CO., Limited, Glasgow.

    From the commencement of the 18th century at least, it has been known that steel could be prepared by fusing cast and wrought iron together in crucibles ; and in this manner the operation was performed by Reaumur in 1722, the only heat employed being that of an ordinary forge. Since that date many different processes have been patented. The main idea of this method of producing steel is apparently a simple deduction from the process of Mushet and of Heath, whereby a steel is produced by the direct addition of carbon to malleable iron. At any rate we know that a few years after Heath patented the use of carburet of manganese he proposed a method for making steel on a far larger scale than the use of crucibles would allow : by fusing pig iron in a cupola, running it into the bed of a steel making furnace, into the upper part of which malleable iron was introduced in bars so as to be heated up by the waste heat, and gradually pushed forward so as to dissolve. Had the regenerative principle been known to Heath, this method would, in all probability, have led to complete success. This was in 1845. Since then other patents amounting substantially to the same combination have been taken out by Price and Nicholson in 1855, and Gentle, Brown, and Attwood in 1862. A particular combination patented by Mushet has proved of the highest practical value, the only drawback being that the non-removal of phosphorus and sulphur to any marked extent in the ordinary blowing process renders it only applicable to certain kinds of pig iron.

    The recently invented “Basic” process — the sole process employed by the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company, Limited, — may, however, be said to fairly overcome this difficulty. Although the basic process was not patented until 1872, the idea of employing calcareous and other basic linings to furnaces used for the purification of iron by methods other than the pneumatic process of Bessemer dates back considerably earlier than that date. The business of the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company, manufacturers of iron and steel by the basic process, was established over 40 years ago, and the present trade of the firm is of enormous volume.

    During a recent visit to the works of this house, which was brought about by the special permit of the courteous manager at the Glasgow Offices, Mr. Cassells, we were astounded at the magnitude of the Company’s operations. Some idea may be gathered of their extent when we mention that they are manufacturers of rounds and squares from three-sixteenths of an inch to seven inches, flats from half-inch to fourteen inches broad, copes, ovals, convex, octagon, angles, tees, bulks, girders, channels, hoops, plates, sheets, boiler tube strips, steel slabs, blooms and billets, and innumerable fancy sections. The high character of the productions of the firm may be gathered from the fact that Basic Steel of the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company make has been accepted by the Admiralty, Board of Trade, Lloyd’s, Bureau Veritas, Indian States Railways, Indian Government Stores Department, etc., etc., — subject to same tests as Siemens’ steel.

    The offices of the firm are at 168, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, and consist of a large and substantially erected building containing several commodious and admirably appointed offices for carrying on the clerical work of the establishment, counting-house, private rooms, etc. The whole building is efficiently lighted and ventilated, and fitted with every requirement for carrying the gigantic official arrangements of the first. Order and system are everywhere apparent, and the policy of administration in this department reflects great credit on the management. The works of the Company, which in each case cover a very extensive area, are situated at Glasgow, Motherwell, and Wishaw, and employment is given to considerably over 4,000 men. Each of the works is connected with the central offices by telephone. The code telegraphic address is “Ingot”, Glasgow, and the Glasgow Exchange telephone No. 825.

    A thorough and efficient system of divided and sub-divided labour is in active operation at the works. The large number of skilled workmen employed in the various departments compares satisfactorily with any other similar establishment in the world ; and the eagerness with which any new mechanical or other improvement in connection with this industry is snapped up by the firm is a satisfactory illustration that the Company will endeavour, by every means in their power, to hold the high and influential position in the iron and steel industry which is undoubtedly theirs by right of the energy, enterprise, and business ability displayed in their system of administration.

    The firm have large collieries in connection with, each of their works, the amount of coal consumed annually being almost incredibly large. It is satisfactory to find that the business connection in this country, large as it is, is still on the increase, the improvement in this respect being also apparent in their valuable and extensive export trade.

Back to Index of Firms (1891)