oiltreader:
Surprise to me… a Foden threshing machine.
Oily
Foden started out as agricultural engineers, Edwin Foden was an apprentice to Plant and Hancock who were agricultural engineers and later became a partner. When Hancock retired Edwin took over the company and they later started making their own steamers to power them when they found the ones they bought in to be unreliable.
Pete.
I had no idea Foden built Threshing tackle either. I guess quite a lot of commercial machinery had origins in agriculture.
Plant and Hancock built many agricultural machines and steam driven from the small engineering workshop and foundry at Elworth, when the farm work slackened they did sub contract work for the Rail workshops at Crewe. Young Edwin Foden became Hancock’s Foreman at the age of Nineteen, however he had a disagreement with Hancock relating to the hiring and firing of the workers so left and started for the Railway Company. This was a period when the Railways dominated transport operations with some opposition from canals and waterways for goods, steam driven road haulage was not even considered at this time. Edwin worked under Chief Mechanical Engineer John Ramsbottom at the LNWR Crewe workshops. I mention Ramsbottom as he invented the metallic split piston ring, previously hemp packing had been used on steam engine pistons, he also invented the water scoop where travelling loco’s could fill up tenders while moving and built the first UK Bessemer steel plant at Crewe, the steel produced would revolutionize the steel making industry. Edwin was well trained in steam engineering when Hancock managed to woo him back to his firm to become a full partner and changing the company name to Foden and Hancock, consolidating its position in the agricultural and industrial steam engine business. When Hancock retired Foden took full control at the age of 35 and the name changed to Edwin Foden and Son, William being his eight year old son. As well as the agricultural machinery there were many orders for industrial steam engines. It was when the Farmers themselves put pressure on Government that the restrictive legislation regarding road steam engines should be repealed that Edwin saw the perfect opportunity to move into that market and the rest is history, a very astute and intelligent young man was Edwin though he probably didn’t think just how big the Foden name would become. Franky.
Frankydobo:
Plant and Hancock built many agricultural machines and steam driven from the small engineering workshop and foundry at Elworth, when the farm work slackened they did sub contract work for the Rail workshops at Crewe. Young Edwin Foden became Hancock’s Foreman at the age of Nineteen, however he had a disagreement with Hancock relating to the hiring and firing of the workers so left and started for the Railway Company. This was a period when the Railways dominated transport operations with some opposition from canals and waterways for goods, steam driven road haulage was not even considered at this time. Edwin worked under Chief Mechanical Engineer John Ramsbottom at the LNWR Crewe workshops. I mention Ramsbottom as he invented the metallic split piston ring, previously hemp packing had been used on steam engine pistons, he also invented the water scoop where travelling loco’s could fill up tenders while moving and built the first UK Bessemer steel plant at Crewe, the steel produced would revolutionize the steel making industry. Edwin was well trained in steam engineering when Hancock managed to woo him back to his firm to become a full partner and changing the company name to Foden and Hancock, consolidating its position in the agricultural and industrial steam engine business. When Hancock retired Foden took full control at the age of 35 and the name changed to Edwin Foden and Son, William being his eight year old son. As well as the agricultural machinery there were many orders for industrial steam engines. It was when the Farmers themselves put pressure on Government that the restrictive legislation regarding road steam engines should be repealed that Edwin saw the perfect opportunity to move into that market and the rest is history, a very astute and intelligent young man was Edwin though he probably didn’t think just how big the Foden name would become. Franky.
A great piece of History there. William Foden lived until 1964 and I believe was still involved in the companyuntil till 1950. Two generations spanned an enormous time.
Put these on the NE thread but thought they might be of interest to some on here. Gibsons Concrete, Deptford, Sunderland. Plant is still operating but is now Tarmac
My very good pal Ralph, AKA Crowbar let me drive it around the arena, Which gave me great pleasure in doing so, My Grandson Richard was with me and he was very impressed with the good old Scream and HOWL of its two stroke engine, Happy Foden Days, Regards Larry.
This is my Grandson whom is now 31 years old & still remembers going to a lot of shows with his Old Grandad Larry., He has done well for himself & works in the Heavy Engineering trade at South Queensferry, Regards Larry.
EEEEHHH Pete, I wondered why it took so much dragging along.
I just take a picture with my telephone & if it’s interesting I try & put it on here, sometimes it’s the right way up & sometimes it’s on it’s side, the trouble is I ain’t got a clue what I do different or how to turn a picture round, sometimes someone with more technology skill than me performs a bit of magic & it seems to turn my picture the right way round, those people probably wouldn’t make as good a job of towing the Foden back as I do though.
If I’d paid more attention in art class at school I could have painted a picture but as with most things at school I had an eye on the clock all the time & couldn’t wait for the bus home every day.
Anyway you need to get polishing your spanners up owd’ lad, the Foden’s residing just down the road from you now & dunna you forget, good Foden mechanics are few & far between nowadays!!!
No use Pete polishing his spanners , that’s not a proper Foden . It’s a DAF with a badge on the front . Us more mature drivers drove and mended real Fodens .
rigsby:
No use Pete polishing his spanners , that’s not a proper Foden . It’s a DAF with a badge on the front . Us more mature drivers drove and mended real Fodens .
Tut tut Dave you don’t know your fodens as well as you think you do , mine is no different to a 4000 except the cab ,the alpha 2 is a Daf .they are completely different
mine is no different to a 4000 except the cab ,the alpha 2 is a Daf .they are completely different