422 Charles Burrell + Sons
Charles Burrell + Son
Charles Burrell & Sons were builders of steam traction engines, agricultural machinery, steam trucks and steam tram engines.based in Thetford, Norfolk.
The company dated back to 1770 when a master smith, established a forge in Thetford for the manufacture and repair of agricultural implements. By 1805 Joseph had joined with his two brothers James and William and were advertising Threshing Machines for sale. Willian died in 1822 and Joseph in 1831 and the business was inherited by the only surviving son James, who was to die five years late, when control of the company passed to a 19 year old Charles, his nephew, in 1836.
Charles Burrell built the company's first steam engine in 1848. Initially like most other manufacturers they built portable engines but they gradually moved into self-moving agricultural engines and later engines built specifically for road transport. In 1856 they built the first road haulage engine in conjunction with James Boydell. who had invented a system where flat boards were attached to a wheel loosely at their centers, as the wheels revolved they were capable of spreading the weight of an engine over the surface of the board, versions of these became known as Dreadnaught Wheels. The company thrived under Charles and his three sons, In 1900 after 64 years control of the company was handed over by Charles to his third son Charles Jnr who ran day-to-day operations until the company's closure.
Production grew through the early years of the 20th centuary culminating in a record 104 engines built in 1913.
Like many engineering companies at the time, production was turned over during the First World War to the construction of various munitions, though engine production continued.
Sales decline after the war, due to cheaper used engines coming onto the market and the general economic conditions. In 1919 Burrell joined the formation of the Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE). Like many of the companies who joined, this proved to be a disastrous move. 1923 and 1924 showed an improvement in sales but by this time the writing was on the wall with other technologies coming to the fore. On 4 June 1928 the company closed its doors at Thetford for good, with the final engines being built at Leiston by Richard Garrett & Sons.
Thanks for 15.9 Million views
Shot 12 Aug 2012 at the Astle Park Traction Engine Rally, Chelford Cheshire Ref:93a-422
422 Charles Burrell + Sons
Charles Burrell + Son
Charles Burrell & Sons were builders of steam traction engines, agricultural machinery, steam trucks and steam tram engines.based in Thetford, Norfolk.
The company dated back to 1770 when a master smith, established a forge in Thetford for the manufacture and repair of agricultural implements. By 1805 Joseph had joined with his two brothers James and William and were advertising Threshing Machines for sale. Willian died in 1822 and Joseph in 1831 and the business was inherited by the only surviving son James, who was to die five years late, when control of the company passed to a 19 year old Charles, his nephew, in 1836.
Charles Burrell built the company's first steam engine in 1848. Initially like most other manufacturers they built portable engines but they gradually moved into self-moving agricultural engines and later engines built specifically for road transport. In 1856 they built the first road haulage engine in conjunction with James Boydell. who had invented a system where flat boards were attached to a wheel loosely at their centers, as the wheels revolved they were capable of spreading the weight of an engine over the surface of the board, versions of these became known as Dreadnaught Wheels. The company thrived under Charles and his three sons, In 1900 after 64 years control of the company was handed over by Charles to his third son Charles Jnr who ran day-to-day operations until the company's closure.
Production grew through the early years of the 20th centuary culminating in a record 104 engines built in 1913.
Like many engineering companies at the time, production was turned over during the First World War to the construction of various munitions, though engine production continued.
Sales decline after the war, due to cheaper used engines coming onto the market and the general economic conditions. In 1919 Burrell joined the formation of the Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE). Like many of the companies who joined, this proved to be a disastrous move. 1923 and 1924 showed an improvement in sales but by this time the writing was on the wall with other technologies coming to the fore. On 4 June 1928 the company closed its doors at Thetford for good, with the final engines being built at Leiston by Richard Garrett & Sons.
Thanks for 15.9 Million views
Shot 12 Aug 2012 at the Astle Park Traction Engine Rally, Chelford Cheshire Ref:93a-422