Robey & Co. Ltd (c1849 - 1988)
Dates
- Existence: c1849 - 1988
- Usage: 1854 - 1855
- Usage: 1855 - 1856
- Usage: 1856
Biography
Robey & Co Ltd. was an engineering company based in Lincoln, England.
The roots of the company are in Watkinson and Robey Engineers and Millwrights, who made portable engines and a range of other machinery from 1854. This company was formed by Robert Robey and William Watkinson. Successive changes in partners saw the company renamed to Robey and Scott in 1855 and Gamble & Robey and later Robey & Co Ltd in 1856.
Robey & Co were in the forefront of traction engine development in the international market and continued building traction engine and steam tractors into the twentieth century. They were also a leading company in the field of electric generating engines.
During the First World War Robye was requisition by the government to manufacture aircraft. After the war the capacity and expertise of the company was used to fabricate everything from converters for steelworks to parts for the Jodrell Bank radio telescope.
The company was purchased by Babcock International in 1984 and produce boilers in oil, gas or solid fuel fired versions, until its closure in 1988.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Orton and Spooner Collection
This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.