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The Galvanising Industry

Morewood & Rogers

Morewood & Company

Definition: To Galvanise - to coat with metal by an electric current: To coat with zinc without using a current

1837 Galvanising was introduced into England during the year that Queen Victoria acceded to the throne, when a Mr Crawford took out a patent for galvanising sheets for roofing and other purposes on 29 April 1837.

Galvanising was in its infancy and much experimentation and innovation was required to perfect the finished product. Technology had not advanced sufficiently and many of the iron sheets were unsuitable for galvanising because there were still four main problems to be solved:

1 The iron sheets could not be cleaned properly;

2 There was not a suitable flux that would enable the zinc coating to stick to the base metal;

3 Galvanising baths were not strong enough to hold the several tons of molten zinc required and manufacturers found that by the time the zinc was ready for the production process, the bath leaked and large amounts of molten metal were lost;

4 There was no simple process developed to form the fluting required for corrugating the sheets.

1843 Morewood & Rogers of Broad Street, Birmingham, took out a patent for tinned galvanising which mixed tin with molten zinc, which they said made the product look more silvery and sparkling. It was necessary to find markets to sell sufficient quantities of the new product to make the venture profitable.

The emerging railway companies purchased large quantities of the new patent roof sheets for some of their railway stations, but they were a failure because the steam from the stationary engines caused the sheets to corrode and they became pitted with holes.

Before long a corrugating steam powered machine press had been invented which solved the problem of the old laborious time-consuming process. Local domestic and business users were not impressed with the new galvanised corrugated roofing materials but Entrepreneurs saw lucrative markets overseas and thousands of tons of sheeting were sent to the Colonies each year where they were sold by auction.

Although this trading method did meet with some success, it often meant a loss to manufacturers, who then borrowed heavily to finance their investment. Edmund Morewood, said to be a confident and resourceful, businessman, approached Messrs J & E Walker of Gospel Oaks Works, Wolverhampton, with a view to the partnership supplying iron sheets and financing Morewood & Rogers in their galvanising enterprises.

1847 Around 1847 Morewood succeeded in persuading the Walkers to invest £80,000 without security, much to the dismay of the firm’s solicitor.

Eventually confidence was restored in galvanised sheeting products and railway companies began to use them again. Before too long the Colonists in Australia and New Zealand realised the advantages and were soon buying corrugated sheets for their sheep ranches which required large wool sheds and small huts for their shepherds, especially in the bush regions of Australia.

1849 By 1849 the cleaning problem had been solved, when the iron sheets were housed in an enclosed box and pickled in vitriol. It was also discovered that the appearance of the sheets could be enhanced by dipping them, whilst still hot, directly into cold water when they came out of the molten metal.

1850 By 1850 the United States of America and Ireland as well as the home market were interested in galvanised sheeting.

1851-1852 Morewood & Company were firmly established in Wolverhampton, with another works being opened in the city in 1858.

Gold was discovered in California and Australia during 1851 and 1852 and ‘gold fever’ created another lucrative market. Thousands of prospectors, caught up in the gold rush bought galvanised sheets for their huts, buckets, pots, pans, kettles, pans for washing gold, and other items required for gold digging.

The prices charged for galvanised products soared and vast fortunes were made and before long, Morewood & Rogers were able to repay the £80,000 borrowed from Messrs J & E Walker around 1847. Morewood & Company established other galvanising works at Baglan and Briton Ferry.

1869 by 1869 the company was turning its attention to tinplate.

1872 By this date Edmund Morewood and his nephew John Henry Rogers had established the South Wales Tinplate Works at Machynys which was known as ‘Morewoods’.

1898 The Llanelly Guardian of the 3rd March reported that a decision had been made by E. Morewood & Company Limited to wind up operations of the South Wales Works, Llanelli and Cwmbwrla Works, Swansea.

The Llanelly Guardian of the 7th April reported "plans to reduce staff at Morewoods rejected by the steelworkers."

The Llanelly Guardian of the 14th July reported that "Frank Thomas, Melingriffies, son of Mr Richard Thomas of Lydney, appointed new manager of Morewood & Co. Ltd."

The Llanelly Guardian of the 17th November 1898 reported:

MOREWOOD WORKS

The New Company Registered

South Wales Steel and Tinplate Company Limited

This company has just been registered with a capital of £45,000 in £10 shares (of which 3,000 are 5% Cumulative Preference) to acquire and take over the South Wales Steel and Tinplate Works at Swansea formerly the property of E Morewood & Co., Ltd., and to carry on the business of steel makers and converters, tin and tern plate manufacturers, galvanized sheet manufacturers, ironmakers, smelters, founders, engineers etc. The first subscribers are: Francis T Thomas, Health Officer, Swansea, Tinplate Manufacturer; Francis W Bond, Parkfield, Hampton Wick, Steel Manufacturer; Henry C Bond, Cefn Bryn, Pembrey, Tinplate Manufacturer; Thomas W Jones, 24 Goat Street, Swansea, Solicitor; Ernest T James, Ivor House, Coatham, Redcar, Engineer; Benjamin D Thomas, 9 St Helen’s Crescent, Swansea, Solicitor; Theophilus H Davies, 8 Stanley Terrace, Swansea, Accountant. The number of Directors is not to be less than three or more than five. The subscribers are to appoint the first. Qualification £1,000.

Remuneration as the Company may decide.

1899 Llanelly Guardian, 13 April

TINPLATE COMBINE

FUTURE OF MOREWOODS & BURRY

South Wales Works carried on by Messrs Morewood went into liquidation – Sold South Wales Works and Cwmbwrla Works to Messrs Richard Thomas Limited of Lydney who have acquired the Burry Works

Richard Thomas control: South Wales Works 15 mills; Burry Works 8 mills; Cwmbwrla Works 8 mills; Lydney Works 12 mills.

Messrs Richard Thomas & Co. also own Lydbrook Works.