38-450: Platt Brothers , also known as Platt Bros & Co Ltd , was a British company based at Werneth in Oldham , North West England . The company manufactured textile machinery and were iron founders and colliery proprietors. By the end of the 19th century, the company had become the largest textile machinery manufacturer in the world, employing more than 12,000 workers. Henry Platt was
76-522: A blacksmith who in 1770 was manufacturing carding equipment, in Dobcross , Saddleworth , to the east of Oldham . His grandson, also Henry founded a similar business in Uppermill . In 1820, the grandson, Henry Platt moved to Huddersfield Road, Oldham and re-established his business there. He and Elijah Hibbert formed a partnership Hibbert and Platt. When his sons, Joseph and John joined the company, it
114-469: A minimum wage, up to 600 engineers at the works went on strike on 2 July. Six days later, the management locked-out the whole workforce of nearly 5,000 men and boys. Although members of the A.S.E. received £1/week lock-out pay while on strike and 1100 members of the Gasworkers and General Labourers Union received 10s (50 pence)/week, some 2,000 non-union workers were left without any income. At this time,
152-405: A special feature at this period and every accommodation will provide for the mental and physical recreation of the men during their leisure hours." The firemen's dwellings on Frederick St remain standing. On 1 April 1948 the station become part of Oldham Fire Brigade and on 1 April 1974 became part of Greater Manchester Fire Service with a new call sign – C34. Werneth Fire station closed in 1981 and
190-434: The 2011 census was 12,348. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) west-southwest of Oldham's commercial centre and one of its most ancient localities. It is contiguous with Westwood , Hollinwood , Hollins and Chadderton . Werneth includes Freehold between Werneth Park and Oldham's border with Chadderton at Block Lane. In 2017 more than three quarters (76.6%) of Werneth's population were members of an ethnic minority group, with
228-514: The Lancashire Loom . By 1856 they employed 150 workers; John's son James joined in 1862. They initially concentrated on looms, but eventually expanded to manufacture the complete range of machinery used in a cotton mill . John Bullough, (born 1837) died in 1891. By then Bulloughs was the world's largest manufacturer of ring spinning frames, and John, the owner of the Isle of Rùm , was
266-1050: The Oldham Coalfield which were exploited by several early collieries and sandstone was quarried. Oldham Werneth railway station on the Oldham Loop Line closed in 2009 when the line was converted to light rail for Manchester Metrolink and replaced by its Oldham and Rochdale Line in 2012. Westwood and Freehold tram stops provide direct tram links to Manchester and beyond and to Rochdale Railway Station and town centre. First Greater Manchester operates bus services 81 and 83 linking Werneth with Oldham , and Manchester city centre , via Moston and Failsworth with some evening services on route 81 operated by Stagecoach Manchester extending to Derker . Stotts Tours (Oldham) operates bus service 396 providing links to Ashton-U-Lyne via Hathershaw and to Middleton via Chadderton town centre. Werneth Cricket Club's facilities are at The Coppice, Chamber Road. The club
304-523: The Oldham Lyceum . He was elected MP for Oldham in 1857, but died the same year. Notes Bibliography [REDACTED] Media related to Platt Brothers at Wikimedia Commons 53°32′20″N 2°07′48″W / 53.5388°N 2.1299°W / 53.5388; -2.1299 Werneth, Greater Manchester Werneth ( / ˈ w ɜːr n ɛ θ / ; WUR -nəth ) is an area of Oldham , Greater Manchester , England. The population at
342-502: The "self-acting temple", which kept the woven cloth at its correct width, the weft fork (patented 1841 but disputed by Osbaldeston) and a loose reed that allowed the lathe to back away on encountering a shuttle trapped in the warp. Bullough also invented a simple but effective warning device which rang a bell every time the warp thread broke on his loom. He worked with William Kenworthy at Brookhouse Mills, with whom he applied his inventions to develop an improved power loom that became known as
380-538: The 1930s, Platt Brothers , Howard and Bullough, Brooks and Doxey , Asa Lees , Dobson and Barlow , Joseph Hibbert , John Hetherington and Tweedales and Smalley merged to become Textile Machinery Makers Ltd ., but the individual units continued to trade under their own names until the 1970s, when they were rationalised into one company called Platt UK Ltd. In 1991 the company changed its name to Platt Saco Lowell. The Globe Works closed in 1993. James Bullough improved his loom by inventing various components, including
418-656: The Cudworth family of Werneth Hall who were successive lords of the manor of Werneth/Oldham. A Member of this family was James I 's Chaplain Ralph Cudworth (father of the Cambridge Platonist philosopher Ralph Cudworth ). The Cudworths remained lords of the manor until their sale of the estate (1683) to Sir Ralph Assheton of Middleton . After several owners, the Werneth Hall estate and manor
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#1732800809126456-644: The Pakistani population being largest (48.6%). The name Werneth is ancient and derives from a Brittonic personal name identical to the Gaulish Vernetum , derived from *verno- meaning " alder " ( Welsh gwern ). The survival of place-names derived from Celtic personal names is rare in England outside Cornwall . The name is cognate with the place-names Le Vernet and Vernois in France. In
494-548: The ancient ecclesiastical parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham , in the hundred of Salford . Werneth is also an electoral ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham . The ward includes the neighbourhoods of Werneth Park , Freehold , Primose Bank, and parts of Coppice and the Block Lane / Old Lane area of Chadderton. Werneth covers about one hundred acres, and its geology consists of the coal measures of
532-417: The building was demolished in 1987. Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire since the early 12th century , Werneth was recorded in 1212 as one of five parts of the thegnage estate of Kaskenmoor held on behalf of King John by Roger de Montbegon and William de Nevill. The other parts were Crompton , Glodwick , Oldham and Sholver . Werneth was part of the township of Oldham, in
570-584: The company closed its factory. Having been taken over in the 1960s, Platt Saco Lowell had grave financial problems, and was put into administration by its parent company, Hollingsworth. The Platt name (and support for Platt products) continues. A link between Platt Brothers and the Toyota company of Japan was made in 1929 when the company paid £100,000 for the patent rights for an innovative automatic weaving loom designed by Sakichi Toyoda . The Toyoda Model G loom had mechanical sensors that automatically shut down
608-601: The company employed 7,000 men and had established itself as the world's largest textile machinery manufacturer. In the 1890s it was estimated that the works supported 42% of Oldham's population. Platts owned the Jubilee Colliery in Crompton and Butterworth Hall Colliery in Milnrow . During World War I the company produced munitions, but afterwards resumed textile machinery manufacture and continued to expand. 1922
646-642: The defensive Battle of Mons was being fought and the War Office was actively seeking to recruit men. A Pals battalion had been raised in Manchester, and the Mayor of Accrington undertook to raise a battalion of Accrington Men . During the Second World War they turned to manufacture of armaments such as bayonets, shells, gun carriages, mine sinkers and aircraft components. In the recession of
684-652: The first cotton machine manufacturing millionaire. Three of the company's executives, Edmund and Samuel Tweedale and Joseph Smalley left to set up business in Castleton, Rochdale. The firm was Tweedales and Smalley . The company's first spindles equipped the Newhey Spinning Mill in February 1893. In 1897 they provided spinning machinery for use in the Drezna factory established by Ivan Zimin . Bulloughs
722-511: The first day of their eight-day 1913 Royal Tour of Lancashire on 7 July 1913. In later years the company's fortunes mirrored those of the Lancashire cotton industry, and the company began a slow, decline. The company's home market gradually disappeared as large numbers of Lancashire cotton mills began to close, and in export markets the company faced tough competition from foreign companies. The end of its Oldham operations came in 1982 when
760-585: The fitters to install them. Shortly before the First World War the company reached its peak, with its workforce numbering more than 15,000 people, and Hartford Works at Werneth covering more than 85 acres (340,000 m) of land was the largest employer in Oldham and the largest maker of cotton-processing machinery in Lancashire and the world. The works were visited by George V and Queen Mary on
798-467: The loom if a warp thread snapped. The thinking behind this feature was jidoka which translates as automation with a human touch. Workers were freed from monitoring automatic looms and mill owners achieved a dramatic increase in labour productivity with one worker able to operate up to 30 machines. Money from the sale of rights provided the start-up capital for the Toyota automobile endeavour. The name change
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#1732800809126836-478: The many mills in Oldham and south Lancashire. Platt Brothers business headquarters were close to Oldham Werneth railway station which has now closed. Prosperity in the area brought civic development and a significant part of Werneth became Oldham's "grand west end" with large mansions. This part of Werneth is known as Coppice . In 1864 at a cost of £932 Werneth's first fire engine house opened in John St. It
874-481: The negotiations of the French Commercial Treaty . He was elected the first Mayor of Oldham in 1854, an office he held twice more in 1855–56, and 1861–62. John Platt also served as Member of Parliament for Oldham from 1865 until his death in 1872. Platt's younger brother James Platt (1824–1857), helped build the firm and was active in promoting working-class adult education in Oldham, especially
912-519: The reign of Henry III , the manor of Oldham was held by Alwardus de Aldholme who held land in Werneth (Vernet) and lived at Werneth Hall . In the 13th century, Oldham was documented as a manor held from The Crown by a family surnamed Oldham , whose seat was at Werneth Hall . Richard de Oldham was recorded as lord of the manor of Werneth/Oldham (1354). His daughter and heiress, Margery (d.1384), married John de Cudworth (d.1384), from whom descended
950-489: The season abandoned, following the declaration of war with Germany. This proved to be the one and only year the club won the League title. Notable players have included Geoff Pullar , who played for the club early in his career and went on to represent England in 28 test matches from 1959 to 1963, wicketkeeper Keith Andrew and former West Indies captain, Carl Hooper . Howard %26 Bullough Howard & Bullough
988-626: The southern part of Werneth. Joseph Jones (1782–1858) of Wallshaw Mill, was the first alderman elected for the Werneth Ward of Oldham Council. He was a Conservative and was "elbowed" out in 1852 after which he retired to Severn Stoke in Worcestershire . Werneth was an industrial district and from the 19th century was the location of the Platt Brothers works. The engineering company made cotton-spinning machinery for
1026-501: Was a firm of textile machine manufacturers in Accrington , Lancashire. The company was the world's major manufacturer of power looms in the 1860s. The firm of Howard and Bleakley was founded in 1851 with four workers; in 1856 Bleakley retired and the partnership was changed to Howard & Bullough. John Bullough had perfected a self-acting temple on his handloom, and with William Kenworthy at Brookhouse Mills had been responsible for
1064-573: Was a year of record profits and the firm became a public limited company. In 1929 Platt Brothers employed 12000 people, and the New Works covered 65 acres (260,000 m). In 1931, the company took a controlling interest in Textile Machinery Makers Ltd , which had been formed from other textile machine manufactures including Asa Lees & Co Ltd . The company name changed to Platt Bros.(Holdings) Ltd. Platt Bros.(Sales) Ltd
1102-401: Was done by hand, but as 19th progressed mechanisation was introduced. From 1857, Platts supplied the complete range of spinning and weaving machinery. It surpassed Dobson & Barlow of Bolton in size in 1854. Platts constructed looms for export from 1857. Platts introduced successive models of carding machines, roving frames and self-acting mules in 1868, 1886 and 1900. The self-acting mule
1140-525: Was done for phonetic reasons so although Toyota is now best known as an automotive company, it began as Toyoda the textile machinery manufacturer. John Platt (1817 – 1872), was Oldham's leading Liberal . He successfully campaigned, in the 1840s, for a municipal charter for Oldham. He was a strong supporter of the Anti Corn Law League . His advocacy of free trade and business knowledge led him to visit Paris with Richard Cobden to assist in
1178-433: Was equipped with a nine-inch manual pump purchased from John Hall of Oldham. It was manned by police doing auxiliary fireman work with lamplighters or anyone available as pumpers for sixpence per hour plus liquid refreshments. In 1898 a new station opened on Manchester Rd which was built to plans by Messrs Winder and Taylor, architects of Oldham. It had "the latest improvements and conveniences of firemen’s dwellings which were
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1216-574: Was formed in 1864 and joined the Central Lancashire League in 1910. The first completed league match was won at Littleborough by two runs. Werneth became champions of the Central Lancashire League in 1939 in unprecedented circumstances. The club was awarded the title by the League committee, when a point ahead of Radcliffe in the league table, after the committee declared fixtures for the last Saturday of
1254-528: Was one of the country's largest manufacturers. At its peak the Globe Works dominated the town, employing almost 6,000 workers and covering 52 acres (21 ha). Seventy-five percent of the company's production was exported. Following the refusal of Howard & Bullough's management to meet the demands of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) for trade union recognition and
1292-525: Was purchased, for £30,000, by the Lees family of Oldham (1794). In the 1840s, the park of the Hall estate was separated from Werneth Hall to form what later became the public Werneth Park . The ancient manor of Werneth covered an extensive part of the township of Oldham including much of the current town centre. Surrounding areas such as Hollinwood and Hathershaw were historically described as lands lying in
1330-592: Was renamed Hibbert Platt and Sons. Henry Platt died in 1842 and Elijah Hibbert in 1854. All the shares went to the Platt family and the company became Platt Brothers & Company. In 1844 Platt Brothers acquired the Hartford New Works in the Werneth area of Oldham. In 1868, they moved their headquarters from the 'Old Works' to the 'New Works' and took on limited liability status. When John Platt died in 1872
1368-822: Was spun off in 1946, when Sir Kenneth Preston joined the company from J.Stone Ltd . Platt International was formed in 1970 from the textile division of Stone Platt, and it acquired the Saco Lowell Corporation in 1973 and became Platt-Saco-Lowell in 1975. The Oldham premises closed in the early 1980s. The drawings and rights to the Platt Ginning Machines are owned by HSL Engineering in Leeds West Yorkshire. Textile manufacturing involves converting of three types of fibre into yarn , then fabric , then textiles . These are then fabricated into clothes or other artefacts. Cotton
1406-646: Was the basis of the company's success being faster, longer and more productive than those of their rivals. Workmen in Platts became shareholders in the Oldham Limiteds mills on the late 1860s ensuring Platt machinery was purchased. After a record year in 1896, the company faced competition from new ring spinning frames , an alternative technology suited to coarse counts . Their competitors were Howard & Bullough of Accrington and Tweedales and Smalley of Rochdale . Platts also supplied plans for mills and
1444-448: Was the most important natural fibre, but there was a sizeable Worsted industry in neighbouring West Yorkshire . Cotton was harvested, ginned and transported Britain in bales. At the factories the bales were broken open, the fibres were willowed and scutched before being carded. The carded fibres were combed, drawn, slubbed and roved before they were ready to be spun. Spinning was done on a spinning mule. Before mechanisation each process
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