John Thompson (company)

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John Thompson
Company typePublic
IndustryEngineering
Founded1820
Defunct2004
FateAcquired
SuccessorClarke Chapman
HeadquartersWolverhampton, UK
ProductsNuclear engineering
Boilers
Pressure vessels

John Thompson Limited was a major engineering business based in Wolverhampton, in its latter years offering products for the nuclear engineering industry.

History[edit]

The company was founded by William Thompson, in or around 1820, in Wolverhampton, as a general engineering business.[1] In 1850, the business passed to William's brother, Stephen, and in 1860, it passed to William's son, John. Within ten years it was concentrating on manufacturing boilers.[1]

By 1914, the company had expanded into motor pressings. During World War I it made cowlings for Sopwith aircraft and, in World War II, it made airscrews for Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft.[1]

In the 1950s, as part of a consortium with AEI, the company was awarded a contract to supply boilers and reactor pressure vessels for the Berkeley nuclear power station.[2]

In 1970, the business was acquired by Clarke Chapman[3] and, in 2004, the Ettingshall Works was closed.[1]

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