CLYDEBRIDGE STEELWORKS HISTORY

Wishaw Iron and Steel Works : 1859 - 1930

Glasgow Iron and Steel Company

The Wishaw Iron Works were started by Robert Bell in 1859 with three blast furnaces. These were taken over by the Wishaw Iron Co in 1864, then by the Glasgow Iron Co, later to become the Glasgow Iron and Steel Co., in 1888.
The works followed the market trend towards steel, in 1885, by installing three 7-ton Bessemer converters. However, the Bessemer converters were not successful using the type of iron produced in the blast furnaces.

From malleable Iron to Steel

To recover the situation the company appointed Thomas Williamson as engineer and manager, and the works were converted to open hearth steel making in 1894.

Thomas Williamson had been trained by Tulloch & Denny at Dumbarton and subsequently worked at Neilson's Locomotive Works, Dubs, and Rowan's Marine Engineering Works. He had been works manager at the Hallside works of the Steel Company of Scotland in 1875 and was responsible for the conversion of Blochairn to steel-making when that works was acquired by the Steel Company in 1879. Before going to the Glasgow Iron & Steel Company at Wishaw, he superintended the erection of Clydebridge steel works and the John Spencer & Co steel works at Newburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

The company then appointed someone well known to Thomas Williamson, James Riley, as the general manager of its collieries, blast furnaces, malleable-iron works and steel works from 1895 to 1899. James Riley was a leader in the evolution from malleable iron to steel. Through his own initiative, he had risen through the ranks in iron and steel making and by 1874 had become General Manager of the Landore Company in Wales where he worked with Sir William Siemens, one of the leading scientists of the time, on the development of the open hearth furnace, and the new material, mild steel. He then moved with Sir William Siemens to The Steel Company of Scotland, at Hallside where he helped to set up the first successful open hearth steel works in Scotland. James Riley had also been a leader in the development of machinery, mills and shears through his work at Hallside and then Blochairn steel works.

The Forefront of Technology

The Wishaw works went through a major reconstruction which included modifications to the open-hearth furnaces. This was to allow hot metal to be brought from the blast furnaces by rail, in the ladles previously used for the Bessemer converters, then tipped directly into the open hearth furnaces. This was the forerunner of the fully integrated steelworks and could have been more successful if the directors had followed James Riley urgings to install a hot metal mixer furnace.
The works were the first to use a gas engine to generate power for lighting the works (in 1895) driven by blast furnace gas, and the rolling mills were from the leading firm of Lamberton and Co, in Coatbridge. The works were state of the art and were visited by journalists from trade magazines, in 1895, 1897, 1901, 1908 and 1910. A visit was made by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in July 1895, and visitors also arrived from American steelworks.

Decline

The steel industry was re-shaped by the demands made on it during the first world war, in 1914-18. Steel melting furnace capacity had been increased during the war, but no new blast furnaces had been planned. In 1919 shipbuilders were confident of busy times ahead and looked to secure their supplies of iron and steel. In 1920 Beardmore joined with Swan Hunter Wigham Richardson & Co., of Tyneside to acquire the Glasgow Iron & Steel Company. However, instead of the busy times expected, a general trade depression followed exacerbating the overcapacity in the steel industry, and the plant made losses in 1921 and 1922. This was at a time when Beardmore's had expanded the Mossend Steel Works and the steel plant at Wishaw was closed and eventually dismantled. The blast furnaces at Wishaw remained in operation and made a profit until 1927, when they also went into loss and were closed in 1930. In 1947 Beardmore sold its remaining interests in the Glasgow Iron & Steel Co. to Lithgows Ltd.

The Glasgow Iron & Steel Company Limited (or GISCOL) still exists as a company. In 1952, the company commissioned and built the Mayfield brickwork in Carluke.

The following description of Wishaw works is from The Iron and Coal Trades Review 1897, Pages 733 to 777

The Steelworks of the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company - 1897

The Glasgow Iron and Steel Company, which is one of the largest and best known concerns of its kind in "Bonnie Scotland," represents, in an unusual degree, the new and the old in practical metallurgy. It has carried on for nearly two generations, and still continues to carry on with success, and on a large scale, the manufacture of finished iron. On the other hand, it has had the enterprise to undertake the construction of the most recent complete open-hearth steel manufacturing plant in the country - a plant equal to the production of well over 100,000 tons of steel per annum, and from which nearly 9,000 tons per month has actually been obtained.

The several undertakings of the company are situated as under:

1. Collieries at Ballieston, Motherwell, and Wishaw.
2. Malleable ironworks at Motherwell.
3. Blast furnaces at Wishaw.
4. Steelworks at Wishaw.

The Blast-furnaces, &c

The conditions attending the manufacture of wrought iron have not been greatly changed during recent years, and one need only therefore say that the malleable iron works of this company maintain the distinction of making the greatest contribution to the large total of this description of material produced in Scotland, amounting to nearly 250,000 tons per annum. Nor do the blast-furnaces at Wishaw call for much comment, seeing that they are in most essential details of the ordinary well-known Scotch type. Hematite iron ore is chiefly used, and the raw coal commonly found throughout Scotland, subject to this difference - that the fuel in the immediate neighbourhood of Wishaw is of a rather better quality than that found in other parts of Scotland.

Plant of the most modern kind is provided for the purpose of recovering the by-products given off by the furnace gases, and the gases themselves are partially utilised in a gas-engine for lighting the works. This last-named feature of the establishment is as yet unique. The company have been the first to take up and apply the well-known invention of Mr. B. H. Thwaite, of London, whereby furnace gases are applied to power and lighting purposes, with results that have been found to be highly economical.

The gas-engine is a modern Otto cycle horizontal type, running at 190 rpm, and belted to a direct current dynamo ; current from which was taken via the switch board to 10 arc lamps in five groups of two in series and 80 incandescent lamps, of which one was of 50, eleven of 32, and the remainder of 16 candle-power. The installation at Wishaw is not intended to be more than experimental ; but it has been found equal to doing all that is required in the way of lighting the works. It has, moreover, demonstrated the possibility of converting furnace gases into electrical energy with great economy on the usual system of utilising such gases under the boilers, and plans are now under consideration looking to get rid of boilers at ironworks entirely.

The Open-hearth Steel Works

It is at the open-hearth steelworks that the visitor to Wishaw is likely to find his interest chiefly stimulated. These adjoin the blast-furnaces, in the centre of one of the most important iron making districts in the country. They were actually designed and constructed a few years ago, but, with a view to making them in all respect as perfect a plant as possible, certain structural changes were decided on by Mr. James Riley, the present general manager, when he undertook his managerial duties at a later date, and the plant, as now constituted, may be said to have only got into full swing within the last twelve months. The works include both Bessemer and open-hearth plants ; but the Bessemer department is not at present worked, because the current demands of shipbuilders, boilermakers, and other leading consumers are practically wholly for open-hearth steel. It is to the open-hearth plant, therefore, with its ancillary mills and machines, that we propose limiting the following remarks.

The melting plant at the Glasgow Company's steel works consists of ten furnaces, of which three are nominally 50 ton furnaces, although in each of these at least as much as 60 tons could be melted. The arrangement of the plant, which is about the most recent in Scotland is on the most modern lines. The 50 ton melting furnaces are each 30 feet long between the blocks and 11 ft 3 in wide. The furnaces are arranged in a single row to the south-west side of the works, abutting on the railway siding that gives access to the line of the Caledonian Railway Company. This range is about 600 feet in length. Underneath the charging platform, which is roomy and commodious, is a covered roadway of the same length along which railway wagons are run for the purpose of removing the debris &c. One of the chief features of his section of the works is the patent valve used in connection with the furnace plant. This valve is the invention of Mr. F. Mills, the steelworks manager, and is manufactured by Messrs. Head, Wrightson & Co of Stockton on Tees. It was illustrated in our last weeks issue.

Gas Producers and Gas Heating Furnaces

One group of gas producers have dry bottoms and are connected to the main flue coming from the soaking furnaces. The waste heat from these furnaces sometimes reaches from 600o to 800o Fahr. A small branch flue is directed into each of the gas producers from the main chimney flue, passing between each pair of producers. A steam jet and throat pipe is placed vertically in the side of the gas producers and projects into the small branch flue, having a greater bend pipe fixed into the flue, forming a circular space in it. The steam jet blowing into its centre causes an in-draught of cold air and steam through the throat pipe, and draws or forces the waste heat from the melting furnace into the gas producer so as to reduce the consumption of fuel. The fuel for the gas producers is introduced to the works on a high level railway, and is made to drop out of the trucks on to the platform, while the ashes of the fuel work down to the bottom, and are cleaned out and taken away at a low level.

Near to the melting plant are four vertical gas heating furnaces, with gas auxiliaries. As much as 1250 tons of ingots have been passed through one of these furnaces in one week. This furnace has twelve holes, and a centre wall divides it into two distinct parts. The ingots vary from 4 to 8 tons in weight. Crane power is conveniently placed so as to remove the ingot from the casting pit to the reheating furnaces and from the latter again to the live rollers of the mills.

The Slab Cogging Mill

This mill was at the time of its construction three years ago, the largest and heaviest of its kind in this country. The main rolls are 40 inches diameter, the necks being 24 inches in diameter. The top roll is arranged for a vertical lift of 4 feet, permitting of the edging of wide slabs. The steam screwing gear is unusually powerful, so as to operate quickly the main screws and so deal expeditiously with the widely varying positions of the top roll in flat rolling and edging processes. The main housings are very massive castings 15 feet high by 9 feet broad, and weighing each 30 tons. The pinion housings are also very massive. These are cast in two parts, and rigidly bolted together at the centre, the total weight of the complete pinion housing being about 40 tons. The pinions are of the double helical type, 8 inches pitch by 3 feet 9 inches wide over shrouding, and are cast of Siemens-Martin steel. All the spindles and boxes in connection with the mill are also of Siemens-Martin steel. The top spindle extending between the pinions and the main rolls is carried in a cradle so as to reduce the wear on the wobbler ends, this cradle rising and falling in unison with the top roll end. The main bedplate measures 40 feet long by about 12 feet broad, by 8½ inches thick, and weighs about 80 tons.

A complete system of live-roller gear is fitted to both sides of the mill for dealing with slabs in the process of rolling, and on the receiving side of the mill, immediately in front of the main rolls, a massive turn-over gear is fitted, capable of dealing with slabs 5 feet wide and 12 tons weight. This turn-over gear is designed not only to turn the slabs on edge, but guide them during the passage through the main rolls, so that it acts both as a turn-over gear and a side guiding apparatus. It is capable of dealing with slabs of any thickness, the tilting arms being mounted on independent carriages which can be brought together as closely as may be desired in dealing with thin slabs, or set wider apart for thick slabs, and the working of this comprehensive apparatus has been all that could be desired. It is really a development of a system devised by Mr James Riley some years ago, and adopted at the works of the Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, and this improved apparatus is the subject of letters of patent held jointly by Messrs. Riley and Lamberton. The whole mill and its accessories are a splendid example of present-day design and practice, and capable, if worked continuously, of dealing with from 300 to 400 tons of slabs per day. The total weight of the mill is about 450 tons. From this mill the slabs are run forward to a fine set of slab cutting shears, supplied by Buckton & Co., Leeds, which are capable of cutting slabs 42 inches wide by 12 inches thick.

The Plate Mills

There are two plate mills, one for dealing with plates of moderate dimensions and thickness, the rolls of which are 30 inches diameter by 8 feet wide and another for large plates, the rolls of which are 40 inches diameter by 12 feet wide. Both of these mills are equipped with all modern improvements for enabling large outputs to be accomplished. At the receiving side of the small mill there are two fixed roller tables, one at the soft rolls and one at the hard rolls, while, on the delivery side, there is a travelling roller table for receiving the plates delivered from the soft rolls, and transferring these to the hard rolls for finishing. Steam screwing gear of the most approved type is fitted on the roughing mill housings for breaking down slabs quickly, the screwing gear on the hard rolls being worked by hand in the usual manner. The whole of these live rollers are of steel, the fixed and travelling tables being driven by separate engines, while the whole of the handles are brought to one central platform and operated by one boy.

In the large mill there is also a complete system of live rolling gear at both sides of the mill, these rollers also being entirely of steel. The screwing gear on main housings is also worked by power ; as this mill finishes he plates in one set of rolls, special provision is made on this screwing gear for enabling the rolls to be set together in perfectly parallel lines. This is accomplished by a system of clutches, enabling either screw to be operated independently of the other, and complete control of the upper roll is thereby obtained, so that any inequality in the thickness of plates is can be readily adjusted. This 12 foot mill is, up to the present time, the largest in Scotland. The capacity of these mills is - for the smaller about 150 tons per shift, and for the larger200 tons per shift ; and they can be operated either simultaneously or independently of each other. The plate and cogging mills were designed and built by Messrs. Lamberton & Co., of Coatbridge, whose high reputation in this description of work is well known.

About one-half of the total output of the works is rolled into slabs for the purpose of making boiler and ship plates. The arrangements made for dealing with the slabs and rolling them out into plates are admirable. The slabs are run right into the charging bogey at the end of the mill. The crop ends are removed on a separate bogey. All the work is done by three small locomotives, 6-inch cylinders, built by Bagnalls, of Stafford, and give much satisfaction.
The plate mill at Wishaw rolls plates of any required dimensions, up to 100 feet in length and up to 11 feet 3 inches wide. Angles have been rolled up to 420 feet in length. These angles are rolled direct from the ingot with only one reheat. We believe we are correct in saying that this is the only mill in existence where angles of such great length have been rolled, and we have good authority for adding that on the occasion of a visit paid to these works a few weeks ago by a manager of the Carnegie Company's Homestead Works he expressed both approval and admiration of this feature of the work done. In order to provide for such long angles, of course it has been necessary to construct a specially long shoot, that at Wishaw being over 350 feet long. The angles are taken down the saw-rack and sawn up into a number of small lengths for shipbuilding work, according to the purposes and dimensions specified.

Some of the slabs produced at Wishaw are 11 feet 6 inches long by 3 feet 3 inches wide, and 12 inches in thickness. Every slab is weighed after cogging, before being charged into the re-heating furnace, of which there are five on the opposite side of the works to the melting plant. The average weight of the ship plates produced here is about 35 cwt., and of boiler plates 4 tons, but some boiler-shell plates are produced up to 7 tons. The large plate mill is one of the most solid and heavy pieces of rolling-mill machinery in the kingdom, the 12 feet rolls weighing as much as 23 tons. These rolls were made by Akrill, Roberts and Tenant, the angle-mill rolls having been produced mostly by Tenant, of Coatbridge. At the time of our visit the company were finishing, amongst other work, a considerable order for ship plates for use at Kiel, in Germany.
Besides this ample provision for the manufacture of ship and boiler plates, the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company have facilities for manufacturing large quantities of bars and rails. One of the most recent additions to the plant - which is hardly yet completed - is a large rail-finishing plant at the outer extremity of the works. The rails and bars are manufactured in the same mill, and are then skidded along by the usual method to the bench in question for subsequent treatment.

Boiler Plant

The boiler plant is extensive. Two sets are in rows of ten each, with steam stop valves between. The boilers are of the Lancashire type, and are 28 feet long by 7 feet 6 inches diameter, working at a pressure of 100 lb. per square inch of indicated pressure. They are in process of being fitted with "Economisers" of "Good-brand" type. There are two 18 inch main steam pipes for conveying steam to the various engines. Two sets of single-acting plunger pumps, placed at one end of the nest of boilers, feeds them with water. A double line of rails passes along the front of the boilers, mounted on a pedestal of steel and iron, and about 8 feet from the ground rail level.

Engine Plant

The steelworks have four principal sets of engines. One pair of horizontal engines 46 inches diameter, and 60-inch stroke, drive the bar cogging mill. These engines are geared 2¼ to 1. The makers were Lamberton & Co., Coatbridge.
The slab cogging mill is equipped with a pair of horizontal reversing engines, with cylinders 46 inches diameter by 60-inch stroke, geared 2¼ to 1, and worked at 100lb. boiler pressure. The makers were Crow, Harvey & Co., of Parkgrove Ironworks, Glasgow.
The plate mill engines are of the reversing type, 52-inch cylinders and 60-inch stroke, geared 2 to 1, with link motion. Their main bearings can be oiled from the engineman's platform. They were made by Duncan Stewart & Co., of Glasgow.
The cold plate-cutting shears, made by Messrs. Crow, Harvey & Co., of Glasgow, are fitted with a pair of reversing engines of 24-inch diameter and 30-inch stroke, with gearing, and steam at 100 lb. pressure.
For the Bessemer plant, Messrs. Walker Brothers, of Wigan, supplied a pair of blowing engines of 520 horse power nominal, with steam cylinders 42 inches diameter and air cylinders 54 inches diameter, by 8 feet stroke, working up to 30 lb. air pressure. There is also a set of hydraulic pumping engines of 300 horse-power nominal of 2 feet 6 inches diameter by 36-inch stroke.

Bessemer Plant

The Bessemer plant, which is not at present being worked, consists of three converters, each of about 7 tons capacity, and is equipped with all the usual plant in the form of hydraulic machinery, &c,. When the plant was worked, the hot metal was run up an incline to the converters, which are operated by hydraulic power for turning over. There are two semi-circular pits to the three vessels. The equipment otherwise includes two hydraulic ladle-cranes, each crane working into two converters.

Auxiliary Appliances

The auxiliary appliances include two 15 ton steam cranes, supplied by Messrs. Marshall, Fleming & Jack, of Motherwell, which travel between the casting pit and the reheating soaking furnaces. When these are again heated they are carried by another 15-ton portable crane on to the cradle of the large cogging mill, where they are broken or rolled down to the size required.
Every arrangement is adopted at Wishaw that would be calculated to reduce to a minimum the cost of handling material. A great deal of the work is done quite automatically. As an example, we may refer to the method adopted in dealing with crop ends. These, when cut off, are moved entirely by mechanical power to the melting furnaces for re-treatment, and similarly wagons and bogies are used throughout the works to receive and remove slabs, plates, &c., without any intervention from manual labour. In loading finished work again, the facility with which a Titan travelling crane picks up the heavy plates - some as much as seven tons in weight - and convey them to the wagons places in convenient sidings for removal, is very remarkable. The plate department is served by one of the excellent locomotives, furnished to the company by Messrs. Packett & Sons, of Bristol. The auxiliary shops and offices at Wishaw include a testing house, fitted with two 50-ton Rackton testing machines and a laboratory in which all materials used and produced are analysed. Mr James Riley is the experienced and well-known general manager of the company. The works manager at Wishaw Steelworks is Mr. F. Mills, who has had an excellent training at the works of Palmer's Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Limited, and of the Stockton Malleable Iron Company Limited