John Thompson (company)

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]

• Grace's guide