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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 offering products for the nuclear engineering industry.

History

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

By 1914 it 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, it was awarded a contract to supply boilers and reactor pressure vessels for Berkeley nuclear power station.[2]

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

References