J. & H. McLaren (1876 - 1959)
Biography
J. & H. McLaren was founded in Leeds in 1876 by brothers John (1850-1920) and Henry (b.1854) McLaren and soon developed a reputation for making strong and reliable engines.
McLaren produced a range of general purpose engines, road engines, agricultural and steam engines, including a small number of showmen's engines.
John and Henry became engineers through an apprenticeship at Black, Hawthorn and Co building railway, stationary and marine steam engines. In 1869 their father purchased a set of ploughing tackle from the Fisken brothers of Hunslet in Leeds, who produced steam ploughing tackle. Fisken later merged with Ravnesthorpe Engineering Company, where John was employed in 1871. John McLaren eventually became a partner within Ravensthorpe but the company was dissolved by 1876 and John started his own company with his brother Henry at the same location. The Hunslet area of Leeds was well known for its engineering companies, being the base of one of the main manufacturers in the country John Fowler and Co. During the following years, McLaren progressed and grew in size, absorbing nearby buildings to cope with demand and becoming one of Fowler’s main competitors.
During the First World War, McLaren produced equipment for the war effort and John McLaren was awarded a knighthood for his contribution.
McLaren invested heavily in the development of their overseas market, which included New Zealand, Australia, South America, Italy, South Africa and Germany.
By the 1930s steam power was being replaced by internal combustion engines and diesel power and McLaren partnered up with Benz to build engines for their main markets; road, railways and agriculture, becoming the first significant mass manufacturer in the UK.
The company remained in the McLaren family until 1943, when it was sold to the Associated British Oil Engine Company. In December 1945, they took over Kitson and Co. and during this time they also entered a business agreement with Petters Limited, thus the re-naming of some of their engines as Petter-McLaren.
The company continued trading until 1957 when the Associated British Oil Engine Company was taken over by Hawker Siddeley, which only operated for another two years until they closed in January 1959.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Bernard Fielding Collection
Photographs and scrapbooks compiled by Bernard Fielding. Each scrapbook contains a mixture of press cuttings including Fairground Mercury and World’s Fair, photographs, postcards, Paul Braithwaite history and patent material. Augmented by handwritten notes and research from other enthusiasts.
Scrapbook, c1990 - 1999
Loose pages from scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings from various sources including the Fairground Mercury and the World's Fair newspaper, photographs, postcards, research material, Paul Braithwaite's history and patent material and other notes by various fairground enthusiasts and compiled by Bernard Fielding.
Scrapbook Page, SE1, Showmen's Engines Allchin to McLaren, c1990 - 1999
Blue loose leaf folder marked as SE1, Showmen’s engines, Allchin to McLaren. Includes material on Showmen’s Engines, notes to 1990’s. Compiled by Bernard Fielding.