Records of John Hastie & Co Ltd, steering gear manufacturers, Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Administrative records, 1879-1953
  • Technical books, 1873-1976
  • Technical drawings including: screw steering gears, hydraulic screw steering gears, Siemans electric steering gears, steering strands and wheels, bridge steering gears, patent liquid brakes, rudder brakes, quadrants, deck shafter & brackets, Bootman's Patent Feed Water filter and patent teledyne, Bootman's and Graham'a Patent Economic Valve, Halyard & Other winches, Bakehouse machinery, machine tools, hydraulic and related machinery, prime moves and associated machinery, Craig's weighing/discharging apparatus, miscellaneous machinery, gunpowder machinery, water engines, Hele-shaw pumps, sundry tracings, steering gear, site and works plans, 1872-1969
  • Photographs, 20th century
  • Microfilm of drawings and gear order books
  • Publicity materials and technical instructions, 1890s-1975

Administrative / Biographical History

John Hastie, an engineer and millwright, opened a small works in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland, producing sundry engineering products in 1845. In 1853, he patented the first self-holding steering gear and went on to produce hand-steering gears of the right and left hand screw principle. In 1870, the firm of John Hastie commenced making steam steering gears. The firm took on limited liability status in 1898, becoming known as John Hastie & Co Ltd. From 1903, the company devoted itself to the production of steering gear and was a pioneer in the 1910s in the use of electric hydraulic steering gear.

The firm remained privately owned until 1972, when it was acquired jointly by The Weir Group plc, engineers, Cathcart, Glasgow, Scotland, and Lithgows Ltd, shipbuilders and repairers, Port Glasgow, Inverclye, although it remained an independently operated company. The company was finally dissolved in 1991.

Arrangement

This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by function and/or format. With series, the items are generally arranged chronologically.

Access Information

Requests for access for legal, business or commercial purposes must be referred to the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.

Acquisition Information

National Archives of Scotland : October 1990

Held under the charge and superintendence of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.

Other Finding Aids

See also University of Glasgow Collections

Manual file level list available in searchroom

Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in London (NRA36364).

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist.Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use & condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard procedures

Custodial History

Records held by John Hastie & Co Ltd prior to acquisition by the National Archives of Scotland

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 800001 Minutes, share registers, pay book and misc papers 1845-1976 held in private hands. Full listing is available on the NRAS On-line Register (NRAS3031), please see http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrasregister/welcome.aspx

Location of Originals

This material is original

Geographical Names