Catalogue description Records of Seagers Ltd., Engineers, of Dartford

Financial, corporate and administrative records

Seagers Ltd., Dartford, engineers

Deposited 27 November 1986 and 28 September 1987

[Acc. 2859]

These record were deposited by Mr. G.H. Porteus who supplied the following background information:

The Company was founded in 1875 as a partnership between L.J. and C.J. Seager (brothers), and became a private limited company in 1907. It was based at Overy Street Ironworks, and was described in Kelly's Directory of 1882 as 'engineers, iron-founders, millwrights and smiths'. The 1905 Directory includes 'steam engine and boiler fitters and pump makers', and in 1915 the company were 'makers of ice-making, refrigerating and compressing machines'. The expansion into the refrigerating and air-compressing side of the business was due to Mr. Henry Brier, formerly employed by J. and E. Hall of Dartford, a company of major importance in this field.

According to Mr. Porteus, the company carried out general engineering work for many West Kent firms, including A.E. Reed and Co. (paper makers) and APCM (cement). It also manufactured refridgerating equipment for ships belonging to the British Tanker Co. (a subsidiary of Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.), and built carbon-dioxide air compressing machines for the British Oxygen Co. Butter- mixing tables were produced for Fairfields Ltd., and work carried out for the Lullingstone silk farm.

The company employed 100-120 people in its drawing office, pattern-making shop, iron and brass foundry and machine shop.

Towards the end of its existence the company ceased manufacturing on its own behalf, and in 1977 moved to Crayford High Street. It went into liquidation in 1985.

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