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Manufacturers Index - Babcock, Wilcox & Co.
History
Last Modified: Feb 18 2012 4:33PM by joelr4
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This venerable maker of steam engines and boilers traces its roots to 1856 , when Stephen Wilcox of Rhode Island patented a new type of boiler. In 1867, he established partnership with George Babcock, Babcock, Wilcox & Co., In 1873 they were granted patents for an improved boiler and a stationary steam engine. In 1881, the company was incorporated as The Babcock & Wilcox Co.


Ad from December 1869 "Manufacturer & Builder"

In 1923 the company's Canadian operations—located in Galt, Ontario— purchased Goldie & McCulloch Co., Ltd., a maker of safes, boilers, engines, and woodworking machinery. The merged firm became Babcock-Wilcox & Goldie-McCulloch Ltd., and subsequently Babcock & Wilcox.

In 2000 B&W went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of asbestos-related claims.

Information Sources

  • A British archives site has a history of Babcock & Wilcox that provided some of the history given here.
  • See the entry for Goldie & McCulloch Co., Ltd. for references related to the Goldie-Babcock merger.
  • American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 24