Admin/biog history
The firm was first established in St John's Street, London, in 1815 by William Russell, a pupil of Joseph Bramah, to produce hydraulic presses, water closets and soda water machines. In 1835 William Russell died and the business was taken over by Hayward Tyler, in 1837, and moved to premises in Whitecross Street. Hayward Tyler developed the brass foundry side of the business but also continued the manufacture of soda water for which he took out a patent in 1840. The pump range was also being developed - the Universal Pump, a single cylinder steam pump with internal valve gear, and the rider hot air engine and the Duplex pump.
In 1855 Hayward Tyler died and his widow sold the business to a relative, Robert Luke Howard, for £7,500. His brother in law commented on the transaction 'a friend thinks you have got a bargain' (SP1/4/2). Robert Luke Howard was the second son of Samuel Howard of Ashmore in Dorset, and his wife, formerly Rachel Lloyd, and grandson of Luke Howard, the learned meteorlogist. It was Luke Howard's wife who had brought Ashmore into the family. Robert Luke Howard had served his engineering apprenticeship with Messrs Fowler and Fry of Bristol.
In 1863 Robert Luke Howard took his youngest brother, Eliot, as a partner. During this period the firm was expanding - one job taken on was that of manufacturing the machinery to make aerated bread, for example. A new workshop was built. However much of the land was held on relatively short leases and there was little or no scope for expansion, so in 1872 land near the Great Northern Railway in Luton was bought and a new factory built. The head office of the firm still remained in London, though, and they still retained much of their property there. The various members of the Howard family made considerable loans to the firm towards the cost of the Luton buildings. £7500 was paid by David Howard, for example, in 1877, he having taken over, and added to, a loan made by the eldest brother, Samuel. Various employees also seem to have invested money in the firm. Among the buildings erected at this time was a chapel. In 1875 the establishment of a Mechanics' was proposed for Luton and Eliot Howard paid the solicitor's bill (SP2/8/19).
Another relative - Mr Robert Samuel Lloyd - was taken into the firm in 1877 and made a partner in 1881. He was a cousin of Robert and Eliot Howard and he later married Robert's daughter Mary.
The firm began to taken on Government contracts. They built packing presses and in 1878 produced a hay pressing plant for Woolwich dockyard. They also provided the water supply for the hutments at Pretoria in 1901-1902, during the South African War.
In 1868 the Universal Steam Pump had been introduced. In 1888 the tank steamer 'Vindobala' was fitted with a direct acting steam pump made by the firm. In 1890 this type of pump as superseded by the Gordon Duplex Pump.
The firm were also pioneers in electric lighting and contracted to wire the first Edison type lights on Holborn Viaduct.
In 1891 all the land at Luton beyond the works between the railway lines was purchases and a new iron foundry built.
In 1892 the firm proposed to lease allotments to staff so long as they remained employees (SP1/6/8).
Henry Fox Howard, Robert Luke Howard's eldest son, was taken into partnership in 1892 and Eliot Howard's eldest son, Francis Eliot Howard, became a partner in 1899.
In 1900 the Universal Water Meter Company was purchased by the firm, and with it a contract from the New River Company of London (who supplied Hayward Tyler's London premises with water) for making plumbers' fittings.
In 1901 the Whitecross Street property was sold to the brewers, Whitbread's, and the works there were finally closed in 1904, when the offices moved to 99 Queen Victoria Street.
In 1903 the Luton premises suffered a disastrous fire in the engineering shop believed to have been started by a spark from a passing train. The seriousness of the fire was probably due to the fact that the buildings (constructed at the time the firm first came to Luton) were mainly constructed of wood.
During 1902 to 1905 the firm were concerned in the British Engineers' Alliance in South Africa. The objects of the company were to take over and extend the business of engineers and dealers in machinery etc formerly carried out in Johannesburg, South Africa by Howard Farrer & Co. Not surprisingly the Britannia Iron Works, Bedford, were also subscribers to the company. On the winding up of the BEA in 1905, a private firm, Ferguson and Machlachan Ltd took overs its functions, but they also did not last long, going into liquidation in 1908.
1905 saw the incorporation of the firm into a limited company with the partners as directors, Robert Luke Howard being chairman and Eliot Howard secretary. Shortly after this, George Maurice Gibbins, a nephew of R S Lloyd, also became a director.
In 1908 Mr W R McDonald succeeded in winding an electric motor with rubber coated cable and operating it underwater. These were incorporated into Hayward Tyler's marine salvage pumps for which the Admiralty became their principal customers.
Robert Samuel Lloyd died in 1915. Eliot Howard succeeded as chairman. Robert Luke Howard had become partially blind in middle age, attributed to his fondness of working with the microscope by 'The Ironmonger' in their obituary notice. He died in 1919 at the age of eighty five.
In 1923 the firm contemplated purchasing the whole of the pattern stocks and books of Noria Pumps (run by Messrs W J and C T Burgess) but decided instead to buy before the sale some of the tools and bucket pumps (those specifically relating to Noria Pumps) and also the firm's books for £450.
In 1924 occurred a national boiler makers' strike and this adversely affected the firm, who tried to cope by working short time but eventually found it necessary to reduce staff and cut all salaries by 10%.
In 1925 Henry Weston Howard, son of Henry Fox Howard, was appointed a director. Also in the same year a new stores block was built.
Eliot Howard died in 1928 and his place as chairman was taken by Henry Fox Howard. Also in 1928 a new messroom in the garden was built.
In 1929 came a new entrance block and a new foot bridge to the canteen (by arrangement with the L & NW Railway Co.)
Edward Francis Eliot Howard, the son of Francis Eliot Howard, was appointed to the board about 1931.
The next year the firm paid £1000 to Mr Reed-Cooper for patents of the firm of Electromersible Motors and Pumps, and a further £1000 was taken in shares. Hayward Tyler made a serious loss in the financial year 1931-32. It was resolved to leave the present London Office at 99 Queen Victoria Street, and to move to smaller premises at no 97. A 10% salary cut was made and the mineral water department was moved to Luton.
George Maurice Gibbins died in 1933. from 1915 he had been manager of the works, and a director from 1906.
There were further negotiations with Electromersible in 1934. In return for giving up the company's options to take up further capital in Electromersible, the minimum commission was reduced. There were also problems with the Reed Cooper Submersible Pumps. Owing to the unsatisfactory working of the agreement concerning these pumps, consultations were to be held to put matters on a better footing.
No dividend was paid in 1934. In November of that year the first directors' meeting to be held at Luton took place. In December the 10% cut restored. In May 1935 a consultant, Mr Gillespie, was engaged to consider new methods of costing and cost control and he made numerous recommendations as to improvements and centralisation. Henry Weston Fox was appointed General Manager.
In August 1935 it was decided to move the registered offices of the company to Luton, and at Christmas of that year, 97 Queen Victoria Street was given up, and cheaper offices sought. For a short time an office was rented in Shell Mex House, London.
There were still problems with Electromersible. In 1935 it was decided that Hayward Tyler would cancel their agreement with this firm, and no further orders were to be accepted except against cash on delivery.
Henry Fox Howard retired on 30 November 1935 after 45 years with the firm. However he retained his seat on the board of directors.
In March 1936 a night shift was started and shortly afterwards a permanent Works Manager appointed.
1936 saw yet a further development in the firm's position in regard to Electromersible Motors and Pumps. By an agreement signed in October of that year, Hayward Tyler would take over all the assets and liabilities of Electromersible, subject to the bank overdraft being paid off. At least 90% of shares issued were to be transferred to Hayward Tyler. This agreement was signed and sealed in January 1937.
In 1937 also the mould and core drying ovens were rebuilt and reopened in 1938. April 1937 saw a extraordinary General Meeting to pass new Articles of Association.
In May 1937 Giles Philip Eliot Howard, the second son of Eliot Howard, was offered a seat on the board, after having been employed on the staff for the previous six months.
In March 1938 an extension to the iron foundry was agreed and shortly afterwards it was decided that the fitting shop would also be extended. The firm was now involved in ARP matters. Trenches were to be dug and wire mesh to be put over the glass windows.
In December 1938 a loan was made to the Sports Club to equip a field at Stockwood Park.
In the same month it was reported that the foundry no longer complied with the factory act. 4 May 1939 the firm changed its membership from the London to the Luton Chamber of Commerce. July 1939 a 5 day week was in force in the foundries. September 1939 land in Windmill Road was sold to Car Collection Co.
The outbreak of war found the firm much more prepared than others. However they had to camouflage the works at a cost (Oct 1939) of £1275 and also the working day was extended from 8am to 7pm (10 hours) and a 57 hour week was worked.
On 3 November Capt E F E Howard resigned from the board and also from the board of Electromersible Motors and Pumps Ltd as he was not allowed, under King's Regulations, to hold any directorships which he held in peacetime. Mr F E Howard was appointed Sales Manager in the absence of Edward Howard.
30 August 1940 the works were damaged by an air raid - the Stores Block was totally demolished and some damage done to stock.
A further air raid on 15 September 1940 caused extensive damage to the works. In January 1941 the works canteen was built. On 1 May 1941 he firm's name was entered on the schedule of undertakings maintained for the purpose of Essential Work (General Provision) Order, 1941, the firm's rights to discharge workers and workers to leave were strictly controlled. The firm now took over the premises formerly held by Messrs J Balmorth & Co, Luton, to manufacture oerlikon guns.
On 23 May 1941 Mr E F E Howard was re-elected to the board having been released from military service.
In July it was proposed to engage a work's doctor, and one was appointed in August. In September 1941 it was reported that the firm had been placed on the Admiralty vital list.
Mr F E Howard died on 29 October 1941. In May 1942 Mr H W Howard's name was put forward as the full time chairman of the Eastern Area Regional Board and he was appointed from 1 July 1942. As a result Mr E F E Howard's release from military service was extended.
On 26 February 1943 the Minister of Production (Mr O Lyttelton) visited the factory and was most impressed with what he saw. In August of that year it was agreed that new main gates should be erected by the local firm of H C Janes.
Mr H Fox Howard died on 9 April 1944. On 19th May 1944 it was agreed to buy uniforms for the works fire brigade. August saw the start of negotiations with the American firm of Byron Jackson, who offered to handle Hayward Tyler's trade of submersible pumps in the USA. On 23 February 1945 Sulzer Bros asked for exclusive use of submersible motors in connection with pumps for the mining industry.
24 May 1945 Mr H Weston Howard was re-instated as executive director having obtained Ministry of Production approval to his having only unpaid part time status with the ministry.
22 June 1945 agreement was reached with Messrs Sulzer Bros regarding the licensing of pumps for mining industry. It was signed in December.
2 Aug 1945 there was a proposal that the firm move to the Royal Ordnance Factory at Scotswood, Newcastle on Tyne, then occupied by Vickers Armstrong. However this was visited in September and found to be unsuitable. A site at Jarrow was also investigated.
On 25 October it was reported that Mr H Weston Howard had accepted an invitation to serve on a part time basis as an independent chairman of the Eastern Regional Board.
In December an agreement was made with Byron Jackson for a licence to manufacture some of their pumps and in return they would be licensed to manufacture HT wet motors for all applications in the USA.
31 December 1945 Dr Alexander Ivanoff was appointed director of the company. A branch factory was eventually acquired in February when half of a building (the Marine Gardens Factory) at Portobello, Edinburgh, was rented.
July 1946 the agreement with Byron Jackson was signed.
6 Jan 1947 a 5 day 44 hour week introduced. In February of that year the firm of Lamont International Ltd approached Hayward Tyler as they wanted to acquire an interest in HT patents to exclude competition. They were interested not in the manufacture of pumps as such, but in use with their steam generators.
The fuel crisis of 1947 caused problems but the firm manged to cope. June 1947 Mr H Weston Howard was awarded the CBE.
A draft agreement with Lamont was reached in August 1947 and a final form of agreement was made in November.
On 27 November 1947 the directors decided to issue 1st mortgage debenture stock to raise £85,000 at 4% pa interest - partly to finance the new factory. On 5 December 1947 Mr E F E Howard resigned as secretary of the company. 23 January 1948 Edward Howard was nominated as vice chairman and chairman designate of the Council of British manufacturers of Petroleum equipment.
In February Dr Ivanoff was asked to serve on the council of Ironfounders National Confederation. 7 April 1948 the licence with Byron Jackson was extended. It was also agreed to manufacture another American product - the Terry Steam Turbines - under licence.
In July 1948 the construction of a new foundry was suggested. In December it was agreed to raise a further sum of £35,000 1st mortgage debenture stock. Interest 4%.
11 March 1949 Major General R C Reynolds was appointed a director. In June Fairvanks, Morse & co, USA were licensed to sell wet submersible motors for operations for pumps with deep wells.
17 June 1949 W H Howard appointed member of the Tucker Committee and so resigned as member of the Eastern Regional Board. The Byron Jackson agreement was extended - August 1949.
For later history of the firm see SP12/1.