In 1880, this company was established as the W. H. Allen and Co. by William Henry Allen at York Street Works, Lambeth, London. In 1889 William took his son Richard into a partnership.
The Queen's works was constructed at Bedford in 1894 and the business moved there from Lambeth. The name changed was to W. H. Allen Son and Company.
In 1900 the company incorporated as a limited company (W. H. Allen Son and Co Ltd.). and registered on 29 July, to acquire a business of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical engineers.
By 1914, the company had mechanical, hydraulic and electrical engineers. Specialties included high-speed steam engines, centrifugal pumps and pumping engines for irrigation, drainage etc.; auxiliary machinery in connection with warships and the mercantile marine; independent condensing plants, turbine pumps, motors and dynamo electric machinery. Employees were about 1,000.
In 1920 the name was changed to W. H. Allen Sons and Co Ltd. and they merged with Bellis & Morcom Ltd. in 1968 to form part of the Amalgamated Power Engineering group.
Information Sources
- A-Z of British Stationary Engines by Patrick Knight, Volume #1, 1996 page 9
- More history and machine information can be found at Grace’s Guide.