Kelvin Diesels
Encyclopedia
Kelvin Diesels is a manufacturer of marine diesel engines based in Glasgow
, Scotland
. The company's engines are used in a variety of vessels such as fishing boats and small tugs.
The company expanded rapidly with the move to a new factory at Dobbies Loan, Glasgow in 1910. Output of engines increased to over 700 a year, and in 1915 the poppet valve
range of engines was launched, these engines would remain in production in an updated form until 1968.
In 1921 Walter Bergius designed his sleeve valve
range of engines, though the engines performed well and were very quiet, a feature of sleeve valve engines due to the lack of noisy valves and tappets, the engines were prone to excessive wear. The last sleeve-valve Kelvin engine was made in 1946.
Development of the Kelvin-Ricardo range of engines, designed to replace the sleeve-valve engine range, was undertaken between 1927 and 1930. Harry Ricardo
the famous engine designer was employed as a consultant. The range was continuously developed and remained in production until 1971.
The model "P" range was introduced in 1956 having been designed by Mr. W. Miller who joined the company from Petters Limited
in 1954 and with the model "R" and the model "T" range (Current Production Models) were the first engines not designed by Walter Bergius, to be made by the company. Bergius having died in 1949.
, a subsidiary of the Brush
electrical engineering group. In 1961 the company name changed to Bergius-Kelvin Co.Ltd. and in 1963 Glennifer Engines was acquired by the company. Bergius-Kelvin was purchased by Ruston & Hornsby in 1966, who intern were acquired by English Electric
. The merger of English Electric with GEC in 1968, led to yet another change of ownership. GEC consolidated all production of Kelvin Engines at Kyle Street in 1983. The company was sold to Lincoln Diesels in 1994, and relocated to Uddingston
. In 1998 Torday and Carlisle Ltd. purchased the company.
and engine production was moved to Helen Street in Glasgow.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The company's engines are used in a variety of vessels such as fishing boats and small tugs.
History
The company was founded in 1904 by Walter Bergius as the "Bergius Car & Engine Company". Bergius rented a premises in Finnieston Street, Glasgow, and set about developing his first car which he named the "Kelvin". The car was not a commercial success, however its engine proved to be an excellent marine engine following trials in a rowing gig in 1906. Car manufacture was abandoned, and the company began to specialize in marine engines. In 1907 the company installed one of its engines in a fishing boat, and in 1908 produced its first purpose designed marine engine. The name of the company was changed to the "Bergius Launch and Engine Company".The company expanded rapidly with the move to a new factory at Dobbies Loan, Glasgow in 1910. Output of engines increased to over 700 a year, and in 1915 the poppet valve
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
range of engines was launched, these engines would remain in production in an updated form until 1968.
In 1921 Walter Bergius designed his sleeve valve
Sleeve valve
The sleeve valve is a type of valve mechanism for piston engines, distinct from the usual poppet valve. Sleeve-valve engines saw use in a number of pre-World War II luxury cars and in USA in the Willys-Knight car and light truck...
range of engines, though the engines performed well and were very quiet, a feature of sleeve valve engines due to the lack of noisy valves and tappets, the engines were prone to excessive wear. The last sleeve-valve Kelvin engine was made in 1946.
Development of the Kelvin-Ricardo range of engines, designed to replace the sleeve-valve engine range, was undertaken between 1927 and 1930. Harry Ricardo
Harry Ricardo
Sir Harry Ricardo was one of the foremost engine designers and researchers in the early years of the development of the internal combustion engine....
the famous engine designer was employed as a consultant. The range was continuously developed and remained in production until 1971.
Kelvin-Diesel engines
The company's first diesel engine was introduced in 1931, a 2 cylinder engine which formed the basis of the model "K" range of engines, with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cylinder versions. Later in 1933 a smaller diesel engine called the model "J" was launched, with 2, 3, and 4 cylinder variants. The "K" range remained in production until 1974, and the "J" range continued until 1970.The model "P" range was introduced in 1956 having been designed by Mr. W. Miller who joined the company from Petters Limited
Petters Limited
Petters Limited , were a maker of stationary petrol and diesel engines from 1896 onwards.In 1915 Petter founded Westland Aircraft Works ....
in 1954 and with the model "R" and the model "T" range (Current Production Models) were the first engines not designed by Walter Bergius, to be made by the company. Bergius having died in 1949.
Later history
Following the death of the company's founder Walter Bergius in 1949, the family were forced to sell part of the company to settle death duties. In 1953 the company was acquired by the Associated British Oil Engine CompanyAssociated British Oil Engine Company
The Associated British Oil Engine Company was a British engineering company. It started life as a combine, similar to Agricultural & General Engineers. Petters Limited joined ABOE in 1937 . J&H McLaren & Co. was sold to ABOE in 1943, although it may have been a member from an earlier date...
, a subsidiary of the Brush
Brush Traction
This article is about a British rail-locomotive maker. For the Detroit auto-maker, see Brush Motor Car CompanyBrush Traction is a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives, part of the FKI group , based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, England situated alongside the Midland Main Line.-...
electrical engineering group. In 1961 the company name changed to Bergius-Kelvin Co.Ltd. and in 1963 Glennifer Engines was acquired by the company. Bergius-Kelvin was purchased by Ruston & Hornsby in 1966, who intern were acquired by English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
. The merger of English Electric with GEC in 1968, led to yet another change of ownership. GEC consolidated all production of Kelvin Engines at Kyle Street in 1983. The company was sold to Lincoln Diesels in 1994, and relocated to Uddingston
Uddingston
Uddingston is a small town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the north side of the River Clyde, about seven miles south-east of Glasgow...
. In 1998 Torday and Carlisle Ltd. purchased the company.
The present time
In the year 2000 the company was purchased by British Polar EnginesBritish Polar Engines
British Polar Engines is a manufacturer of diesel engines based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company has over seventy years' experience in the manufacture and supply of spare parts for diesel engines...
and engine production was moved to Helen Street in Glasgow.