The Brass Industry
Brass, a hard wearing alloy of copper and zinc, with a multitude of uses, has probably long been made in Rotherham. I have been able to find little about the early industry but there was a manufacturer of bells in trade in the town in the 18th Century - see Bell Founding. These would have cast in brass.
Rotherham was a leading town in the brass manufacturing industry from the 1840s when Edward Chrimes invented and patented the screw down tap. When Edward died in 1847 Richard Chrimes went into business with John Guest forming the firm of Guest and Chrimes. From this one firm there grew many off shoots, e.g. Gummers Ltd., William Baines & Co, William Heaton & Co. Obviously there was a lot of brass to be made. None of these are any longer in business.
Guest & Chrimes Ltd
Guest & Chrimes were a large Brass Founders and Manufacturers based in Rotherham. The original site was on the river bank just below the old market place but this soon became too small and a new factory was opened on Don Street in the New York area in 1857/8. Part of this building seems to date from before Guest & Chrimes's time and the office frontage has listed status.
The company produced water pipes, gas pipes and fittings, taps and valves, fire hydrants and water and gas meters. Among their main products were:-
- 'Bateman, Moore's and Chrimes' Patent Hydrants or Fire Cocks
- Bell and Chrimes' Patent Service Box Valve
- Chrimes' Patent High-pressure Single and Double Loose-valve and Screw-down Cocks
- Guest and Chrimes' Registered Service Box
- Improved Sluice Cocks
- Pilbrow's Patent Water-Waste Preventer
- Siemens' Patent Balance Water Meter
- Fire-extinguishing Apparatus of all kinds
- Hose couplings, coupling wrenches
- Leather, India rubber, canvas hose
- Sanitary Vessels, Wash-hand Basins, Urinals, Closet Pans, Plug Basins, Hoppers
- General plumbers' and gas-fitters' products
Guest & Chrimes closed in 1999 when their new owner moved production to Derbyshire.
Others
Other places where brass was made was Millmoor Brass Works off Providence Street and other smaller works.