INDUSTRIES The foundry was a very small one, never employing more than ten persons. It was closed in 1904. It was worked for a short time by Redruth Foundry Company. Several foundries have been established at Redruth, all on a comparatively small scale, the most important being that originated by the late Mr. G. H. Prout about the year 1875. It was carried on for some years in a small way as a private concern. By enterprise and ability Mr. Prout developed the concern to such an extent that after about a dozen years it became neces- sary to introduce additional capital. Friends joined the founder and formed a limited com- pany, further development of the business resulting. Owing, however, to shortage of money and depression in mining the company became insolvent, and was wound up in the year 1899. The present company the Redruth Foundry Company, Limited, of which Captain Joseph Pryor, M.I.M.E., C.E., is the managing direc- tor, purchased the works as a going concern. With ample capital and the infusion of good business ability and energy, the company have been very successful, and now employ nearly I oo persons. The machinery is driven by electricity. All kinds of mining machinery are made ; a speciality is the patent Automatic Feed Amalgamator or Pulverizer for crushing gold, tin, etc. The company also do a good business with their well-known Cornish Cooking Ranges ; they also build carriages. For a short period the company worked the St. Agnes Foundry as a branch. Messrs. R. Stephens and Son's Works at Carn Brea are almost exclusively devoted to the manu- facture of rock drills. Their ' Climax ' drill has achieved a high reputation in the mining world. The works were originated in the year 1880 by the late Mr. Richard Stephens, the father of the present proprietor, Mr. W. C. Stephens. They were laid down on a somewhat small scale for the manufacture of rock drills, which has been steadily followed to the present time. The development of the works has been gradual, necessitating from time to time the acquisition and laying-down of additional and up-to-date plant. The number of employes has increased from less than a dozen in the early stages of the works to nearly 200. Having concentrated their thoughts and ener- gies on the design and production of rock drills, the firm may claim to be specialists for these machines. Enormous numbers of their drills have been supplied to the South African, Indian, Australian, and other markets, where they are as familiar as in the Cornish mines, and where the firm claim to have attained record boring results. Latest improvements in their drills are the patent Climax Dust Allayer and the patent Simplex Tool-holder. The firm attach the utmost importance to the Dust Allayer as a preventive of miners' phthisis. About the year 1854 Mr. John Jewell and a Mr. Hosken erected a small foundry at Basset Wharf, Tarrandean, in the parish of Perranar- worthal. Employment was afforded for about ten or a dozen persons who were engaged on general mine repairs. With the closing of the local mines this work fell off. It was then con- verted into a bone-crushing mill, but was closed without actually being set to work as such. Mr. Jewell died about the year 1887-1888. In November, 1893, Mr. Walter Visick of the same parish, an enterprising mechanic and engineer, acquired the property from Mr. Basset of Tehidy, and began operations under the name of W. Visick and Sons. Beginning in a very small way, a good business has been developed, and employment is now given to about thirty persons. The usual work is hand and steam derrick and other cranes, steam winches for ships, steam blondins or aerial railways, motor work, railway and other contractors' plant, loco- motive and traction repairs. A small foundry was established at Saltash in the year 1877 by Messrs. Loam and Son for making rock drills, and was worked for thirteen years, being closed in 1890 in consequence of the expiration of the patent and the unremunera- tive nature of the business. In the Parochial History of the County of Cornwall, vol. iv, published by William Lake, Truro, in 1872, reference is made under the heading of Stithians to 'Bryant's Foundry,' and to the village of ' Foundry ' in the parish. The term is a misnomer, and is a mere localism. About a century ago a small hammer mill was built by a John Bryant, and afterwards worked by one John Bache. In the year 1891, a Mr. Randle acquired the property, the mill having been idle for several years ; it was closed between the years 1875-1885. The only articles that were made, it appears, were shovels ; never more than three persons were employed. The foundry of Messrs. Sara and Burgess was originated in the year 1857 by the late Mr. Nicholas Sara, at one time a foreman at Perran Foundry. On his retirement in 1887 his son, Mr. E. B. Sara, was joined by Mr. John Burgess, formerly of Perran Foundry, and the business of marine and mining engineering, boiler-making, etc., was carried on in the name of Sara and Burgess. On the death of the latter in 1889, Mr. Sara was joined by his son. General mining machinery has been made for South Africa and Spain. For home industries and local concerns a good business has been done. The works formerly employed from 140 to 150 persons, but owing to depression, com- petition, and other causes the number is now only about fifty. Mr. Nicholas Sara, the founder of the business, died at Falmouth in 1895, aged eighty-three. 575
