A HISTORY OF CORNWALL On the 9 April, 1860, the late Mr. William Sara began business as a founder at Tolgus, Red- ruth, for making light castings, stamps' heads, etc., for the local mines. During the years 1860 to 1870 a good business was done, and employment was found for from fifty to sixty persons. Mr. Sara died in 1883. The foundry has been carried on since then by his sons. During the past few years operations have been very largely curtailed owing to the closing of so many of the neighbouring mines. There are now not more than about half a dozen mines at work in the district, and the number employed in the foundry at this time does not exceed ten. Mr. W. H. Sara, the only surviving son, is the present proprietor. The Penzance Foundry had its origin in the small foundry carried on by a Mr. Jeffery which Mr. Nicholas Holman of St. Just purchased in 1840. He carried on this branch for several years in conjunction with the business at St. Just. Additions were made from time to time, the most noteworthy being Symons' Shipbuilding Yard in 1862. During the following thirty years attention was paid specially to mining plant. In 1893 the engineering premises and plant of Mr. John Bond in Market Jew Street were purchased and worked in connexion with the foundry on the wharf. In 1895 a cycle business was established, to which later was added a motor department. Two years later the Jubilee Hall in Market Jew Street was pur- chased and added to the engineering premises, and in 1899 the workshops were pulled down and rebuilt. The Penzance Graving Dock and premises were purchased and put into good repair and equipped with the necessary machinery for the building and repairing of ships. These premises were formerly known as Mathews' Dry Docks, and were used for many years by the defunct firm of Messrs. Martin, Matthews & Co., Ltd. The St. Just Foundry was built in the year 1834 by Mr. Nicholas Holman of Pool, Illogan, and the business is still carried on by his sons and grandsons. Beginning in a small way in smithery and casting and the manufacture of agricultural implements, Mr. Holman, by per- severance, energy, and good business ability, made considerable progress and added a large fitting and engineering shop, and began making Cornish mine boilers. In the year 1855 hammer mills were built and two tilt hammers installed since replaced by Nasmyth hammers, for which a separate engine was built. Six years later a wheelwrights' branch was added. In 1860 a complete gas plant was laid down for supplying the works and the town with light. In 1872 larger fitting and erecting shops were built. In 1840 Mr. Holman started a branch business at Penzance. All kinds of mining machinery are made, as well as agricultural im- 57 6 plements. When the mining industry declined the firm developed their agricultural implement and general business, making windmills, water- wheel pumps, cooking ranges, etc. In the year 1867 the founder died at the comparatively early age of 63. Since 1894 the firm has been a limited liability company under the name of Nicholas Holman & Sons, Ltd. The foundry at Truro, known as Dingey's, was originated by two persons, named Burnett and JefFery in or about the year 1835. After a few years they were bought out by a Mr. Webb. Mr. JefFery subsequently re-purchased the business, and in a few years took his son into partnership, built new workshops and developed it into a prosperous business for five or six years. Ruined by mining speculations the property was acquired by Messrs. Hamilton & Dingey. This partnership lasted about fourteen years, when Mr. Dingey bought Mr. Hamilton's share. The business was then carried on under the title of Francis Dingey & Sons. The number employed was about twenty. All kinds of mining machinery were made including the pulverizer bearing Mr. Dingey's name. A considerable quantity of work was done for the Perran iron mines. The require- ments of the city and agriculture found much useful work for this little foundry. Owing principally to the want of capital the foundry was closed about seventeen years ago. In the year 1840 the late Mr. John Toy began business at Meneage Street, Helston, as a general machinist, and a few years later started a foundry which has continued to the present time. Originally all kinds of agricultural ma- chinery and implements were made threshing and winnowing machines, ploughs, etc. The hay tedder, which has had a very large sale, was invented by him. A little later Mr. Toy began making such general mining machinery as came within the range of the limited capacity of his works, and doing repair work. The product by which he was best known was his useful lifting jack, which was made in several sizes, up to 25 tons lifting capacity. It is stated that many thousands of these have been supplied to mines and other works at home and broad. When mining declined Mr. Toy turned his attention to the requirements of shipping and fishing, and by cultivating this business and pushing the agricultural implement trade, and general house work, etc., sought compensation for the loss of the mine work. Mr. Toy died in the year 1900. The busi- ness is carried on by his son, Mr. John Toy, who has introduced pulverizing machinery for the reduction and extraction of ore from mine refuse. The Charlestown Foundry, owned by the Charlestown Foundry and Iron Works Co., Ltd., was established by Mr. James Thomas about the year 1845, on a small scale, to meet the demands
