Holman Bros Ltd
Encyclopedia
Holman Brothers Ltd. was a mining equipment manufacturer founded in 1801 based in Camborne
, Cornwall
, UK.
Holman was Camborne's, and indeed Cornwall's largest manufacturer of industrial equipment. Holman played a part in World War II
making the Polish designed 20mm Polsten
gun, similar to the Oerlikon but simpler to build and use. It also produced the Holman Projector
for the Royal Navy
.
At its height Holmans was spread over three sites within Camborne, employing some three and half thousand men.
Cornish mining is renowned worldwide. Alongside the mining industry there evolved an industry manufacturing specialised mining equipment. Holman’s founder, Nicholas Holman started a boiler works in 1801.
by a James McCulloch. the brothers filed a joint patent with McCulloch, and began to manufacture the new drill. It became known as the "Cornish Rock Drill", and achieved great commercial success.
1882-The rock drill was at work at Dolcoath
, Tincroft, East Pool
, South Crofty
, at Falmouth Docks
and in mines in South Wales. The demand grew rapidly.
1896-More than 1,000 Cornish rock drills were in use on The South African Rand alone. By the turn of the century the number had doubled. Most of these drills came from Holman in Camborne.
1910-The company took first and third prizes in a World Rock Drilling Contest, sponsored by the South African
Chamber of Commerce.
Later, the Holman Silver 303 Airleg was used all over the world for mine development.
The first successful drills were the piston type, or "reciprocators." The drill steel piston
and chuck
moved together and reciprocated. In Leyner's hammer drill the steel was held loosely in a chuck attached to the cylinder itself, while the piston inside the cylinder reciprocated, striking blows on the blunt end of the drill steel. The hammer drill was lighter, speedier, and used less air than the reciprocating drill.
Leyners earlier drills used a blast of air blown through a hollowed or channelled drill steel to keep the drill holes clear of rock chippings: these drills, however, raised too much dust. To overcome this Leyner introduced water along the drill together with the blast of air. This machine soon ousted the previous one, and was taken up by the Holman factory on a large scale.
1894-Holman manufactured the largest compressor plant ever used in Cornwall. Installed at Carn Brea Mine.
1959-Holman introduced the Rotair, Britain's first single stage oil flooded rotary screw compressor.
1968-A merger took place with Broomwade to form CompAir Holman.
By May 2003 "Portable Compressor manufacturer CompAir, which employs 184 people in West Cornwall, announced earlier this month that increasing international competition meant it was intending to close its Camborne operation by September. It has begun a 90-day consultation period with staff. "
Camborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
making the Polish designed 20mm Polsten
Polsten
The Polsten was a low cost Polish development of the 20 mm Oerlikon gun. The Polsten was designed to be simpler and much cheaper to build than the Oerlikon without reducing effectiveness.-Development:...
gun, similar to the Oerlikon but simpler to build and use. It also produced the Holman Projector
Holman Projector
The Holman Projector was an anti-aircraft weapon used by the Royal Navy during World War II, primarily between early 1940 and late 1941. The weapon was proposed and designed by Holmans, a machine tool manufacturer based at Camborne, Cornwall...
for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
At its height Holmans was spread over three sites within Camborne, employing some three and half thousand men.
Cornish mining is renowned worldwide. Alongside the mining industry there evolved an industry manufacturing specialised mining equipment. Holman’s founder, Nicholas Holman started a boiler works in 1801.
Rock drills
1881-The brothers John Henry and James Miners Holman, had taken over running the business from their father John. They were offered the designs of a new rock drillRock Drill
Rock Drill is the last studio album by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, which was released in the UK in 1978. This album did not feature the band's keyboardist Hugh McKenna, owing to an internal dispute - however three songs from the album are co-credited to him. McKenna has since recorded his...
by a James McCulloch. the brothers filed a joint patent with McCulloch, and began to manufacture the new drill. It became known as the "Cornish Rock Drill", and achieved great commercial success.
1882-The rock drill was at work at Dolcoath
Dolcoath mine
Dolcoath mine was a copper and tin mine in Camborne, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. Its name derives from the Cornish for 'Old Ground', and it was also affectionately known as The Queen of Cornish Mines. The site is north-west of Carn Brea. Dolcoath Road runs between the A3047 road and Chapel Hill...
, Tincroft, East Pool
East Pool mine
East Pool mine , was a metalliferous mine in the Camborne and Redruth mining area, just east of the village of Pool in Cornwall, England. Worked from the early 18th century until 1945, first for copper and later tin, it was very profitable for much of its life...
, South Crofty
South Crofty
South Crofty is a metalliferous Tin and Copper mine located in the village of Pool, Cornwall, England UK. An ancient mine, it has seen production for over 400 years, and extends almost two and a half miles across and down and has mined over 40 lodes. Evidence of mining activity in South Crofty has...
, at Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks are the docks of the town of Falmouth in Cornwall, England, UK.The docks are served by the Falmouth Docks railway station. Policing is by the Falmouth Docks Police.-Further reading:...
and in mines in South Wales. The demand grew rapidly.
1896-More than 1,000 Cornish rock drills were in use on The South African Rand alone. By the turn of the century the number had doubled. Most of these drills came from Holman in Camborne.
1910-The company took first and third prizes in a World Rock Drilling Contest, sponsored by the South African
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Chamber of Commerce.
Later, the Holman Silver 303 Airleg was used all over the world for mine development.
The first successful drills were the piston type, or "reciprocators." The drill steel piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
and chuck
Chuck (engineering)
A chuck is a specialized type of clamp used to hold an object, usually an object with radial symmetry, especially a cylindrical object. It is most commonly used to hold a rotating tool or a rotating workpiece...
moved together and reciprocated. In Leyner's hammer drill the steel was held loosely in a chuck attached to the cylinder itself, while the piston inside the cylinder reciprocated, striking blows on the blunt end of the drill steel. The hammer drill was lighter, speedier, and used less air than the reciprocating drill.
Leyners earlier drills used a blast of air blown through a hollowed or channelled drill steel to keep the drill holes clear of rock chippings: these drills, however, raised too much dust. To overcome this Leyner introduced water along the drill together with the blast of air. This machine soon ousted the previous one, and was taken up by the Holman factory on a large scale.
Compressors
Holman began to manufacture compressors. The first "Cornish" compressors were built to designs adapted from existing steam engines.1894-Holman manufactured the largest compressor plant ever used in Cornwall. Installed at Carn Brea Mine.
1959-Holman introduced the Rotair, Britain's first single stage oil flooded rotary screw compressor.
1968-A merger took place with Broomwade to form CompAir Holman.
By May 2003 "Portable Compressor manufacturer CompAir, which employs 184 people in West Cornwall, announced earlier this month that increasing international competition meant it was intending to close its Camborne operation by September. It has begun a 90-day consultation period with staff. "