Location type

Name and dates

Note: text in square brackets is added for clarity and was not part of the location's name.

Description

This was the engine works of Alexander Chaplin & Co located in Cranstonhill, just north of Finnieston and Anderston. The company started in 1849 and moved here shortly afterwards. Products included locomotives, traction engines, excavators, cranes (mobile, fixed, railway) and stationary engines.

The company held a patent for vertical boiler locomotives, which featured in many of their products, from the 1860s to the 1900s. It also (also held in the name McKendrick & Ball - see below) held a patent for sea-water distilling apparatus which could be fitted to vessels or used on land. The works did not have railway access, despite the railway locomotive and crane business.

Addresses for the works and office were 58-80 Port St., Anderston (works); 60 Cranston St (office). Both were on the west side of Port Street, between Cranston Street (to the north) and Stobcross Street (to the south, by the Stobcross Rivet Works).

The company moved to the south side of the Clyde to the Cranstonhill Engine Works [2nd], 89 Helen Street, Govan, in 1890. (The original site is now car park.)

An 1885 vertically boilered 0-4-0TG locomotive is owned by Glasgow Museums (currently not on display, 2020). Glasgow Museums Collection - T.1980.43

John McKendrick was a partner of the firm Alexander Chaplin & Co and Henry Ball was the agent in London. With their taking over the firm the name McKendrick, Ball & Co was used, both that name and Alexander Chaplin & Co being registered in London at 63 Queen Victoria street EC.

Examples of locomotive use
- East London Harbour, South Africa (1872)
- Halling Lime and Cement Works (William Lee, Son & Co Ltd)
- Shettleston Oil and Chemical Works (1868)
- Fraserburgh Harbour (1877)

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