Garrett

Garrett Showmans engine "Lady Sarah" at Bromyard show 2008

The firm of Richard Garrett and sons Ltd. was a Suffolk firm of Agricultural engineers, with along history. Most famous as builders of steam engines and tractors.

The Garrett family have lived in Suffolk since the 14th century, but the firm traces its origin to the arrival of Richard Garrett in Leiston in 1778, when he acquired a blacksmith’s shop and forge. His grandson, Richard Garrett III, was in charge of the business by 1836 and promoted a rapid expansion, especially of the manufacture of agricultural machinery for export. The firm became a limited company in 1897. At its peak, there was a workforce of over 2,000 and in 1913 a new works adjoining Leiston railway station was built to increase capacity. Despite a serious fire in 1913, the old Town Works site continued in use. Repudiation of foreign debts by the Russian government in 1919 precipitated a financial crisis and forced Garretts into a merger with eleven other firms, the consortium trading as ‘Agricultural and General Engineers’ with a headquarters at Aldwych House, London. Attempts to diversify from traditional steam traction and agricultural engineering into electric (later motor) vehicles and machine tools were only partially successful; Agricultural and General Engineers went into Receivership in 1932 and the Garrett business was then purchased by Beyer, Peacock and Co Ltd of Gorton, Manchester. Further changes of ownership took place in 1976 and 1980; part of the Station Works remained active until 1985 when final closure took place. The Town Works site was partially redeveloped for housing, the remainder forming the Long Shop Museum; the Station Works site is an industrial estate.

Sulfolk county Archives; [1]

History

Richard Garrett & Sons was a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, steam engines and trolleybuses. Their factory was Leiston Works, in Leiston, Suffolk, United Kingdom.

The company was active under its original family ownership between 1778 and 1932. The company joined the Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE) combine in 1919, and the combine entered receivership in 1932.

The company was purchased by Beyer Peacock in 1932 after the collapse of AGE. The business then continued as the "Richard Garrett Engineering Works" until the works finally closed in 1981.

Today, part of the factory is preserved as the Long Shop Steam Museum. The rest has been demolished and the land used for housing.

Product Range

Portable Engines

The majority of the steam engines produced by Garretts were portable engines - combined with their fixed steam engines and semi-portables, they represented 89% of the work's output.

Traction Engines

Garretts produced a wide range of traction engines and ploughing engines, 49% of which were exported.

Steam Rollers

The construction of rollers was generally apportioned to Aveling & Porter by the AGE combine, limiting the production of these engines by Garretts. 90% of the rollers produced by Garretts were exported. Garrett rollers were produced under license under the name "Ansaldo-Garrett" by Gio. Ansaldo & C. of Italy.

Steam Tractors

Garretts are perhaps best known for their steam tractors, the most popular design of which was the Number 4 compound tractor, commonly referred to as the "4CD".

Steam Wagons

The company produced steam wagons of both the undertype and overtype configurations. Their first steam wagons were three relatively unsuccessful undertypes constructed between 1904 and 1908.

The failed undertype wagons were followed by a relatively successful line of overtypes, the first being constructed in 1909. These wagons developed using the experience Garrett's designers had gained produced the tractors. The majority of these wagons were fitted with superheaters, which was used as a marketing point against the unsuperheated Foden wagons. The overtype wagons were initially produced in a 5 ton capacity, with a 3 ton design following in 1911. By the early 1920s, the overtype wagon market was declining in the face of competition from undertype steam wagons and petrol wagons. In 1926 a last ditch attempt was made to produce an updated design of 6 ton capacity using components from the new undertype designs, but only 8 were produced. Overall 693 overtypes were produced to the firm's designs.

The final Aveling & Porter overtype wagons were assembled by Garretts, under the arrangements made at the formation of AGE.

By 1920 the success of the Sentinel undertypes was evident, and Garretts decided to re-enter the undertype wagon market. Their first prototype was produced in 1921, driven by a two cylinder engine with piston valves actuated by Joy valve gear. Unusually for the time the wagon was fitted with Timken roller bearings on the crankshaft, countershaft and axles. This design was built under license as the "Adamov-Garrett" by Adamov of Czechoslovakia from 1925. In 1926 a prototype rigid six wheeled wagon was produced. In 1927 a poppet valve engine replaced the earlier design, this being used until the end of production in 1932. 310 wagons were produced in this second phase of undertype construction.

Electric Vehicles

From 1916 Garretts produced a range of electric vehicles. Their first foray into the market was with a 3 1/2 ton battery powered vehicle, intended for local deliveries. They later produced trolleybuses and refuse collection vehicles.

Diesel Wagons

Garretts were a pioneer in the construction of diesel engined road vehicles, and their two 1928 built experimental Crude Oil Wagons, known as COWS in the works, are believed to be the first British built wagons fitted with diesel engines from new. These vehicles were constructed using the chassis and running gear from the undertye wagon designs, one a four wheeler and the other a six wheeler, both fitted with a McLaren Benz engine. The COWS proved the concept of a diesel wagon, and in 1930 the company embarked on designing a production vehicle. Due to the company being part of the AGE combine, the engine chosen for the design was a Blackstone's design, the BHV6. The first vehicle, designated the GB6, was completed in 1931 and test programme was initiated. The venture was not successful, primarily due to the unreliability of the Blackstone engine, and the perilous economic state of the works at that time. After the company was bought by Beyer Peacock, a half hearted attempt was made to market the design with a Gardner engine fitted, but no wagon was ever produced.

UK Preserved Machines

Please add any known machine details to the list.
Click Here to edit list.

Preserved machines built Richard Garrett & Sons Ltd (only 121 listed in TER)

Engine No.	Name	Build Date	Type	Weight	Power nhp	Reg No.	Owner	Images	Other info
Garrett no. 15152	-	1882	Portable engine	-	4 nhp	-	Preston Services ?		Oldest Garrett Engine known in UK
Garrett no. 17880	-	1899	PE	- ton	6 nhp	-	Preston Services
Garrett no. 23992	Lucy	1902	Traction Engine	? ton	6 nhp	CF 8478	S.E. Davis & Son collection		At Astwood Bank Vintage Gathering 2009
Garrett no. 25565	Lucinda	1906	Steam tractor	4 ton	3 nhp	BJ 2330	Owner ?, Holland		Exported to Holland in 19?
Garrett no. 26046	Josephine	1906	TE	10 ton	7 nhp	PU 3157	Owner ?, Bucks
Garrett no. 27013		1908	PE	- ton	4 nhp	-	Owner ?,		Self moving portable
Garrett no. 27160	British Hero	1908	SRL	? ton	6 nhp	AD 1891	Oliver collection, Cheshire
Garrett no. 27341		1908	TE	9.5 ton	7 nhp	BL 8322	Owner ?, Hexham
Garrett no. 27342	Pride of Scotland	1909	ST (reverted from RR conv)	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 668	Owner ?, Australia		Exported to Australia in 1977
Garrett no. 27673	Conqueror	1909	Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	HP 2200	Owner ?, Kiderminster
Garrett no. 27946	Vera	1909	Road Loco	16 1/2 ton	6 nhp	OI 6818	Peter Haining, East Sussex		At Tinkers Park Rally 2010
Garrett no. 28068	-	1910	ST	7 ton	4 nhp	-	Owner ?, Canterbury
Garrett no. 28218	Margaret	1909	TE	9.5ton	7 nhp	CF 3556	Owner ?, Wellingborough
Garrett no. 28249	Bruce	1910	TE	12 ton	7 nhp	FX 8223	D B Ragsdale, Nottinghamshire		At Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally 2008
Garrett no. 28273	The Kings Own	1910	RR	6 ton	? nhp	BF 5505	Owner ?, Sheffield	To add (Harewood & GDSF)	Exported to Germany and Badged Henninger
Garrett no. 28408	Elizabeth	1910	RR	10 ton	? nhp	AO 6201	Owner ?, Leeds
Garrett no. 28410	Mercury	1910	TE	9 ton	7 nhp	NO 1186	Peter Best, ?		At Cheltenham Steam and Vintage Fair 2009
Garrett no. 28758	Earl of Eldon	1910	TE	12 ton	7 nhp	FX 7239	R. Loader Family, Bournemouth	to add	At Netley Marsh Steam Show 2011
Garrett no. 29027	-	1911	TE	9.5 ton	7 nhp	HR 3924	Owner ?, Chippenham
Garrett no. 29764	Olive	1911	TE	9 ton	6 nhp	AC 9326	Owner ?, Brighton
Garrett no. 29781	-	1911	st	7 ton	4 nhp	CT 7826	Owner ?, Notts
Garrett no. 30826	-	1912	Wagon	3 ton	? nhp	BJ 1366	Worbley family		At Strumpshaw Steam Rally. (rebuilt from parts)
Garrett no. 30877	-	1912	Portable	-	power	-	Owner ?		On Loan to the Garrett Museum, Leiston
Garrett no. 30959	Cornishman	1912	TE	5 ton	4 hp	BJ 1458	?		GDSF 2008
Garrett no. 31111	-	1913	PE	-	5 nhp	-	Owner ?, St Austell
Garrett no. 31193	The Star	1913	Showman's tractor conversion	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 1659	Owner ?, Holland		Exported 1997
Garrett no. 31210	Wallace	1913	Tractor	5.5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 1643	W. Balsdon, Exeter	to add	At Powderham Castle Rally 2011
Garrett no. 31633	MrPotter	1913	Tractor type 4CD	5 1/2 ton	4 nhp	BJ 1696	B & L Brown, Buckinghamshire		at Woodcote Rally 2009 (parts from no. 34582 used )
Garrett no. 31878	-	1914	PE	? ton	? power	-	Owner ?,
Garrett no. 31879	-	1913	PE	? ton	7 nhp	-	Preston Services
Garrett no. 32048	Lady Raglan	1914	Tractor - 4CD	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 1969	B Cook. Pickering, North Yorkshire. Ex Joe Powell Collection		Sold June 2010 at Auction £111,000 + commission
Garrett no. 32122	The Greyhound	1914	Showman's Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BH 8900	Owner ?, Devizes
Garrett no. 32577	-	1916	PE	-	20 nhp	-	Owner ?, Great Yarmouth
Garrett no. 32616	-	1915/6	TE	? ton	4 nhp	-	Owner ?, Coventry
Garrett no. 32762	Princess Mary	1915	SM Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	AD 8954	B. Dunford, Wakefield Yorks	Photo to add	At Lincoln Steam Rally 2008
Garrett no. 32936	Felsted Belle	1916	TE	9.5 ton	7 nhp	ER 603	Owner ?, Wymondham
Garrett no. 32944	Princess Marina	1916	TE	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 3206	Garrett Museum		in the collection at Garretts old works
Garrett no. 32969	Countess	1917	Showmans tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 3280	Owner ?, Tenby
Garrett no. 32981	Katrina	1917	Showmans tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 3282	Owner ?, Southampton
Garrett no. 33007	-	1914	PE	5.5 ton	7 nhp	-	Owner ?, Weston-super-Mare
Garrett no. 33068	-	1918	TE	10 ton	6 nhp	AH 5400	Owner ?, Stoke
Garrett no. 33074	Lady Sarah	1917	SM	5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 3451	owner ?, Shrewsbury		Bromyard 2008
Garrett no. 33091	Margaret	1917	Showman's tractor	5 1/2 ton	4 nhp	BP 6077	Richard Hall, Tewkesbury		At Cheltenham Steam and Vintage Fair 2009
Garrett no. 33120	-	1917	TE	7 ton	5 nhp	-	Owner ?, Tamworth
Garrett no. 33141	Julie	1918	st	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 7721	Owner ?, East Dereham
Garrett no. 33180	The Suffolk Punch	1918	DP Tractor	7 ton	5 nhp	BJ 4483	Garrett Museum		This looks more like a steam car with a vertical boiler
Garrett no. 33219	Annie	1918	ST	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 6180	Owner ?, Cowes IOW
Garrett no. 33259	Invincible	1918	steam tractor	7 nhp	4 nhp	BJ 4159	Owner ?, Retford
Garrett no. 33278	Princess Mary	1918	T	7 ton	4 nhp	DP 4479	John Garman, ?		At Cheltenham Steam and Vintage Fair & GDSF 2009
Garrett no. 33284	Princess Maud	1918	Showmans Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	BX 3099	Graham Atkinson		At GDSF 2008 & Duncombe Park 2009. Part of the Scarborough Fair Collection.
Garrett no. 33295	Princess Royal	1918	Steam tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	NH 5567	Owner ?, Huntingdon
Garrett no. 33296	Adventurer	1918	TE	5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5510	owner ?, Ely, Cambs		Belvoir 2008
Garrett no. 33305	Mighty Atom	1918	Showmans tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	HT 7112	Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway
Garrett no. 33312	-	1918	PE	-	10 nhp	-	Owner ?, Chard
Garrett no. 33348	Leiston Town	1918	Showman's Engine ex RR	7 ton	4 nhp	SZ 100	Hollycombe Steam collection		In the Hollycombe Steam collection, in Hampshire
Garrett no. 33353	The Chough	1919	Steam tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4236	Owner ?, St Austell
Garrett no. 33358	Lord George	1918	Showmans tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	EJ 545	Owner ?, Cambs
Garrett no. 33370	Morning Star	1918	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 2913	Owner ?, Oxford
Garrett no. 33373	Rosemary	1918	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BH 8009	Owner ?, Caernarfon
Garrett no. 33374	Verity	1918	ST ex tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	CE 8250	Owner ?, Hungerford
Garrett no. 33380	Saphire	1918	ST ex Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	CT 4565	Owner ?, Huntingdon
Garrett no. 33395	Maeve	1918 (1987)	ST ex tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 3398	Fynn Lynch, Co. Down	to add	Ex WD tractor. At Shanes Castle Steam Rally 2013
Garrett no. 33414	Horace	1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4195	Owner ?, Daventry
Garrett no. 33419	Challenge	1919	ST ex tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4201	Owner ?, Loughborough
Garrett no. 33442	Caroline	1919	TE	9.5 ton	7 nhp	BL 9009	Owner ?, Kent
Garrett no. 33458	Old Pal	1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4242	Owner ?, Chelmsford Essex
Garrett no. 33459	Samson	1919	ST	7ton	4 nhp	TC 64	Pady Denby, Co. Wexford	to add	At Shanes Castle Steam Rally 2013
Garrett no. 33486	Queen of Gt.Britain	1919	Showman's	5 ton	4 nhp	AD 8787	A. Turner from York		At Barnard Castle Steam Fair 2009
Garrett no. 33488		1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4304	Owner ?, Bedford
Garrett no. 33505 (non UK engine)	The Rambler	1919	Steam tractor	6 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4308	Owner ?, in Holland
Garrett no. 33545	Henry Ex Pride of Surrey	1919	Showmans Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4384	N. Greenaway	to add	At Great Bucks Steam Fair 2011
Garrett no. 33566	Little Billy	1919	ST	7 ton	4 nhp	AD 9069	The Saunders Collection		At Pickering 2011
Garrett no. 33588		1919	PE	?	?	-	Owner ?, ROI		Misc info
Garrett no. 33612		1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4484	Owner ?, Clevedon		Part rebuilt in 2004
Garrett no. 33632	That'll Do/Joyce	1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	TB 3740	Owner ?, Matlock		Misc info
Garrett no. 33636	Madge	1919	RR	10	4 nhp	BJ 4514	Owner ?, Nantwich		Misc info
Garrett no. 33647		1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4508	Owner ?, Bishop Stortford		Misc info
Garrett no. 33677		1919	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4603	Owner ?, ROI		Misc info
Garett no. 33705	Pendle Princess	1919	ST ex tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4788	Owner ?, Japan		Exported to Japan in 1976
Garrett no. 33738	Lord Raglan	1919	Tractor - 4CD	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 4791	Richard & Tony Waistell. Bracknell, Berks Ex Joe Powell Collection		At Strawberries and Steam 2011 - Bought at Auction June 2010 - £105,000 + Commission
Garrett no. 33782	Dorothy	1920	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BL 5337	Owner ?, Southampton		Misc info
Garrett no. 33818	Enterprise	1920	ST	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5323	Owner ?, IOW		Misc info
Garrett no. 33827	-	1920	TE	weight	power	IW 2731	T Whitcombe, Swansea	to add	at Rhondda Transport Festival 2010 & Welland 2011
Garrett no. 33829	Empress	1920	T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5157	?, Colchester
Garrett no. 33899	Queen Phillippa	1920	ST ex T	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5333	Owner ?, Bedford		Rebuilt as ST during 1960s
Garrett no. 33902	Medina	1920	Showmans Tractor	?	?	BJ 5340	Thursford Steam Museum		In the Thursford Steam Museum collection in Norfolk
Garrett no. 33941	Evening Star	1920	ST	5.5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 2484	Owner ?
Garrett no. 33953	Anne	1920	Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5522	Owner ?
Garrett no. 33986	Anker	1920	Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5601	Owner ?		On Loan to Hollycombe Steam collection
Garrett no. 33987	The Leader / Woofy	1920	Showmans Tractor	5.5 ton	4 nhp	BJ 5597	Owner ?
Garrett no. 33991	Patricia	1921	Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	FK 1300	Owner ?
Garrett no. 34045	Lou Lindy	1921	TE	?	?	BJ 6628	Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum		Strumpshaw Hall Museum
Garrett no. 34049		1920	PE	? weight	? nhp	-	Owner ?, Northallerton
Garrett no. 34084	The Baroness	1922	RR	10 ton	5nhp	BJ 7045	Owner ?, Nantwich	To add	At Much Marcle Steam Rally 2014
Garrett no. 34165	Clacton Queen	1922	RR	10 ton	? nhp	PU 1042	Owner ?, Clacton
Garrett no. 34185 (non UK engine)	De Gebroders	1921	Roller	? ton	? nhp	-	owner ?		In Holland? Was at a Dutch show in 2004
Garrett no. 34187	Kathleen	1922	TE	? ton	6 nhp	AH 9623	In Thursford Steam Museum collection		Thursford Steam Museum 2008
Garrett no. 34193	-	1924	Portable	5 ton	? nhp	-	Dingles Steam Village Museum		GDSF 2008
Garrett no. 34265	Consuelo Allen	1923	Steam roller	10 ton	4 nhp	SV 4945	Garrett Museum		In the Long Shop Museum, in part of Garretts old works
Garrett no. 34267		1924	RR	10 ton	5 nhp	BJ 9844	Owner ?, Basildon
Garrett no. 34461	Victoria	1924	TE (was a roller for 13y)	5 ton	4 hp	PM 4795	I. Houlgrave, Willoughby ?		Belvoir & Lincoln 2008
Garrett no. 34471	-	1925	Portable	-	?	-	Garrett Museum		In the Garrett museum collection
Garrett no. 34539	Evelyn	1924	Steam Tractor	7 ton	4 nhp	CF 5488	Owner ?, Sudbury		Misc info
Garrett no. 34574		1924	PE	weight	power	-	Owner ?, ROI		Misc info
Garrett no. 34582	-	1924	type	weight	power	Reg no.	Owner		Parts used to rebuild Garrett no. 31633
Garrett no. 34594	?	1924	RR	10 to	? nhp	IT 644	Skelton family, ex Galway ROI		A Rare Garrett Roller Moving to USA
Garrett no. 34641	Bunty	1924	T	7 ton	4 nhp	CF 5913	Bressingham Steam Museum		Bressingham Steam Museum
Garrett no. 34659		1924	PE	weight	power	-	Owner ?, Taunton		Misc info
Garrett no. 34684	Hot Favorite	1924	T type 4CD	7 ton	4 nhp	PU 6591	Owner ?, Launceston Cornwall		Misc info
Garrett no. 34706	Lady Sylvia exLondon Belle	1925	Showmans	10 ton	4 nhp	PU 7494	Owner ?, Padstow		Boconnoc Steam Fair 2008
Garrett no. 34719		1925	PE	weight	power	-	Owner ?, Ormskirk		Misc info
Garrett no. 34751		192?	W (reconstruction)	weight	power	Reg no. ?	Owner ?, Chatham		Wagon being rebuilt from surviving parts
Garrett no. 34789	Cornish Star	1926(2009)	Tractor ex RR	5 ton	4 nhp	YB 7841	Owner ?, Yeovil		GDSF 2008
Garrett no. 34841	-	1926	Wagon QL	6 ton	? nhp	RT 1940	Mick Walters, Dewsbury		Harewood House Steam Rally 2008
Garrett no. 34932		1926	W - Tipper	6 ton	? nhp	SX 2395	Owner ?, Canada		Exported to Canada in ?
Garrett no. 35188		192?	PE	? ton	? nhp	-	Owner ?, ?		Misc info
Garrett no. 35225	Lesley	1929	TE	5 ton	4 nhp	OU 3239	Owner ?		?
Garrett no. 35313	-	1929	Portable	? ton	4 nhp	-	Goddard collection	To add	Lister Tyndale Steam Rally 2008
Aveling & Porter no. 35331		1929	W (parts only)	6 ton	4 nhp	KR 783	Owner ?, Maidstone		incomplete
Garrett no. 35401	'	1930	PE	? ton	? nhp	-	Owner ?, St Austell		Misc info
Garrett no. 35425	Old Vic	1930	PE	? ton	4 nhp	-	Owner ?, Haddenham Bucks		Misc info
Garrett no. 35461	Rob Roy	1931	TE	? ton	6 nhp	OU 9309	Current owner ?		Sold by ? (traded in to buy a Steam wagon)
Garrett no. 35464	Name ?	1931	W - 6 wheel	8 ton	4 nhp	RV 899	Owner ?, York
Garrett no. 35465	Name ?	1931	W - tipper	8 ton	4 nhp	CV 5166	Owner ?, Bishops Stortford
Garrett no. ?	Name ?	date built	type	weight	power	Reg no.?	Owner ?
Garrett no. ?	Name ?	date built	type	weight	power	Reg no.?	Owner ?
Garrett no. ?	Name ?	date built	type	weight	power	Reg no.?	Owner ?

Machine types Key:	References
SW = Steam Wagon, PE = Ploughing Engine, RR = Road Roller, SM = Showmans, TE = Traction Engine

(add details of different models here)

Steam Engines / Tractors

• 1918 Tractor 4 hp 7 ton No.33295 "Princess Royal"
• 1919 Tractor 4 hp 5 ton No.33738 "Lord Raglan"
• 1924 Tractor 4 hp 5 ton No.34461 "Victoria" reg no.PM 4795 (photo left)

Garrett tractor s/n 34461 of 1924 "Victoria" reg no PM7495 at Belvoir castle show 2008

Showmans

• 1917 Showmans No.33074 "Lady Sarah" BJ 3451. (Photo above)

See also

• Aveling & Porter
• AGE Early conglomerate
• Blackstone engines
• McLaren Benz engines

preservation

• Shows and Meets
• Museums List
• Clubs Listing

Reference

• Long Shop Steam Museum
• Photographic gallery of the company's traction engines
• Richard Garrett III — Saxmundham Website