William Foster & Co

Foster Plate

A Foster threshing machine at the Harewood House Steam Rally in 2008

Foster no. 14622 engine "Sir William" FW 1917 at Shugborough Hall Rally 2008

Foster thresher at Much Marcle 2014

William Foster & Co Ltd was an agricultural machinery company based at Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK and usually just called "Fosters of Lincoln".

The company was known for producing threshing machines, regarded as among the best available. They also made traction engines, steam tractors such as the Foster Wellington and Showman's road locomotives, as well as Steam Wagons.

The last showmans engine built by fosters were No. 14632 Success in and No, 14634 Princess Marina a 7 nhp design. During the First World War they built the first tanks for the British Army.

The Tank

The Tank logo on a cast bracket on a thresher

Fosters as builders of agricultural machinery were involved in the production and design of the prototype tanks, which were in effect agricultural tractors with armoured bodies.

After the First World War, The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors decided that the inventors of the Tank were Sir William Tritton, managing director of Fosters together with Major W G Wilson.

Steam Engines

Fosters MERL entry:

Products:

Traction engines, portable engines, grinding mills, thrashing machines, chaff cutters, tanks.

History:

William Foster began his business career as a flour miller, but in 1856 he took the decision to convert his premises into a foundry and engineering shop. Foster began by producing grinding mills, but he soon expanded his product range to include thrashing machines, chaff cutters and portable steam engines.

William Foster died of typhoid in 1876, but the company which he founded continued to prosper and by the outbreak of the First World War the Wellington Foundry employed 350 people. During the war the company made a vital contribution to the Allied cause by developing and manufacturing the world's first tank.

In 1927 Foster & Co. took over the Hammersmith-based pump manufacturer Gwynnes Engineering and three years later pump production was transferred to Lincoln. Over the next few decades the company moved away from the production of agricultural machinery and concentrated on pumps.

In 1960 Foster & Co. was acquired by W H Allen & Co. Ltd and the company began trading as Allen Gwynnes Pumps Ltd. Sadly, the new company did not prosper and the Wellington Foundry closed in 1968.

Steam Wagons

They also manufactured steam lorries (wagons).

Preserved Machinery

Please add any missing engines details to the list.

Preserved machines built by William Foster & Co. Ltd (71 listed in TER list)

Engine No.	Name	Build Date	Type	Weight	Power nhp	Reg No.	Owner	Image	Other info
Foster no. 201	Gt.Tew	1870	PE	4 ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 1384	Name ?	1885	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, Canterbury		Incomplete
Foster no. 2127	Jumbo the 4th	1898	TE	? ton	8 nhp	DO 2003	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 2163	Master Fred	1896	TE	? ton	8 hp	DO 1945	Owner ?		Oldest Foster TE - more photos on Steam Scenes
Foster no. 2373	-	1899	TE	? ton	8 hp	DO 2050	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 2728	Stargazer	1903	TE	? ton	? hp	V 7917	Owner ?, Rudgwick	To add	At Rudgwick Steam rally
Foster no. 2775	Jane	1903	TE	? ton	8 nhp	FW 3333	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 2821	Beryl	1903	Traction	? ton	? hp	BE 7228	Bressingham Steam Museum		In the collection of Bressingham Steam Museum
Foster no. 2948	Abigail	Date	Tractor	3 ton	3 hp	CT 5475	David Ragsdale collection		at Cromford Steam Fair 2010
Foster no. 3002 (New build)	Dragon	2006 (Original 1904)	TE - Wellington pattern	5 ton	3 nhp	NK56 NRE	M. Young		New build recreation of a Scrapped engine. Built by the owner in his garage
Foster no. 3008 (New Build)	MTOTWO	circa 2006 ?	Wellington Tractor (based on)	3 ton (est)	4 nhp	EE 8913	Great Northern Steam		New build - Pickering Steam Rally & Old Warden 2009
Foster no. 3084(T14)	-	1905	TE	? ton	10 hp	Reg no. ?	Preston Services, Kent		photos on steamscenes.org
Foster no. 3456	Name ?	1907	Type	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ? - In New Zealand		photos on steamscenes.org
Foster no. 3633	Debbie	1907	Tractor	? ton	4 hp	SD 527	Owner ?, Richmond Yorks.		photos on Steamscenes.org
Foster no. 3642	Maude	1608	SRL	? ton	8 nhp	PB 9832	Owner ?		(Location of photo) year Misc notes
Foster no. 3643	-	1908	Light Engine	-	-	-	Preston collection		Mounted in a road trailer with small Organ
Foster no. 3682	Name ?	1908	TE	? ton	7 nhp	CT 3896	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 3710	Phoenix	1908	TE	? ton	7 nhp	CJ 4222	Owner ?		At Holcot Steam Rally 2008
Foster no. 12299	-	?	PE	-	? nhp	-	owner?		No info just photo (Not in TER)
Foster no. 12394	Pride of Freystrop/Old Smokey	1909	Tractor	9 ton	7 hp	BE 7638	Owner ?, Haverfordwest		photos on Steamscenes.org
Foster no. 12438(Plate is on no. 13111)	-	-	TE	-	-	AH 5496	Owner ?, Ballynahinch ROI		Misc info
Foster no. 12458	Name ?	1909	TE	? ton	5 nhp	AW 9434	Owner ?, Walsall		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 12509	Maid Marian	1909	Showman's Tractor	5 ton	4 hp	UX 6727	W. Thompson, West Bridgeford Notts		Seen at Bedford Steam Fair 2009 + Hollowell 2010
Foster no. 12539	Winnie	1910	TE	10 ton	6 nhp	MA 5730	P. & F. Moston, Warrington		Seen at Riverside 2009 & Lincoln in 2008
Foster no. 12544	Independence	1910	TE	9 ton	6 nhp	AW 9397	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 12545	-	1911	PE	8 ton	? hp	-	The Netherlands		In Dutch preservation
Foster no. 13031	Mighty Atom	1913	T	5 ton	4 hp	FE 1456	P. Parker, Lincoln	Photo to add	Lincoln 2008
Foster no. 13036	Pride of Essex	1913	Showman's Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	FE 1079	Owner ?, Maldon Essex		A Barleylands Steam Rally 2009
Foster no. 13088	Name ?	1913	Tractor	? ton	4 nhp	FE 1125	Owner ?, St Austell		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13111	Pioneer ( formerly Herbert)	1914	TE	9.5 ton	8 nhp	AH 5496	Owner ?, Ballynahinch ROI		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13149	Venture	1914	ST	5 ton	4 nhp	FE 1216	Owner ?, Boston		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13163	-	1914	PE	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, ST Austell		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13190	-	1914	PE	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13200	Aquitania	1914	SRL	10 ton	6 nhp	NM 224	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14044	Pride of Reading	1914	ST-C Ex Roller	5 ton	4 nhp	FE 1469	Owner ?, Chorley		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 14046	Pride of the North	1915	RR	? ton	? hp	FE 1350	Owner ?, Cheddar		(Location of photo) date Misc notes
Foster no. 14066	Endeavour	1915	SMT		4 hp	FE 1589 (ex PP 5649)	G.R. Dawson & Sons		At Lincoln 2008 & Llandudno 2009
Foster 14077	Sir William Tritton	1921	Wagon	5 ton	? hp	SV 5506	Owner ?		Mistake entry in TER for Foster 14550
Foster no. 14153	Admiral Beatty	1916	Showman's road locomotive	20 ton	7 nhp	BE 7221	Owner ?, Bridgenorth
Foster no. 14205	Obsession	1915	SM (R)	5 ton	4 hp	FE 1874	Dawson & Sheldon, Boston		Lincoln 2008 & Llandudno 2009
Foster no. 14289	Olive	1918	T	5 ton	4 nhp	SA 5264	In Grampian Transport Museum, Alford.		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14347	Helpmate	1921	Showmans Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	AY 9464	Owner ?, ROI		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14378	The Iron Duke	1925 ?	Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	PP 7306	Owner ?, Huntington		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14410	Sprig	1920	TE	10 ton	7 hp	UP 6481	J. Bosworth, Derby		at Cromford & Lincoln 2008 + Belvoir Castle show 2009
Foster no. 14411	The Colonels Lady	1920	TE	? ton	7 hp	MI 4388	Owner ?, ROI		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14412	-	1920	TE	? ton	8 nhp	AH 6098	Owner ?, Asford Kent		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14418	Viscountess Rhondda	1920	TE	10 ton	7 nhp	LVN 891	Owner ?,Bucks		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14422	-	1924	TE	? ton	7 nhp	CT 6708	Mrs R. Groom, Kettering		Strumpshaw Steam Rally 2010
Foster no. 14427	-	1924	TE Agricultural	-	? hp	?	Mrs R. Groom	To add	At Holcot Steam Rally 2008 (sn Typo in guide ?)
Foster no. 14431	Robin Hood	1921	SM	8 ton	4 nhp	FE 3217	F&L Dockray, Loughborough		at Driffield Steam Rally 2008
Foster no. 14438	No. 105	1921	Tractor	5 ton	4 nhp	NR 7262	Belfast Transport Museum		In the collection of the Belfast Transport Museum, NI
Foster no. 14446	The Leader	1920	SRL	? ton	10 nhp	DH 4593	Owner ?,		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14470	Sir William Tritton	1921	Wagon (tipper)	? ton	? hp	SV 5506	Owner ? , Ex Tom Varley	photos on Steamscenes	Sole surviving Foster Wagon in UK (now found to be Foster no. 14550) also listed as 14077 in TER in Error.
Foster no. 14501	Victorious	1920	SRL	16 ton	7 nhp	MD 983	I. Holgrave, Market Rasen, Lincs		Lincoln 2008 & Strumpshaw Steam Rally 2009
Foster no. 14502	Victory	1920	SRL	16 ton	7 nhp	XC 9852	Owner ?, ?	On Steam Scenes	Lincoln Ag Show 2008 Under restoration
Foster no. 14514	His Grace	1925	ST	? ton	4 nhp	CA 8534	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14550 formerly listed as 14770	Sir William Tritton	1921	Tipper Wagon	? ton	5 nhp	SV 5506	Owner ?, Farnborough		Was formerly thought to be Foster 14470
Foster no. 14564	Victoria	1926	Showmans Tractor (Conversion)	12 ton (8 in TER)	5 hp	FE 8065	W. Thompson, West Bridgeford		Hollowell Steam Show 2010 Misc notes
Foster no. 14568	Matilda	1925	TE	7 ton	5 nhp	NT 7184	Owner ?, Stroud		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14589	Lord of the Isles	1927	Showmans Tractor (Conversion)	5 ton	4 nhp	UT 2109	A. Waling, Wisbeach, Linc's		Holbeach Vintage Rally 2017 + Shrugbrough Hall Steam Rally 2008
Foster no. 14593	Fiery Elisa	1927	ST	9 ton	8 nhp	FE 9179	Owner ?, Hinkley		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14605	-	1929	Showmans tractor (Conversion ?)	6 ton	4 hp	YC 7165	Owner ?, Bedford		on Steam scenes at Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally 2002
Foster no. 14608	Ikanopit	1930	ST	5 ton	4 nhp	PN 5629	D Harding, Burton-on-Trent		At Elvaston Steam Rally & Klondyke Mill 2009
Foster no. 14622	Sir William	1931	TE	? ton	8 nhp	FW 1917	?, Stafford		Shugborough Hall Rally 2008
Foster no. 14625	Barbara	1931	TE	10 ton	8 hp	VL 3465	Owner ?, Bedford		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14632	Success	1934	SRL	17 ton	10 nhp	AAU 370	D. Byass, Beverley		at Driffield 2008 Last Showmans built by Fosters
Foster no. 14636	-	1936	TE	? ton	7 nhp	JI 7021	Owner ?, in ROI		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14637	Bonnie (Ex Saint)	1933	TE	10 ton	7 nhp	VL 8371	H. Smith,	photo to add	Lincoln 2008
Foster no. 14638	The Little Gem	1933	TE	8 ton	5 nhp	VL 4777	Owner ?, Shaftsbury		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14639	John Michael	1938	Showmans Tractor	5 ton	4 hp	BWV 338	H. Epton & Sons collection, Boston, Lincs		Carington 2010 Last Foster tractor built
Foster no. 14657	-	1940	Portable	-	10 nhp	NA	Summerlee Industrial Museum, Coatbridge, Scotland	to add	Photo in gallery -Here
Foster no. 14661	-	~ 1940	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, Boston	on Steam Scenes	misc notes
Foster no. 14720	-	~ 1940	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, Lanark		Incomplete
Foster no. 14724	-	1941	Portable	? ton	10 nhp	-	Owner ?, woodbridge		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14736	-	1942	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, Northampton	on Steam Scenes	(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14737	-	1942	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?, Louth, Lincs		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14739 (NEW Build)	Johnboy	2007 (1904 design)	TE	5 ton	3 nhp	GN07 UZE	I Gilbert, Kent		At Driffield & Lincoln 2008 & Strumpshaw Steam rally 2009
Foster no. 14740	Annie	2007	Type (New build)	5 ton	3 hp	FX09 OCL	Hubbuck, Hexham		At Border City Rally - Carlisle 2010
Foster no. 14741 (New build)	St. George	2008	ST	5 ton	3 hp	FX09 OCM	ex P & D Tansley, Rothley Leicestershire	to add	at Bedfordshire Steam Rally 2009 Misc notes
Foster no. 14742 (New Build)	?	circa 2016 ?	TE	5 ton (est)	7 nhp	Reg no. ?	?, Boston		New build by William Foster & Co. Ltd, Bicker Boston
Foster no. UP102	-	1875	PE	? ton	6 nhp	-	At Preston Services
Foster no. ?	Name ?	Date	Type	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes

Machine types Key: SW = Steam Wagon, PE = Portable, Plg = Ploughing Engine, RR = Road Roller, SM = Showmans, ST = Steam tractor, SRL = Showmans Road loco, T = Steam tractor, TE = Traction Engine, RL = Road Loco

Foster no. 14410 - 7 hp tractor of 1920 "Sprig" at Cromford Steam Rally

Several examples of there engines are in UK preservation and can be seen at shows during the summer.

They are not as common as some of the other makes.

• Photos of a foster wagon as well as all other makes at steam rallies in the UK

See also

• History of the tank on wikipedia
• List of Named Vehicles
• List of Vehicles by registration number

References / sources

Wikipedia for original summary

• MERL Database for more detail
• Old Glory Magazine for features on Foster engines.

External links

• Merl entry
• Steam scene web site http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/resources/genlinks.html