Whittaker Brothers, Pioneer Works

[cashman]

Just had a "Flashback" the foundry on Dowry St, made equipment fer the Mines @ Brickyards, as i recall.

[Bob Dobson]

Yes, they did - it was branded 'New Era' - brickmaking machinery mostly, though they did lots of other stuff such as boilers for cotton mills. However, the original thread is about the Pioneer on Horne St. Read about them in 'An Accrington Mixture'

[TonyMagpie]

Hi everybody, I am a new member who has come across a Tip Top Washer, Pioneer made by Whittaker Bros. Accrington and sold by C.W.Lillie of Leeds. Can anyone give me any information about it please? Jean

[Bob Dobson]

Originally Posted by TonyMagpie

Hi everybody, I am a new member who has come across a Tip Top Washer, Pioneer made by Whittaker Bros. Accrington and sold by C.W.Lillie of Leeds. Can anyone give me any information about it please? Jean

It is possible that Accrington library ( accrington.library@lancashire.gov.uk) have a file on the Pioneer company - which should not be confused with the Dowry St firm mentioned in some of the postings on here. I cannot find my copy of my book 'An Accrington Mixture' which has a Pioneer article in it. I recall that the firm went out of business because they did not move with the times and continued to produce their long-established washers such as the one you have.Yours
could be one dated as late as the 1950s, or even early 60s.

[Glenville]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

The Pioneer story starts with George Whittaker, wholived at Moss End farm, on the hills between hapton and Crawshawbooth. He had ten children, one of whom was Henry. he prospered, built Prospect House, Whalley rd and with his brothers John and William started Whittaker Brothers, manufactrers of Pioneer mangles, washers etc in Horne Street. On henry's death, his son Leonard of Hollins Lane took over. On his early death his relative (uncle?) William Haworth took over, to be succeeded by his son Walter. Insufficient investment brough the comnpany to a standstill in 1958.

A friend of mine is part of this family and would like to know if there are any other descendants of George Whittaker still in Accrington area.

There were other Whittaker families involved with various Accrington companies. The making of bricks, brick-making machinery were just two of the industries they were involved in. Another was head of sewage engineering for Accrington Corporation and made Accrington a world leader in sewage treatment at Coppy Clough a hundred years ago.

Hello. Do you know of an Eric Smith who also worked at the Pioneer Works probably in the 50s or 60s?

[Bob Dobson]

Eric Smith is not known to me, Glenville

[Bob Dobson]

I am in touch by email with people who are descended from the Whittakers of Pioneer and Dowry St foundry. Message me your email addres if you ant to be put in touch.