| Description | Includes references to the following:
First ordinary general meeting (25 April 1888) - note about allocation of shares to raise new capital required because of the rapid development of the business, especially engines for central station lighting. Also mention of various contracts including engines for Vienna, for lighting the Savoy mansions, and for Edison & Swan's lighting of the Adelphi Theatre. Resolution passed to enable managers to borrow money for the business and to raise capital.
Second ordinary general meeting (3 October 1888) - number of managers on the board increased from three to four (with appointment of JC Peache in addition to his role as Works Manager); issue of shares; printed copy of first half-yearly report (June 1888); extraordinary general meeting (28 November 1888): fire at Thames Ditton on 15 November and whole of the machine shop, foundry, smithy, pattern shops, mess room, and boiler shop were destroyed (along with the contents). Cost of damage was about £29,000 (site was only insured for £16,000). Fire engines ordered as a result and also decided to store dynamos away from the main building. Fire had been spotted by a policeman on duty at 3.15 a.m. and he raised the alarm, but despite the efforts of local fire brigades the main buildings could not be saved. During the fire some of the company's clerks had rescued books and papers relating to the stores and the Managers wanted to bring this bravery to the notice of the proprietors. All the working tracings were destroyed but the drawings were not lost and a duplicate set of tracings was finished the next morning. A temporary workshop was in place a week later. By laying out the new works for the express purpose of manufacturing central valve engines the Managers hope to recover lost ground very quickly. No orders of any importance were cancelled. Note issued to shareholders (7 December 1888) mentioning purchasing of freehold of Thames Ditton premises as well as the foundry and adjoining land and re-building of the machine shops after a fire. The purchase of freehold was confirmed after proposal (by Peache) to leave Thames Ditton for a 'northern manufacturing district' (like Derby) was defeated. Peter Willans noted that he appreciated the advantages of moving but thought that it would be better to do this later on, especially if an auxiliary works was required for manufacturing at cheaper production costs and keeping Thames Ditton as an erecting shop and a headquarters ("it seemed probable that the question would come forward again, through the natural growth of the business, at no very distant date").
Third ordinary general meeting (10 April 1889) - with printed copy of proceedings and second half-yearly annual report. Mentioned strike, American patents, high number of orders and rapid growth to be tackled by a further extension as part of the rebuilding work after the fire, increase in Managers from four to five with appointment of Captain HPR Sankey.
Extraordinary general meeting (10 April 1889) - relating to alteration of articles of association (including relating to fire and salvage account).
Extraordinary general meeting (8 May 1889) - relating to confirmation of special resolution passed at previous meeting.
Fourth ordinary general meeting (9 October 1889) - new machine shop is practically finished.
Extraordinary general meeting (26 February 1890) - further issue of shares.
Fifth ordinary general meeting (2 April 1890) - half-yearly report included mention of large number of public electric lighting stations and other installations in London (only four of the London public lighting stations had engines that were not made by Willans); work to start at once on the new erecting shop, pattern store, and mess room.
Sixth ordinary meeting (8 October 1890) - half year report noted that the value of the work on order was £70,000.
Extraordinary general meeting (3 March 1991) - issue of further shares.
Seventh ordinary general meeting (14 April 1891).
Eighth ordinary general meeting (7 October 1891) - giving thanks to Mr Peache and regretting that he is leaving the company.
Ninth ordinary general meeting (6 April 1892) - Managers re-appointed Captain HR Sankey as Manager for further three years.
Tenth ordinary general meeting (12 October 1892) - proposal that salary increases for some managers should not be approved (because of the worst half-year results) was defeated; resolution passed 'that the Proprieters of Willans & Robinson, Limited, in General Meeting assembled, desire to record their sorrow at the death of their late Chairman Mr PW Willans, and their sense of the great services rendered by him to the Company, and to convey to Mrs Willans their sincerest sympathy with her and her children in their sad affliction"; further resolution passed "that the Managers be empowered to pay to Mrs Willans each half-year during her life, or in case of her death, for a period of twenty-one years, dating from 1st July last, for the benefit of her children by Mr Willans, a sum equal to 2 per cent of the profits earned in the preceding half-year over and above the sum necessary to pay interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum on the ordinary paid-up shares of the Company; and that the Managers be empowered to receive one of Mrs Willans' sons, on obtaining a suitable age, into the Works as a pupil without premium, and meantime to receive one additional pupil into the Works for Mrs Willans' benefit"; further resolutions passed to give Mrs Willans £100 to meet probate expenses and also a sum should be paid to cover the half-yearly profits Mr Willans would have received.
Extraordinary general meeting (9 November 1892) - confirmation of various proposals relating to salary increases, shares, sum to Mrs Willans.
Eleventh ordinary meeting (12 April 1893) - alteration to Articles of Association by substituting term Managers with term Directors; issue of additional debentures.
Extraordinary general meeting (5 May 1893) - confirmation of resolutions at last meeting.
Extraordinary general meeting (25 May 1893) - alteration to resolution concerning debenture issue.
Twelfth ordinary general meeting (11 October 1893) - issue of further unallotted shares.
Extraordinary general meeting (20 February 1894) - increase in orders and subsequent capital proposal for new works and restructuring of the company; plan to manufacture gas engine and water tube-boiler as auxiliaries to the existing business would greatly strengthen the position of the new company; policy of re-construction was necessary to command confidence from the investing public 'without which no really large enterprise could be considered safe'; compensation to Directors for cancellations of existing agreements and also compensation for Mrs Willans; because of the new company structure there was confirmation about a change in the way patents taken out by individuals working for the company were going to be treated; passing of resolution about setting up of the new company Willans & Robinson Limited.
Thirteenth Ordinary General Meeting (7 March 1894) - loss during the last half-year because of problems with engines for Bolton; experiments with engines for greater capacities.
Extraordinary General Meeting (7 March 1894) - confirmation of resolutions about restructuring of company and subsequent liquidation.
General meeting of the proprietors of Willans & Robinson Ltd, incorporated in 1888 and in liquidation (26 February 1895): transfer of stock etc to new company (minute signed by John Baker, liquidator). |