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.^[1] During the First World War they built the first tanks for the British Army.

The TankEdit

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 EnginesEdit

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 WagonsEdit

They also manufactured steam lorries (wagons).

Preserved MachineryEdit

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

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Engine No.	Name	Build Date	Type	Weight	Power nhp	Reg No.	Owner	Image	Other info
Foster no. 1384	Name ?	1885	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		Incomplete
Foster no. 2163	Master Fred	1896	TE	? ton	8 hp	DO 1945	Owner ?		Photos on Sreamscences.org
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	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 garrage
Foster no. 3084	Name ?	1905	TE	? ton	10 hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		photos on steamscenes.org
Foster no. 3456	Name ?	1907	Type	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ? - In New Zealand		photos on steamscenes.org
Foster no. 36	Name ?	Date	Type	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 3633	-	1907	Tractor	? ton	4 hp	SD 527	Owner ?		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
Foster no. 12394	Smokey	1909	Tractor	? ton	7 hp	BE 7638	Owner ?		photos on Steamscenes.org
Foster no. 12458	Name ?	1909	TE	? ton	5 nhp	AW 9434	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 12509	Maid Marion	1909	Showmans Tractor	? 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		Seen at Riverside 2009 & Lincoln in 2008
Foster no. 12544	Independence	1910	TE	? 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	TE	5 ton	4 hp	FE 1456	P. Parker	Photo to add	Lincoln 2008
Foster no. 13036	Pride of Essex	1913	Showmans Tractor	? ton	4 nhp	FE 1049	Owner ?		A Barleylands Steam Rally 2009
Foster no. 13088	Name ?	1913	Tractor	? ton	4 nhp	FE 1125	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13111	Herbert	1914	TE	? ton	8 nhp	AH 5496	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13149	Venture	Date	ST	? ton	? hp	FE 1216	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13163	Name ?	Date	PE	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13190	Name ?	Date	PE	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 13200	Aquitane	Date	SRL	? ton	? hp	NM 224	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14066	Endeavour	1915	SM		? hp	FE 1589	G.R. Dawson & Sons		At Lincoln 2008 & Llandudno 2009
Foster 14077	Tritton	1921	Wagon	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		Mistake entry in TER for foster 144770
Foster no. 14153	Admiral Beatty	1916	Showman's road locomotive	20 ton	7 nhp	BE 7221	Owner ?
Foster no. 14205	Obsession	1915	SM	5 ton	4 hp	FE 1874	Dawson & Sheldon		Lincoln 2008 & Llandudno 2009
Foster no. 14289	Olive	1918	Type	? ton	4 nhp	SA 5264	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14347	Helpmate	1921	Showmans Tractor	? ton	4 nhp	AY 9464	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14378	The Iron Duke	1925 ?	Tractor	? ton	4 nhp	PP 7306	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14410	Sprig	1920	TE	-	7 hp	UP 6481	J. Bosworth		at Cromford & Lincoln 2008 + Belvoir Castle show 2009
Foster no. 14411	The Colonels Lady	1920	TE	? ton	7 hp	MI 4388	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14412	-	1920	TE	? ton	8 nhp	AH 6098	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14418	Viscountess Rhondda	1920	TE	? ton	7 nhp	LVN 891	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14422	-	1924	TE	? ton	7 nhp	CT 6708	Mrs R. Groom, ?		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		at Driffield Steam Rally 2008
Foster no. 14438	No. 105	1921	Tractor	? 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	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		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 former listed as 14770	Tritton	1921	Tipper Wagon	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		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	? ton	5 nhp	NT 7184	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14589	Lord of the Isles	1927	SM	5 ton	4 nhp	UT 2109	A. Waling	Photo to add	Shrugbrough Hall Steam Rally 2008
Foster no. 14593	Fiery Elisa	1927	ST	? ton	? hp	FE 9179	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14605	Name ?	Date	Showmans tractor (Conversion ?)	? ton	? hp	YC 7165	Owner ?		on Steam scenes at Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally 2002
Foster no. 14608	Ikanopit	1930	ST	5 ton	4 nhp	PN 5629	D Harding, ?		At Elvaston Steam Rally & Klondyke Mill 2009
Foster no. 14622	Sir William	1931	TE	? ton	8 nhp	FW 1917	?		Shugborough Hall Rally 2008
Foster no. 14625	Barbara	1931	TE	10 ton	8 hp	VL 3465	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14632	Success	1934	SM	? ton	10 nhp	AAU 370	D. Byass		at Driffield 2008 Last Showmans built by Fosters
Foster no. 14636	Name ?	1936	TE	? ton	7 nhp	JI 7021	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14637	Saint	1933	TE	10 ton	7 nhp	VL 8371	H. Smith	photo to add	Lincoln 2008
Foster no. 14638	The Little Gem	1933	TE	? ton	5 nhp	VL 4777	Owner ?		(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		Photo in gallery -Here
Foster no. 14661	-	Date	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?	on Steam Scenes	(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14720	Name ?	Date	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14724	Name ?	Date	Portable	? ton	10 nhp	-	Owner ?		(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14736	Name ?	1942	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?	on Steam Scenes	(Location of photo) 2008 Misc notes
Foster no. 14737	-	1942	Portable	? ton	? hp	-	Owner ?		(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	Reg no. ?	Hubbuck		At Border City Rally - Carlisle 2010
Foster no. 14741 (New build)	St. George	2008	ST	5 ton	? hp	FX09 OCM	P & D Tansley, Rothley Leicestershire	to add	at Bedfordshire Steam Rally 2009 Misc notes
Foster no. GNS-MTOTWO (New Build 3/4 scale)	MTOTWO	circa 2006 ?	Wellington Tractor (based on)	3 ton (est)	4 nhp	Reg no. ?	Great Northern Steam		3/4 scale new build - Pickering Steam Rally & Old Warden 2009
Foster no. ?
Foster no. ?	Name ?	Date	Type	? ton	? hp	Reg no. ?	Owner ?		(Location of photo) date Misc notes

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 alsoEdit

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

References / sourcesEdit

Wikipedia for original summary

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

External linksEdit

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

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