Kelvin Diesels

Kelvin Diesels is a manufacturer of marine diesel engines based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company's engines are used in a variety of vessels such as fishing boats and small tugs.

History

The company was founded in 1904 by Walter Bergius as the "Bergius Car & Engine Company". Bergius rented a premises in Finnieston Street, Glasgow, and set about developing his first car which he named the "Kelvin". The car was not a commercial success, however its engine proved to be an excellent marine engine following trials in a rowing gig in 1906. Car manufacture was abandoned, and the company began to specialize in marine engines. In 1907 the company installed one of its engines in a fishing boat, and in 1908 produced its first purpose designed marine engine. The name of the company was changed to the "Bergius Launch and Engine Company".

The company expanded rapidly with the move to a new factory at Dobbies Loan, Glasgow in 1910. Output of engines increased to over 700 a year, and in 1915 the poppet valve range of engines was launched, these engines would remain in production in an updated form until 1968.

In 1921 Walter Bergius designed his sleeve valve range of engines, though the engines performed well and were very quiet, a feature of sleeve valve engines due to the lack of noisy valves and tappets, the engines were prone to excessive wear. The last sleeve-valve Kelvin engine was made in 1946.

Development of the Kelvin-Ricardo range of engines, designed to replace the sleeve-valve engine range, was undertaken between 1927 and 1930. Harry Ricardo the famous engine designer was employed as a consultant. The range was continuously developed and remained in production until 1971.

Kelvin-Diesel engines

The company's first diesel engine was introduced in 1931, a 2 cylinder engine which formed the basis of the model "K" range of engines, with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cylinder versions. Later in 1933 a smaller diesel engine called the model "J" was launched, with 2, 3, and 4 cylinder variants. The "K" range remained in production until 1974, and the "J" range continued until 1970.The model "P" range was introduced in 1956 having been designed by Mr. W. Miller who joined the company from Petters in 1954 and with the model "R" and the model "T" range (Current Production Models) were the first engines not designed by Walter Bergius, to be made by the company. Bergius having died in 1949.

Later history

Following the death of the company's founder Walter Bergius in 1949, the family were forced to sell part of the company to settle death duties. In 1953 the company was acquired by Associated British Engineering. In 1961 the company name changed to Bergius-Kelvin Co.Ltd. and in 1963 Glennifer Engines was acquired by the company. Bergius-Kelvin was purchased by Ruston & Hornsby in 1966, who intern were acquired by English Electric. The merger of English Electric with GEC in 1968, led to yet another change of ownership. GEC consolidated all production of Kelvin Engines at Kyle Street in 1983. The company was sold to Lincoln Diesels in 1994, and relocated to Uddingston. In 1998 Toddie and Carlisle Ltd. purchased the company.

The present time

In the year 2000 the company was purchased by British Polar Engines and engine production was moved to Helen Street in Glasgow.

External links

* [http://www.kelvindiesels.co.uk/ Kelvin Diesels]
* [http://www.sky-net.org.uk/kelvin/index.html Kelvin history]