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The Tinplate Trade during the 20th century

Iron, Steel & Tinworks

Although the 1890s was the worst decade in the tinplate trade’s history, at the end of it, Llanelli was potentially very strong due to the regular supply of tinplate bar from Llanelly Steel and the strength and enterprise of the Richard Thomas Company, who had reopened the Burry Works.

1902 There was a general improvement in trade during the first two years of the new century.

1906 A period of depression followed the previous boom years.

1907-1912 There was an upturn in trade when 27 additional Mills were built, mainly due to the expansion of the petroleum and canned food industries. During this period the Pemberton Company was formed.

To combat the lower cost of imported steel bar, a number of local companies invested in the Llanelly Steel Company (1907) Limited (Klondyke), which was re-organised accordingly.

The Bynea Steel Company was formed.

1914-1918 During the war years, when supplies of raw materials, shipping and transport were restricted, the Mills were forced to operate at half capacity and a shortage of coal encouraged Old Castle and Richard Thomas to invest in the coal industry. However the loss of markets during the war and the rapid expansion of the American industry caused problems for local Industries.

1921 The majority of the works were idle for long periods, only re-opening for brief periods.

1924 Trade improved and all of the Works were in production.

1925-1929 The improvement of 1924 did not last long and by 1925 more than 5,000 Tinplate workers were laid off and the situation continued to get worse. The slight improvement in 1929 was not sustained.

1904 Llanelly Guardian, Thursday 4th August

DEPARTURE OF MR BEAUMONT THOMAS

We learn with regret that Mr Beaumont Thomas JP is about to move from Bryncaerau Castle which he has made his home for the last 4 years to take up residence in the Wye Valley.

Mr Beaumont Thomas was Administrative Head of Richard Thomas & Co. Limited.

[Note: Although Mr Beaumont Thomas moved away from Llanelli he retained contact with the town as Managing Director of Richard Thomas Ltd. He had resided at Bryncaerau from 1901-1904.]

1931 Prices had begun to deteriorate and more works fell idle resulting in over 7,000 being unemployed.

1932-1939 For various reasons there was a marked improvement in trade and unemployment fluctuated. The success of the American Strip Mill heralded the end of the Pack Mills and Richard Thomas & Company continued to buy up Mills increasing their monopoly in the Tinplate Industry.

1936 South Wales Evening Post, Saturday 30th May

LLANELLY STEEL COMPANY

New Steel Furnace

Progressive Development at Llanelly Works

The Evening Post understands that the new Furnace undertaken by the Llanelly Steel Company has now been completed and will in all probability be lit up during the course of the next few days. It will be recalled that as reported in the Evening Post some time ago that Llanelly Steel Company embarked upon the construction of a furnace of the most modern design and of 80 tons capacity the largest yet to be laid down at this works, where, at present, there are eight furnaces in commission.

It is significant that this progressive scheme comes at a time when there has been so much talk of depriving South Wales of its heavy industries. The gloomy future predicted for West Wales in some quarters is rather offset by the improvement now being carried out at Llanelly works, for apart from the encouraging venture of the Llanelly Steel Company, Messrs Richard Thomas have been busily re-equipping and renovating the Wellfield Galvanising Works at Llanelly, which have been closed down for more than seven years, but which are expected to re-open for the manufacture of automobile sheets in the near future.

Moreover, a new furnace was recently built at Messrs Richard Thomas’s South Wales Steelworks, at Llanelly.

1939 Five local companies amalgamated to form the Llanelly Associated Tinplate Companies Limited. The were Old Castle Iron & Tinplate Co Ltd. (HQ) 17 Mills; The Ashburnham Tinplate Co Ltd. 4 Mills; Western Tinplate Company Limited 9 Mills; The Kidwelly Tinplate Company 7 Mills; Teilo Tinplate Company Limited (Pontardulais) 6 Mills. This amalgamation saw the end of the independent tinplate manufacturer in Llanelli. The only Tinplate Works that did not belong to either Richard Thomas & Company or Llanelly Associated Tinplate Companies Limited, were the small Pemberton and Old Lodge Works.

Llanelli remained an important Tinplate centre, but Ebbw Vale with its new Strip Mill was beginning to emerge as a rival.

1939-45 As a result of the lease-lend arrangements during the war, American companies supplied Tinplate to United Kingdom markets, which led to a sharp decline in the export market.

1941 The Ashburnham, Kidwelly and Western (Marshfield) Works were forced to close.

1942 Morfa, Old Lodge and the South Wales Works all closed permanently.

1945 Richard Thomas merged with Baldwin’s, Port Talbot, to form Richard Thomas & Baldwins Ltd.

1947 After long drawn out Governmental negotiations, building works started at Trostre & Velindre.

Richard Thomas & Baldwin’s Tinplate Division, Llanelly Associated Companies, Lysaghts and Guest, Keen & Baldwins amalgamated to form The Steel Company of Wales at Margam.

1951 With the commissioning of the Trostre 5 Stand Mill, the death knell sounded for the Pack Mills.

The Burry closed leaving the Tinhouse open to produce Hot Dip Plate from Trostre Blackplate.

1953 Closure of Western Works, Old Castle Extension & Richard Thomas Mills.

1957 The Pemberton and the Old Castle Works both closed.

1961 The Burry finally closed.