480 Scientific Industries. 



warship building were first worked out by the firm for the benefit 

 of all ship-builders, the idea being taken from a suggestion of 

 Napoleon III. to plate two floating batteries with armour plate 

 for use in attacking forts in the Crimea. She was only struck off 

 the lists after forty years' service, her original engines being still 

 in use then. 



The success of this armour-clad gave the lead to other nations, 

 and the early fleets of Europe were largely launched on the Thames. 



During the last quarter of a century many vessels of war have 

 been built by the firm for the British Navy, and also several of the 

 Japanese battleships engaged in the recent war. 



The works have been extensively remodelled and extended in recent 

 years, and new plant of the latest design added. 



In 1899, the company acquired the old-established marine engine 

 works of John Penn & Sons, Greenwich, so that the machinery, as 

 well as the hulls, of the largest vessels might be built. These works 

 were enlarged and improved by the introduction of modern mach- 

 inery, and in addition to marine engines and boilers, steam lorries 

 and petrol vans are constructed there. 



Not only are warships built, but every type of craft afloat. In 

 1895 boat building was started, as it was found that satisfactory 

 wooden boats could not be obtained from outside sources. All 

 the boats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are now 

 built by the firm under agreement, and a large stock of timber is 

 stored, so that it may be sound and well seasoned for the con- 

 struction of the lifeboats. Nearly 200 boats have already been 

 built for the Institution. 



In the civil engineering department many important structures 

 have been built, including several of the Thames bridges, railway 

 station and other roofs, large dock gates for many of the important 

 docks at home and abroad, caissons, jetties, and pontoons. 



The Dry Docks, built 40 years ago at a cost exceeding a quarter 

 of a million sterling, can accommodate large vessels, the large dock 

 having 22 feet of water over the sill. 



VICKERS, SONS & MAXIM, LTD., ERITH, CRAYFORD, AND DARTFORD. 



The firm of Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd., which has several 

 establishments in this district, is one of the largest industrial 

 concerns in the country, being an amalgamation of important 

 undertakings, brought about for the purpose of enabling one 

 company to construct, from the raw material, battleships complete 

 in all respects, entirely by its own resources ; also to provide 

 ordnance and munitions of war for attack and defence ashore and 

 afloat. 



