# Belliss and Morcom

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Belliss & Morcom Type Private Industry Engineering Predecessor R. Bach and Co Founded 1852 Founder George Edward Belliss Joseph J. Seekings Alfred Morcom Successor Amalgamated Power Engineering Headquarters Redditch , England Number of locations Redditch Area served Global Products Reciprocating engine Reciprocating compressor Parent Gardner Denver Website Belliss.com

The former Ledsam Street Works of Belliss and Morcom works, located in [Ladywood](/source/Ladywood), Birmingham in 1988

Belliss and Morcom reciprocating engine and generator set, preserved at the [Crich Tramway Museum](/source/Crich_Tramway_Museum)

**Belliss and Morcom** is a manufacturer and supplier of oil-free [reciprocating compressors](/source/Reciprocating_compressor), technologies and services.[1] Founded in 1852 in [Birmingham, West Midlands](/source/Birmingham%2C_West_Midlands), it is now a division of [Ingersoll Rand](/source/Ingersoll_Rand) based in [Redditch](/source/Redditch), [Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire), [England](/source/England).

High pressure reciprocating compressor from Belliss and Morcom, used in the bottling industry.

## History

Shortly after completing his articles of [apprenticeship](/source/Apprenticeship), in 1862 George Edward Belliss acquired the engineering business of R. Bach and Co, then located at [13-14 Broad Street, Islington, Birmingham](/source/Broad_Street%2C_Birmingham). He then went into partnership with Joseph J. Seekings, forming the [limited partnership](/source/Limited_partnership) **Belliss and Seekings**. The partnership came to the end in 1866, but Belliss continued the business as **G. E. Belliss and Co.** In 1875, the organisation moved to larger premises at Ledsam Street, the bombed-out and derelict former works of James Archdale and Co, [Ladywood](/source/Ladywood).[2] Further expansions in 1899 and 1902 involved moving manufacturing from the Ledsam Street premises to nearby Icknield Square followed by expansion on land adjacent to Rotton Park Street.

In 1884, Belliss invited [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) engineer Alfred Morcom to join the firm as a partner. Previously chief engineer at [Sheerness](/source/Sheerness) [dockyard](/source/Dockyard), he had gained a first-class certificate in steam engineering at the Navy's training college. Up to this point, Belliss and Morcom had specialised in producing [electrical generator sets](/source/Electrical_generator), consisting of a [steam engine](/source/Steam_engine) paired with a conjoined [dynamo](/source/Dynamo), to create electricity for electrical power companies, councils, hospitals, industrial premises and water and sanitation works. With the addition of Morcom, it began selling into the marine market.[2]

From 1885 onwards, the organisation received further orders from [J. Samuel White](/source/J._Samuel_White) of [Cowes](/source/Cowes), [Isle of Wight](/source/Isle_of_Wight), for main power and generating machinery for Royal Navy [torpedo boats](/source/Torpedo_boat). The companies subsequently went into a limited production partnership, with Morcom also assisting White in Royal Navy trials of early versions of the [torpedo net](/source/Torpedo_net).[2] In 1887, the Royal Navy placed an order directly with Belliss and Morcom for a [triple-expansion engine](/source/Triple-expansion_engine)-based main power and generator set for all 13 of the [*Sharpshooter* class torpedo gunboats](/source/Sharpshooter_class_torpedo_gunboat), designed by White.[2]

In 1891, chief [draughtsman](/source/Drafter) Albert Charles Pain used a valveless oil pump and pressure to create [forced lubrication](/source/Lubrication). It put a constant film of oil on the [bearings](/source/Bearing_(mechanical)), reducing wear and increasing performance and reliability.[3] In 1891, the engine was shown in the [Science Museum, London](/source/Science_Museum%2C_London).[2]

In 1893, G.E. Belliss and Co incorporated as a [private limited company](/source/Private_limited_company). In 1899, after opening a new factory in Icknield Square, the company changed its name to **Belliss and Morcom**, and issued further shares. Customers during this period included engines for the electricity supply plants for the cities of [Bury St Edmunds](/source/Bury_St_Edmunds), [Gloucester](/source/Gloucester) and [Port Dundas](/source/Port_Dundas) for [Glasgow Corporation Tramways](/source/Glasgow_Corporation_Tramways).[2] The expansion required the building of another new factory at Rotten Park Street.[2]

In 1907, the company built one experimental [double-decker bus](/source/Double-decker_bus) for the London General Omnibus Co. By the start of [World War I](/source/World_War_I), the company was producing a standard range of 10 brake horsepower (7.5 kW) to 3,000 brake horsepower (2,200 kW), which could be deployed for lighting, electrical power and rotational power for [mills](/source/Mill_(grinding)). The company was also producing: condensing plants; [air compressors](/source/Air_compressor); fan engines; pumping engines; [paraffin](/source/Kerosene) engines.[2]

Having produced [internal combustion](/source/Internal_combustion) [diesel engines](/source/Diesel_engine) during the war, the company developed and launched its range in 1919, which continued in production until the mid-1930s.[2] These were again deployed in power generation. In 1922, the company were commissioned to install six ex-[Imperial German Navy](/source/Imperial_German_Navy) [submarine](/source/Submarine) diesel generators into the corporation power station in London Road, [Southend-on-Sea](/source/Southend-on-Sea).[2]

### Merger

The late-1960s changed the company a great deal. In 1966, the [receiver](/source/Receivership) of [Crossley Brothers](/source/Crossley_Brothers) sold the Crossley-Premier Engines and Furnival and Co businesses to Belliss and Morcom.[2] In 1968, the company agreed on a merger with [W.H. Allen, Sons and Co](/source/W._H._Allen%2C_Sons_%26_Company_Ltd.). The new [Amalgamated Power Engineering](/source/Amalgamated_Power_Engineering) was owned 60% by Allen's and 40% by B&M shareholders.

In 1981 Amalgamated Power Engineering was acquired by [Northern Engineering Industries](/source/Northern_Engineering_Industries) [plc](/source/Public_limited_company), based in [Gosforth](/source/Gosforth), [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne).[4][2] NEI itself was then acquired by [Rolls-Royce plc](/source/Rolls-Royce_plc) in 1989.[4]

## Present

Belliss and Morcom was acquired from Rolls-Royce by [Powell Duffryn](/source/Powell_Duffryn), and the company was merged with [Hamworthy](/source/Hamworthy). This merger later resulted in the amalgamation of manufacturing in [Gloucester](/source/Gloucester) and the final cessation of Belliss and Morcom as a Birmingham manufacturing company.[5]

In 2001, [NYSE](/source/NYSE)-listed [Gardner Denver](/source/Gardner_Denver) acquired the [Hamworthy](/source/Hamworthy) businesses, including Belliss and Morcom, from [Powell Duffryn](/source/Powell_Duffryn). Belliss and Morcom remained in Gloucester until around 2010 when the acquisition by [Gardner Denver](/source/Gardner_Denver) of CompAir Compressors led to a consolidation of the two businesses at the CompAir site in [Redditch](/source/Redditch).[5]

Today the company manufactures, supplies and services oil-free [reciprocating compressors](/source/Reciprocating_compressor), with a specialist division focusing on recycled [PET plastic](/source/Polyethylene_terephthalate) moulding.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Belliss & Morcom High Pressure Air Compressor Brand"](https://www.acegroup.org.uk/belliss-morcom/). *The ACE Group*. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-Graces_2-11) ["Belliss and Morcom"](http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Belliss_and_Morcom). GracesGuide.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Reliable power to generate electricity"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061013062951/http://www.birminghamstories.co.uk/story_page.php?id=12&type=fo&page=4&now=0). BirminghamStories.co.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.birminghamstories.co.uk/story_page.php?id=12&type=fo&page=4&now=0) on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cranes_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cranes_4-1) [NZR Cranes](http://www.nzrcranes.org/manufact.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174719/http://www.nzrcranes.org/manufact.html) 3 March 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Acquire_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Acquire_5-1) ["Gardner Denver Announces Agreement to Acquire Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131220031023/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gardner-denver-announces-agreement-to-acquire-hamworthy-belliss--morcom-71825817.html). PRNewsWire.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gardner-denver-announces-agreement-to-acquire-hamworthy-belliss--morcom-71825817.html) on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2012.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Belliss & Morcom engines](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Belliss_%26_Morcom_engines).

- [Belliss and Morcom](http://www.belliss.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120626193323/http://www.belliss.com/) 26 June 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Belliss & Morcom](https://bellissmorcom.com/)

- [Belliss and Morcom @ Gardner Denver Group](http://www.gardnerdenver.com/brands/belliss___morcom.aspx)

- [Notes and history of Belliss & Morcom @ Old Ladywood](http://www.oldladywood.co.uk/bellis.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121226091943/http://www.oldladywood.co.uk/bellis.htm) 26 December 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Belliss & Morcom](https://bellissmorcom.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Belliss and Morcom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belliss_and_Morcom) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belliss_and_Morcom?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.