Paxman (engines)

{{short description|Diesel engine brand in Britain}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = | logo = | type = | industry = Diesel engines brand | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founded = 1865 | founders = James Noah Paxman<br />Henry Davey<br />Charles Davey | defunct = 2021 | hq_location_city = [[Colchester]] | hq_location_country = England | area_served = | key_people = | products = | num_employees = | num_employees_year = | parent = [[MAN Energy Solutions]] | website = [https://www.man-es.com/global/united-kingdom/engine-products-uk MAN-ES-Paxman]}}

'''Paxman''' was a major [[United Kingdom|British]] brand of [[diesel engine]]s. Ownership has changed on a number of occasions from the company's formation in 1865, and the brand is now part of [[MAN Energy Solutions]]. At its peak, the Paxman works covered {{convert|23|acre|ha}} and employed over 2,000 people. Early Paxman diesel engines (with "Comet" indirect injection cylinder heads, designed by Sir [[Harry Ricardo]]) carried the name '''Paxman Ricardo'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enginemuseum.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=28 |title=Anson Engine Museum Gallery - General - up to 2008/DSCF0050 renamed 28678 |website=Enginemuseum.org |access-date=2017-05-26 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913064859/http://www.enginemuseum.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxeng34.htm#indirinj |title=Paxman History Pages - Paxman Diesel Engines Since 1934; Ricardo Comet Indirect Injection System|website=Paxmanhistory.org.uk |date=2016-12-24 |access-date=2017-05-26}}</ref>

==History== ===Davey Paxman=== [[File:Davey Paxmann steam engine Berlin 001.jpg|thumb|Davey Paxman & Co [[portable engine|portable]] steam engine at Depot Monumentenhalle of Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin]] [[File:Davey paxman engine.jpg|left|thumb|Stationary Davey-Paxman engine from the 1890s.]] [[File:Davey Paxmann steam engine Berlin 003.jpg|thumb|Detail view of same portable engine, showing Paxman [[builder's plate]] (dated 1921) on the regulator handle support above the [[firebox (locomotive)|firebox]].]] [[File:Northern Chief at Hythe station.jpg|thumb|''Northern Chief'' of the [[Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway]] built in 1925]] Paxman was founded by James Noah Paxman, Henry and Charles Davey as '''Davey, Paxman & Davey, Engineers''' in 1865, later '''Davey, Paxman & Co.''' which became a limited company in 1898. In 1920 the company became a member of the [[Agricultural & General Engineers]] (AGE) [[Syndicate|combine]]. In 1932 AGE collapsed and Paxman emerged as '''Davey Paxman & Co (Colchester) Ltd'''.<ref name="PH, Corporate Identity" >{{cite web |url=https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxownid.htm |website=Paxman History |access-date=2 March 2018 |title=History of Paxman's Ownership and Corporate Identity }}</ref><ref>Paxman: a diesel pioneer ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 924 10 February 2021 pages 50-53</ref>

Davey, Paxman and Davey conducted business as general engineers and ironworkers. The company manufactured [[steam engine]]s, boilers, agricultural machinery, and mill gearing. By the early 1870s the company was supplying machinery to the [[Kimberley, South Africa|Kimberley]] diamond mines in South Africa.<ref name=GOTE8>{{cite book|date=October 2019 |title=Old Glory Collectors Series Traction Engines Part Two |publisher=Kelsey Media |page=8 |isbn=9781912151882}}</ref>

For an 11 year period starting 1906 the company built and sold [[traction engine]]s with a bit under 90 being built.<ref name=GOTE9>{{cite book|date=October 2019 |title=Old Glory Collectors Series Traction Engines Part Two |publisher=Kelsey Media |page=9 |isbn=9781912151882}}</ref>

===Ruston-Paxman=== In 1940, [[Ruston & Hornsby]] purchased a controlling interest in the company; this co-operation led to the formation of '''Ruston-Paxman Group'''.

During [[World War II]] Paxman supplied diesel engines for various naval vessels such as e.g., the [[British U-class submarine]] and the [[British V-class submarine]].

In 1954, the engine controls business of Paxman was reformed as a subsidiary, [[Regulateurs Europa|Ardleigh Engineering]]. In 1962, Paxman acquired the engine controls division of the [[Curtiss-Wright Corporation]] and merged the two businesses under the [[Regulateurs Europa]] name.

===English Electric and GEC=== In 1966, the Ruston-Paxman Group was acquired by [[English Electric]]. The diesel engine businesses were merged into [[English Electric diesel engines|English Electric Diesel Engines Ltd]] (later English Electric Diesels Ltd). Paxman became the "Paxman Engine Division" of English Electric. In 1968, English Electric was itself acquired by [[General Electric Company|GEC]]. In 1972, GEC renamed the engines division GEC Diesels Limited. In 1975, a reorganisation saw the creation of '''Paxman Diesels Limited''' as a subsidiary.

===Alstom=== In 1988, GEC merged its Paxman, [[Ruston (engine builder)|Ruston]] and [[Mirrlees Blackstone]] diesels businesses with the Alsthom division of [[Compagnie Générale d'Electricité]] (CGE) to form [[Alstom|GEC-Alsthom]]. Paxman became '''GEC ALSTOM Paxman Diesels Ltd'''. In December 1997, GEC Alstom had its initial public offering as Alstom. The diesel engine businesses became Alstom Engines Ltd (AEL).

===MAN B&W Diesel=== In 2000, Alstom Engines Ltd. was acquired by [[MAN Diesel|MAN B&W Diesel]] to become MAN B&W Diesel Ltd. In 2005, MAN sold the Regulateurs Europa controls business to [[Heinzmann]]. In November 2020, MAN announced the [[Colchester]] factory would close with the remaining Paxman products to be supported by [[MAN Energy Solutions]]'s [[Hazel Grove]] facility, the former [[Blackstone & Co|Mirrlees Blackstone factory]].<ref>[https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18849817.confirmed-colchesters-paxman-factory-shut-150-years/ Colchester's Paxman factory to shut after 150 years] ''[[Daily Gazette (Colchester)|Daily Gazette]]'' 6 November 2020</ref>

==Diesel engines== ===Paxman=== '''Pre-1934 designs''':<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/pax-hdde.htm |title=Paxman History Pages - Paxman Heavy Duty Diesel Engines |website=Paxmanhistory.org.uk |date=2014-04-26 |access-date=2017-05-26}}</ref> * VZ, used in [[LMS diesel shunters#7404 / 7054|LMS 7054]]

'''Post-1934 designs''' (indirect injection):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxeng34.htm |title=Paxman History Pages - Paxman Diesel Engines Since 1934 |website=Paxmanhistory.org.uk |date=2016-12-24 |access-date=2017-05-26}}</ref> * RP, used in [[British Rail 10100]], [[British Rail 10800]], [[British Rail 11001]], [[British Rail Class D2/1]], [[British Rail Class 07]], [[Western Australian Government Railways Y class]], [[New South Wales 41 class locomotive|New South Wales Government Railways 41 class]] * [[Paxman Hi-Dyne engine|Hi-Dyne]], a variant of the RPHXL using controlled turbocharging to provide a constant output power across the whole speed range.

'''Post-1952 designs''' (direct injection) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxeng34.htm#dirinj |title=Paxman History Pages - Paxman Diesel Engines Since 1934: Direct Injection |website=Paxmanhistory.org.uk |date=2016-12-24 |access-date=2017-05-26}}</ref> * YH, used in [[British Rail Class 15]] and [[British Rail Class 16]] * ZH, used in [[British Rail Class 17]] * YJ [[Paxman Ventura|Ventura]], used in [[Type 42 destroyer]], [[British Rail Class 14]], [[British Rail Class 29]], [[British Rail Class 74]] * Y3J (later RP200) [[Paxman Valenta|Valenta]], used in [[Type 22 frigate]], [[Type 23 frigate]], {{Sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier|1}}, [[Upholder/Victoria-class submarine|''Upholder''/''Victoria''-class submarine]], [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)]], [[New South Wales XPT]] * [[Paxman VP185|VP185]], used in [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)]], [[New South Wales XPT]]

===Ruston-Paxman=== Examples of Ruston-Paxman diesel engines: * RK3, used in [[British Rail Class 56]], [[British Rail Class 58]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Davey, Paxman & Co.}} *[https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxrailt.htm Paxman and Diesel Rail Traction] *[http://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxeng34.htm Paxman engines since 1934]

[[Category:Engine manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Locomotive engine manufacturers]] [[Category:Diesel locomotive engines]] [[Category:Companies based in Colchester]] [[Category:Diesel engines by maker]] [[Category:Diesel engine manufacturers]] [[Category:MAN SE]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1865]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2021]] [[Category:1865 establishments in England]] [[Category:2021 disestablishments in England]]