Tangye. How it all began

Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the SS Great Eastern in 1857, which at the time was the largest ship ever built, but there was a major problem; it could not be moved. Brunel turned to the Tangye brothers for help and before the eyes of the world Tangye’s hydraulic jacks put the Great Eastern into the water. The publicity was a great opportunity for the Tangye brothers and James made it count by coming up with the slogan “We launched the Great Eastern, the Great Eastern launched us. Demand grew and the brothers had to move premises to keep up with orders, George Price invested ￡3,000 which enabled the Tangye brothers to move their business to better premises, the business was then named Tangye Brothers and Price.

The Tangye brand was growing and becoming very popular, in 1862 James Tangye’s Hydraulic Jack was patented. It enables one man to lift 60 tons which completely knocked the competition out of the water as existing equipment only enabled 4 men to lift 20 tons. By 1871 their catalogue boasted 515 different products. Tangye’s reputation was built on innovation and craftsmanship; the brother’s prided themselves on not taking trade from other manufactures but creating new inventions and adaptations not previously known.

15 years after the business started, Tangye’s hydraulic jacks won gold medals at international exhibitions and were present in world-wide markets. The brothers now employed over 1,000 people and in the time before the NHS and free education, the brothers provided their workforce with medical assistance and adult education classes.

Given the brother’s abilities and their work ethic, no wonder they created such a great business that is still fully functional today and still possesses the same foundations that the Tangye brothers implemented nearly two centuries ago.

Tangye’s range of lightweight, aluminium products has been in use throughout the world since 1856. Characterised by robust and efficient design, Tangye hydraulic jacks and pumps are high quality products that provide many years of reliable service.

For more information on our range of Tangye Jacks please feel free to contact the Allspeeds team?here. You can also call our friendly customer service team on?01254 615100, or email them at?[email protected], and they would be happy to help.