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installed in merchant vessels and 600 in warships. About 450 miles of trunking was manufactured as well as ventilating fans for coal mines, underground railways and refrigerated food stores. Amongst âsecretâ projects were the Battle
Headquarters of the North African Campaign and the Mulberry Project for D Day. By 1945, Thermotank equipment had been fitted in more than 50 million tons of shipping, in large numbers of trains and aircraft, and in many famous public buildings. Offices and works were opened in London, Liverpool and Newcastle.
353:
and discomfort, the velocity of the air was no greater than 4 to 8 feet per second. Stewartâs Punkah Louvre, in addition to becoming one of the most ubiquitous objects of the 20th century, allowed air to be delivered at speeds of between 30 and 50 feet per second. Moreover the louvreâs nozzle allowed the air to be directed within a certain radius by hand. The Punkah Louvre was manufactured in three types each suited to a particular kind of delivery. In basic terms, it could control the flow of air and direct it within a certain radius.
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In 1922, Alexander
William Stewart invented and patented the Punkah Louvre after many experiments. Prior to the introduction of the Punkah Louvre, the mechanical delivery of air to a space was made through ducting which terminated in a grill or louvre. To ensure this was achieved without undue noise
234:
The arrangements for ventilating and heating or cooling the cabins are novel and are the result of much careful thought. Four of
Stewartâs patent Thermotanks, with the necessary electric fans etc., have been introduced, and work in conjunction with steel trunks led to the various compartments. Each
206:
In 1900, Alexander
William Stewart with his brothers William Maxwell Stewart (1875-1926) and Frederick Charles Stewart (1878-1950), established the Thermotank Ventilating Company, with offices at 55 West Regent Street, Glasgow. The Company were consultants and designers of the Thermotank system but
439:
Contracting was based at
Glasgow and Dartford under the title Hall-Thermotank International. including J&E Hall, Thermotank Ltd and Searle Products. Glasgow concentrated on consultancy, design, supply installation and commissioning of marine air conditioning, heating and ventilating equipment.
416:
At the time of the merger, brokered by Iain M Stewart of
Glasgow, Halls employed 4,500 people and Thermotank 1,500. A holding company, Hall-Thermotank Ltd., was formed with (Sir) Iain M Stewart as Chairman. At the time of the merger, Thermotank had a number of subsidiaries, Lumenated Ceilings Ltd,
387:
1939-45. During World War Two about one million
Thermotank Punkah Louvres of various types were supplied, of which fifty thousand were for aircraft. Fifty thousand Admiralty type fans were supplied for naval vessels and approximately 1500 heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems were
235:
cabin has its own adjustable louvre, so that the admission of air may be adjusted to a nicety. Its temperature may also be controlled, for a system of brine pipes from the refrigerating machine connects with the
Thermotank coils, and in warm climates the circulating air may be cooledâ
178:
showed that the
Thermotank system began heating immediately. In 15 minutes the temperature had risen by 11ËF and in 30 minutes to 17ËF. The compartment in question was 14,803 cu ft in extent and held 246 persons. At the same time the Thermotank changed the air 6.9 times per hour.
198:
In 1898, Alexander
William Stewart patented his invention in the United Kingdom under the heading âImprovements in ventilating and heating or cooling apparatus for use on board shipâ. The patent envisaged the control of both warm and cool air although the Thermotank installed in
155:, invented apparatus which he called the Thermotank. This was a system capable of maintaining a constant temperature inside a shipâs compartment irrespective of the outside temperature. In 1898, the very first Thermotank was installed in the Russian Volunteer Fleet ship,
435:
Following reorganisation, J&E Hall was renamed Hall Thermotank International Ltd (HTI) which in turn was split into Contracting (HTI Engineering and HTI Services) and Production (J&E Hall Products, Thermotank Products and Searle Products).
38:
In 1922, Alexander Stewart invented and patented the Punkah Louvre a device able to control and direct the supply of air as required. The Punkah Louvre became a device recognised worldwide, fitted in ships, trains, buildings and aircraft.
443:
In 1976, The Hall Thermotank Groups was purchased by APV Holdings and renamed APV Hall. In 1994, APV Hall sold to Malaysian group OYL and the name J&E Hall was reinstated. In 2006, Daikin Industries Ltd acquired the Group.
417:
Sound Control Ltd, Acoustical Investigation and Research Organisation Ltd (AIRO), Thermotank Plastics Ltd. Additionally Thermotank had offshoots in Australia, Canada, Iraq, Norway, South Africa, USA and West Germany.
413:, based in Dartford known primarily as manufacturers of refrigeration plant. Thermotank had used Halls refrigeration plant in their air conditioning systems while Halls used Thermotankâs air conditioning expertise.
42:
The Thermotank company became the world leader in marine air conditioning systems with equipment installed in thousands of vessels from 1898 onwards including, most notably, great ocean liners such as the
35:. The business was based on Alexanderâs invention, the Thermotank, a system designed for maritime use which could maintain a constant temperature coupled to a change of air on board ships.
368:, London. They were also fitted in the airship Graf Zeppelin. The Thermo-Reg Louvre was a development of the Punkah Louvre where the output temperature could be controlled at the louvre.
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215:
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615:
Information taken from a Thermotank Ltd brochure "Thermotank, 50 Years of Air Conditioning Heating and Ventilating". Thermotank Ltd Brochure. 1951
427:
In 1962, Hall Thermotank acquired the Searle Manufacturing Co Ltd., makers of heat transfer products used in air conditioning and refrigeration.
489:âłBlowing Hot and Cold: Thermotank and the Story of Air Conditioning at Seaâł by Ian Johnston, published 2024, by Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
159:, which was being refitted at Thomsonâs yard. This was the first time such a system had been fitted anywhere. The next three ships were:
218:
shipyard in Glasgow. The Thermotank Company considered this installation, capable of heating and cooling to be the first marine use of
268:, Glasgow, where they began to manufacture the components of the Thermotank system as well as other heating and ventilating products.
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Dartford provided a refrigeration contracting service from cargo room plant to refrigeration machinery for air conditioning systems.
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In 1907, the Thermotank Ventilating Company having hitherto acted as consultants and designers, acquired premises at Helen Street in
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Thermotanks were also fitted to the British, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese and Argentine navies.
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By 1946, in addition to offices and works in the UK, Thermotank had offices in Montreal and Johannesburg.
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The Thermotank system showing a Punkah Louvre, arrowed, fitted on an LNER train sleeping car in the 1930s.
117:
The Thermotank system was also adopted by the British Admiralty for installation in many of its warships.
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Information taken from Thermotank booklet âThermotank Ventilation and Air Conditioningâ published in 1946
19:
was a Scottish engineering company specialising in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, founded in
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The Punkah Louvre was fitted in ships, aircraft, trains and buildings the latter including in the
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398:(1916-1985), son of William Maxwell Stewart, took over as Managing Director of Thermotank Ltd.
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In 1959, the company merged with long standing associates and refrigeration specialists
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Illustration of Punkah Louvre patented and manufactured in 1920 by Thermotank limited.
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By 1908, Thermotanks had been fitted to ships including those of the following lines:
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In 1905, the Thermotank system was selected for installation on the Cunard liners RMS
143:
In 1897, Alexander William Stewart, head of the electrical department at shipbuilders
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Patent number GB203456A applied for on 4 July 1922 and accepted on 13 September 1923
364:, London, the Meiji Insurance Building, Tokyo, House of Assembly, Cape Town and the
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in 1907. Note the trunking running up from the Thermotank and across the deck head.
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Improvements in ventilating and heating or cooling apparatus for use on board ship
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The first Thermotank installed on a ship was in the Russian Volunteer Fleet's
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341:, Thermotanks had been fitted to most of the âworldâs high-class steamersâ.
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716:
Information from a Thermotank technical brochure âThe Punkah Louvreâ c1935
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Contingent upon the merger of Halls with Thermotank was the acquisition of
222:
although that term was not in use until later. The system was described by
210:
Early in 1901, the Thermotank system was installed on the Japanese steamer
588:
Information from "Thermotanks". Thermotank Ventilating Co. brochure. 1908
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In comparison with the then standard steam pipe heating system, tests on
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639:"The Cunard Turbine-driven Quadruple Screw Atlantic Liner Lusitania".
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249:, soon to be the largest and most prestigious ships in the world.
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Stewart, A W (27 July 1933). "1868-1933 Obituary". The Scotsman.
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in 1898 at the Clydebank shipyard of J&G Thomson. Inventor
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Ships for all Nations, John Brown & Co Clydebank 1847-1971
462:"Scotland: Historic Companies Providing Engineering Services"
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Ltd, manufacturers of fans and in particular the window fan.
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In 1920, the company changed its name to Thermotank Ltd.
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Scottish Industry, ed.CA Oakley, published 1935, page104
256:
A 'tween deck' Thermotank as seen fitted onboard RMS
566:. Glasgow University Archives. AprilâSeptember 1898.
542:(Second ed.). Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing.
409:was a long-established company, a subsidiary of
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216:Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
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754:. London: Hutchinson Ltd. pp. 213â220.
506:. London: Hutchinson Ltd. pp. 147â166.
667:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
402:1959 Merger with J&E Hall & Co Ltd
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495:
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131:The Company logo designed in the 1950s.
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124:& Co to form Hall Thermotank Ltd.
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214:which was under construction at the
564:Clydebank Shipyard Diaries UCS1/10
325:Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
85:(1938) and also the French Lineâs
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782:Engineering companies of Scotland
735:"Frederick C. Stewart obituary".
655:Shipping Gazette and Lloyds List
626:Shipping Gazette and Lloyds List
339:Shipping Gazette and Lloyds List
228:Shipping Gazette and Lloyds List
299:, Egyptian Mail Steamship Co.,
327:, Indian Government, Fratelli
1:
293:Navigazione Generale Italiana
657:. London. 13 September 1910.
431:Group Reorganisation 1968-70
752:Halls of Dartford 1785-1985
504:Halls of Dartford 1785-1985
303:, Russian Volunteer Fleet,
281:Canadian Pacific Steamships
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337:By 1910, according to the
203:delivered warm air only.
192:Alexander William Stewart
25:Alexander William Stewart
628:. June 1901. p. 3.
750:Miller, Harry (1985).
598:Stewart, A.W. (1898).
538:Johnston, Ian (2015).
502:Miller, Harry (1985).
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297:Great Western Railway
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194:is standing at right.
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27:and his two brothers
683:"Thermotank Limited"
469:CIBSE Heritage Group
396:Iain Maxwell Stewart
313:Holland America Line
224:The Marine Engineer
207:not manufacturers.
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358:Chrysler Building
348:The Punkah Louvre
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739:. 17 March 1950.
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471:. October 2016
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473:. Retrieved
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641:Engineering
273:Cunard Line
212:Kumano Maru
169:Cap Polonia
161:Kumano Maru
153:River Clyde
105:) P&O's
23:in 1900 by
448:References
277:Allan Line
247:Mauretania
75:Queen Mary
58:Mauretania
17:Thermotank
663:cite book
422:Vent-Axia
394:In 1950,
258:Lusitania
243:Lusitania
149:Clydebank
89:Normandie
68:Aquitania
51:Lusitania
33:Frederick
776:Category
693:29 March
475:29 March
245:and RMS
201:Kostroma
188:Kostroma
176:Kostroma
157:Kostroma
110:Canberra
71:(1913),
643:. 1907.
411:P&O
329:Cosulic
151:on the
139:History
47:Lineâs
29:William
21:Glasgow
758:
546:
510:
113:(1961)
62:(1907)
45:Cunard
465:(PDF)
266:Govan
103:(1939
100:Andes
92:(1932
756:ISBN
695:2022
669:link
544:ISBN
508:ISBN
477:2022
230:as:
226:and
167:and
165:Asie
98:RMS
80:RMS
73:RMS
66:RMS
56:RMS
54:and
49:RMS
31:and
108:SS
87:SS
778::
685:.
665:}}
661:{{
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671:)
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115:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
