Robert Dempster & Sons Limited were engineers, designers and builders of spirally-guided gasholders, gas retorts, storage tanks, and bulk materials handling plant for the power generation, mining, and quarrying industries.
The business was founded by Robert Dempster in 1855 at Rosemount Iron Works, Elland.
Before Robert retired, he made his sons Robert (jnr) and John partners in the company.
His third son, Alexander would become an equal partner on his 23rd birthday.
When Robert Dempster retired in 1878, and the partnership was dissolved, and the business was then conducted by his sons, Robert (jnr) and John.
In 1883, Alexander entered the company as an equal partner – despite objections from Robert (jnr) and John – though their father Robert Dempster (snr) sided with Alexander.
In 1884, Robert (jnr) and John – without Alexander's knowledge – set up a rival company, R. & J. Dempster, in Manchester.
On 31st December 1884, the 3 brothers' partnership was dissolved. Alexander was opposed to this dissolution, but after taking advice from his father and a solicitor, he agreed to sign the agreement of dissolution, and he continued the business at Elland, and Robert and John were now in Manchester running their own company of R. & J. Dempster.
There followed lengthy and acrimonious negotiations as to the amount Alexander needed to pay Robert (jnr) and John on their retirement from the partnership. A figure of £60,000 was agreed. However, Alexander did not pay this amount. The nonpayment resulted in Robert (jnr) and John taking legal action.
In 1886, the case of Dempster v Dempster was heard in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, with Robert (jnr) and John Dempster plaintiffs, Alexander Dempster defendant.
Alexander counter-claimed saying he was misled with the accounts. The counter claim was rejected.
The case concluded that there was a case for an Enquiry to fix the amount Robert (jnr) and John would receive.
The Halifax Guardian [22nd January 1887] published a lengthy account of the judgement.
Alexander took on an experienced engineer, Thomas Coates as a partner to help him run the business.
In 1887, the Company raised capital of £100,000 in preference and ordinary shares.
A prospectus says upwards of £60,000 has been paid to two of the partners on their retirement from the company.
In 1892, the Company went into voluntary liquidation. The London Gazette reported
Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue in business
Thomas Coates left the Company.
On 25th August 1892, the Company registered with capital of £30,000. The objects of the Company were to take over as a going concern the business of Robert Dempster and Sons, Limited. Alexander Dempster and younger brother Alfred Maitland Dempster along with five employees of the Company signed the memorandum and articles of association.
In 1892, the Company became a Private Limited Company with John Wilson Broadhead as General Manager. Broadhead became Managing Director in 1899 and remained in this position until 1926.
From 1892 onwards there are no records of Alexander Dempster's involvement with the Company.
In 1963, the Company became Oxley Dempster Limited.
The firm closed down in 1971.
Page Ref: Y41
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