Historical information

John Hastie
Engineer and millwright John Hastie opened small manufacturing works in Greenock in 1845 and 1853 patented the first self-holding steering gear. The firm became known as John, Hastie and Co. Ltd. in 1898 after taking on limited liability status and their main works were at Kilblain Street, Greenock, where they specialised in ships' steering gear. The company also occupied works at Rue End Street, Greenock. Plans of this unit depict a stockyard to the east, with areas for welding; fitting and assembly; flame, cutting and fabrication; and a machine bay. The company was dissolved in 1991.

Brown Brothers
Brown Bros Rosebank Ironworks made the steering gears for many large ship's, including The Titanic. Andrew Betts Brown the founder was born in 1741 and closely associated with many improvements in marine engineering. He was educated in his native city and served his apprenticeship as an engineer in the locomotive works of the North British Railway Company at St. Margaret's. During his apprenticeship, he attended the evening classes at Watt College. subsequently going to Manchester to study chemistry.
He went to London around 1863 and took over an old brewery, which he converted into an engineering works. During his time there he invented an overhead travelling crane, which was used on the construction of Blackfriars Bridge London. He went on to develop plant which used steam and hydraulic power for discharging ships as a result the company was contracted to install this equipment in Hamburg Docks.
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By around 1870 he continued to construct machinery in London but realised that conditions were more favourable in Edinburgh. He acquired land at Rosebank adjoining the North British Railway Company's line to Granton, and the necessary infrastructure was completed allowing him to finish the Hamburg contract. The works at Rosebank were eventually extended and added to until they became one of the largest engineering works in the East of Scotland.
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Mr Brown was a member of numerous engineering institutions, the best known at the time being the Institution of Naval Architects. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institution of Marine Engineers he died in 1906 at the age of 67.

Significance

An item made by two marine innovators of marine auxiliary machinery and items

Physical description

Ship's wheel, brass, attached to brass pillar. Base has 6 holes in it for securing it in place.. Top of ship's wheel pillar has a brass, adjustable, arrow pointer that is positioned over a dial etched into the flat brass surface. The dial reads " PORT STABD". Lines and degrees are marked, with '0' in centre and every 5 degrees, from 0-35, in both Port and Starboard sides

Inscriptions & markings

Inscription to wheel hub "Brown Brothers & Co. Ltd, Rosebank Ironworks, Edinburgh"