F T DYER COLLECTION

Contains: Notes for a presentation relating to Ransomes Nacton Works and factory layout c1950; file of correspondence relating to the setting up of a plant in South Africa to manufacture Ransomes products 1958-1963; corrspondence concerning F T Dyer's overseas visits 1962-1974; F T Dyer's correspondence to Museum of English Rural Life 1989-1998; leaflet, circular letter and order from Ransomes lawnmowers 1994; articles concerning Ransomes 1964-1998; photographs of staff and Ransomes products 1935-1998; slides of Ransomes blacksmith forge, Helmingham Suffolk 1980; newspaper cuttings relating to Ransomes 1989-1995; notes for a talk given by F T Dyer 1993; correspondence concerning Ransomes Experimental Military hauling engine 1960's and portable steam engine No 933 found in New Zealand 1989; photocopy of article concerning C Arthur Head, employee of Ransomes [c1990]; family tree of Ransomes 1905-1979; diaries of F T Dyer 1958-1979 [closed for 30 years]; papers concering Ransomes and Sir George Biddell Airy, astronomer Royal 1998; obituary of Hawkins Madge employee of Ransomes 1998; photocopy of correspondence and reports of a purchasing trip to Europe by Michuel Iglesias, engineer [in Spanish] 1866

Fred Dyer joined Ransomes Sims and Jefferies Ltd in September 1933 as an apprentice (the last one to be trained on steam engines). In 1943 he was appointed Plough Works Manager and during the Second World War he was the Deputy Chief of Ransomes Orwell Works Fire Brigade. He was appointed General Works Manager for Ransomes Nacton Works in 1967, Chief Quality Controller and Engineering Manager in 1970 and Manager Special Products Design and Experimental Department in 1978. He retired in 1979.

AD Administrative and Commercial Records AD Administrative and Commercial Records AD4/1 Notes AD4/1 Notes AD8/1-7 Correspondence AD8/1-7 Correspondence P Publications, Promotions and Advertising Records P Publications, Promotions and Advertising Records P2/B1 Leaflet, Circular and Order Form P2/B1 Leaflet, Circular and Order Form P4/B1-6 House Journals and Newsletters P4/B1-6 House Journals and Newsletters PH Internal Photographic Records PH Internal Photographic Records PH3/1-57 Photographs PH3/1-57 Photographs PH5/1 Slides PH5/1 Slides SP Social and Personal Records SP Social and Personal Records SP1/1 Newspaper Cuttings SP1/1 Newspaper Cuttings SP2/1 Notes SP2/1 Notes SP3/1-2 Records of Products SP3/1-2 Records of Products SP4/1-5 Personal Records SP4/1-5 Personal Records SP5/1 Correspondence and Reports

Open for consultation

Deposited in 1985 Accession T85/13, DX120, DX496

Compiled by Caroline Gould, 18 December 2002

A detailed catalogue is available at the Museum of English Rural Life

Please contact the Archivist

Please also see Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies archive (reference TR RAN) held at the Rural Hsitory Centre