• Article |
• Discussion |
• Edit |
• History

The Qualcast foundry in Derby was one of the city’s major employers, providing work for 2,000 people in its heyday.

The company was set up by John Jobson and moved to Derby from the north in 1854, to a base at Litchurch Works. Derby was a prime location in the mid 19th century because of its excellent railway service and raw materials were readily available.

The business was later relocated to Exeter Place in Derby, next to the River Derwent, and the company changed its name to Derwent Foundry, producing iron and steel castings, mainly for the railways and the stove and grate industries.

In 1928, the firm moved once again to Victory Road and was renamed Qualcast, a combination of the phrase “quality castings” by Vincent Jobson, the fourth generation of the Jobson family to run the enterprise, who was known as “VJ” to his staff.

Qualcast went on to become the largest manufacturers of lawnmowers in the world, transferring this part of the operation to a plant at Sunnyhill in 1954. It also produced components for cars at its Victory Road site.

In 1969, Qualcast merged with Birmid. It went on to become the largest foundry operation in the UK, surviving the recession of the early 80s. However, it went into voluntary liquidation in 2006.

• 1930s
• 1960s: Memorable times in Derby
• Anyone For Tennis?
• Barlow Taylor and Co: Fun time as a junior at Barlow Taylor in 1950s
• I bagged 13 goals and still got flack so I punched a spectator and was sent off
• Johal, Khushdev Singh - Guiding light of Derby’s Indian community
• Littleover pub 'The Panther' - Lawnmower or Big Cat?
• New Year: A perfect man for the New Year
• One awkward customer led to Qualcast making lawnmowers for the whole world
• WWII: How film sets saved Derby at war
• When the top stars played the Hippo

FEEDBACK

Did you enjoy this article? If so, why not comment on it? Perhaps you disagree with something in it, or you know something the writer doesn't and can add some extra facts. You may want to ask a question about this article. Making a contribution is easy - either click 'edit' to insert more information or 'discussion' and then 'add comment.' This is your site. Please feel free to use it to the full and share your memories, thoughts and knowledge about Derbyshire with others.

If there is no 'edit' link showing it means the article has either previously been published in the Derby Evening Telegraph, or it has been protected by the site administrator and cannot be edited.'

County:  Derbyshire