William Denny and Brothers Limited, and often referred to simply as
Denny, were a
Scottish shipbuilding company.
History
The Company was founded by
Peter Denny in 1840 and based in
Dumbarton, on the
River Clyde. Although the Denny yard was situated near the junction of the River Clyde and the
River Leven, the yard was on the Leven. The founder developed the company's interests in ship owning and operation with interests in the British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company, the
Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and La Platense Flotilla.
The Company built all types of ships but were particularly well known as producers of fine cross-channel
steamships and
ferries. It was a pioneer in the development of the
ship's stabiliser in conjunction with
Edinburgh-based Brown Brothers & Company. In 1913 the Channel steamer
Paris was one of the first ships to use geared turbine engines utilising new
Michell tilting-pad
fluid bearing. It also undertook experimental work in
hovercraft and
helicopter-type aircraft.
A subsidiary company, Denny & Company, also based in
Dumbarton, manufactured a wide range of types of steam and diesel
marine engines.
Dennys were always innovators and were one of the first commercial shipyards in the world to have their own experimental testing tank: this is now open to the public as a museum. William Denny & Company went into voluntary liquidation in...
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