L Gardner and Sons Ltd

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L Gardner and Sons Ltd is a well-known British builder of diesel engines for stationary, marine, road and rail applications.

About 1873 Lawrence Gardner set up as a sewing machine maker in Upper Duke Street, Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester. By 1888 the firm was trading as L. Gardner and Sons. Lawrence Gardner died in 1890 but the business was continued by his sons.

From about 1895 the company was building gas engines and, in 1899 it moved into Barton Hall Engine Works, Patricroft, Manchester.

In 1903 it became a limited company, L Gardner and Sons Ltd. Norris and Henty Ltd, of London, were appointed as sales agents.

Diesel engine production began around 1903. In 1912 a new sales subsidiary, Norris, Henty and Gardners Ltd, was formed.

During World War I (1914-1918) the company made munitions, parts for heavy guns and engines for tanks.

During the 1920s there was rapid development in the design of diesel engines. In 1929 a Gardner "4L2" marine engine was fitted into a Lancia bus. This conversion was successful and prompted Gardner to introduce the "LW" series of diesel engines, designed especially for road vehicles.

During World War II (1939-1945) Gardners war work consisted mainly of building diesel engines of their own design.

After the war the "LW" diesel engine continued to be built in large numbers for lorries and buses and was later supplemented by the more modern "LX". The larger "6L3" and "8L3" engines were used in railway locomotives, such as British Rail Class 01 and British Rail Class 04.

The recent history of Gardner needs further research. There is a company called Gardner Marine Diesels but its relationship to L Gardner and Sons Ltd is unclear.