Our History

Mr Fran Johnson appointed Managing Director

After beginning his apprenticeship in 1997 and having been engaged in propeller maintenance & repair around the world for over 20yrs, Mr Fran Johnson is appointed as the new Managing Director and a new chapter begins.

Managing Director Don Quilliam retires

After 53Yrs of working for Stone’s and developing a reputation as a world authority on propeller manufacture and repair, beginning as an apprentice draughtsman in 1966, Stone Marine Shipcare’s Managing Director Don Quilliam retires but continues as Technical Consultant.

Mobile workshops

As Stone Marine Shipcare’s reputation for outstanding workmanship and expertise continues to grow, mobile workshops are developed for permanent siting in shipyards around the world and for rapid deployment to vessels. The workshops are fully kitted with all of the tooling and consumables required to complete complex propeller repairs.

Stone Marine Shipcare Ltd is established

‘Manganese’ is dropped from the company name and Stone Marine Shipcare Ltd is established.

Trailing Edge Modifications developed

Trailing Edge Modifications are developed to restore the light running margins of propellers on aging vessels. This procedure continues today with over 600 modifications having been successfully completed.

Stone Manganese Marine Shipcare Ltd established

Stone Manganese Marine Shipcare Ltd is established to continue the legacy of excellence in maintenance & repair of fixed pitch propellers and to continue long standing associations with manufacturers across the globe. Don Quilliam is appointed Managing Director.

New Service Division is established

A new Service Division is established with responsibility for maintenance & repair of propellers worldwide. The Birkenhead site retains its fully equipped workshops and skills base.

Nakashima appoint Stones

Nakashima appoint Stones as their sole European Service & Repair agent.

Propeller manufacture ends

Propeller manufacture in Birkenhead finally ends with the closure of the foundries on Dock Road, Birkenhead.

Nakashima begin production of their own CP propellers and thrust units.

Financial difficulties at parent company Stone Platt, the decline of manufacturing in UK and the collapse of the European shipbuilding industry has a severe effect of demand for propellers. The Birkenhead site, worldwide assets and the name are bought by Langham Industries.

Stone Manganese Marine (SMM) manages to retain excellent design & manufacture capability.

Nakashima Stone Marine Ltd is established as a joint venture.

Nakashima Stone Marine Ltd is established and CPP & side thruster manufacture begins.

Stone Manganese Marine (SMM) develop into the largest propeller manufacturer in the world with factories in Canada, America, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa. The combined experience in metallurgy, tank testing and research programmes leads to the development of new propeller designs and materials.

A period of consolidation culminates with the merging of the marine division of the Manganese Bronze Group with Stone Platt Industries and Bull’s Metal & Marine of Glasgow a subsidiary of J. Stone. Stone Manganese Marine Limited are launched.

The post war years has seen a huge increase in demand both for ships and new materials with the mechanical properties to withstand greater forces and resist corrosion while moving at ever higher speeds for longer periods. Manganese Bronze & Brass develop a nickel-aluminium bronze alloy – Nikalium while J. Stone Propellers introduce a new manganese-aluminium bronze alloy – Novoston. Both materials prove highly successful.

Heavy bombing of London poses a serious threat to the continued supply of propellers and production was moved north to Birkenhead. The site chosen due to excellent road & rail links and proximity to another key shipbuilding centre – Birkenhead where production is not disrupted. Over 500 people are employed during the war producing literally thousands of propellers for fast patrol boats, landing craft & battleships.

J. Stone & Company also develop new propeller designs and release the ‘Heliston’ propeller. The name chosen from the association with the ‘helix’ defining a screw or helicoidal surface and the suffix ‘ston’ an abbreviation of Stone.

Increased pressures of production due to WW1 lead to the building of new foundries on the banks of the Thames River at Charlton

J. Stone Propellers continues to grow in competition with local rival Manganese Bronze & Brass. During WW1 almost every propeller used by the British Navy was produced by these two companies.

J. Stone & Company adapts to the introduction of steam turbine powered vessels and propellers with higher rotational speeds. The resulting cavitation & erosion leads to the development of a new alloy – Turbiston with greater strength.

J. Stone & Company produces its 1st propeller in newly developed alloy Manganese Bronze.

Josiah Stone continues to grow in a large new factory and adapts to manufacture ferrous castings for new age iron vessels

Josiah Stone begins to make copper nails, rivets & fasteners for use on wooden vessels in a small workshop in Deptford Green, London.