Perkins Engines

A Brief History of Perkins

 

The Perkins organization was founded by the late Mr. Frank Perkins in 1932. After the end of Invicta engine project at Aveling and Porter, the first small workshop in Queen Street, Peterborough began producing the Vixen, and later the Fox, Wolf, and Leopard series of engines with chief engineer Charles Chapman and only three or four employees.

In 1937 the first six cylinder P6 engines were produced. These became the most popular diesel engines in Europe for agricultural use. The British version of the Massey Harris 44, the model 744 used this engine as did the Fod E27N.

During World War II, Perkins produced engines for military use, notably marine engines for naval rescue craft.

In 1959 the company became part of Massey Ferguson, and a new subsidiary company Perkins Engines Ltd. was formed to handle sales and service worldwide.Perkins continued to operate as an independent unit.

In 1983, the Rolls Royce engine factory at Shrewsbury was purchased.The Peterborough engines cover 3.5 to 300 h.p. and the Shrewsbury and Dorman series extend the range through 1200 to 2500 h.p.

The Prima engine produced for Austen Rover was the first to achieve 100 mpg and 100 mph.

Caterpillar has now purchased Perkins. It continues to supply engines to other customers including manufacturers in direct competition with Cat.Perkins engines are used by no less than 500 equipment manufacturers in 160 countries.