Editing D. Napier & Son (section)

===Early years and precision engineering===
[[File:Maquina vapor Watt ETSIIM.jpg|thumb|Steam engine built by D. Napier & Son in 1859]]
[[File:1909 Napier T23 Roadster 6.6 ltr IMG 2869.jpg|thumb|1909 Napier T23 Roadster]]
[[David Napier (precision engineer)|David Napier]], second son of the [[blacksmith]] to the [[Duke of Argyll]], was born in 1785. While cousins became [[shipbuilder]]s, he took engineering training in [[Scotland]] before coming to London. There in 1808 he founded the firm that was to become D. Napier & Son in [[Lloyds Court]], [[St Giles, London]].<ref name="W&R">Wilson & Reader (1958).</ref> He designed a [[steam-powered]] [[printing press]], some of which went to [[Hansard]] (the printer and publisher of proceedings of the [[Houses of Parliament]]), as well as newspapers. The company moved to [[Lambeth]], South London, in 1830.

Between 1840 and 1860, Napier was prosperous, with a well-outfitted factory and between 200 and 300 workers. Napier made a wide variety of products, including a [[centrifuge]] for sugar manufacturing, lathes and drills, [[ammunition]]-making equipment for the [[Royal Arsenal]], [[Woolwich]], and railway cranes.<ref name="Hull, Napier, 1483" >[[#Hull (1974)|Hull (1974)]], p.&nbsp;1438</ref> David's younger son [[James Murdoch Napier (engineer)|James Murdoch Napier]], born 1823, joined the firm in 1837 and became a partner in 1847, resulting in a change in the private company's name to D. Napier & Son.<ref name="W&R" />

James succeeded his father as head of the firm in 1867, and after his father's death in 1873, specialized in crafted precision machinery for making [[coin]]s, and printing stamps and banknotes. James proved an excellent engineer, but a poor businessman, considering salesmanship undignified. His company's fortunes went so bad that there were as few as seven employees in 1895, and James attempted to sell the business, but failed.<ref name="Hull, Napier, 1483" /><ref name="Hull, Napier, 1484" >[[#Hull (1974)|Hull (1974)]], p.&nbsp;1484</ref>