THE last remnant of one of York's most famous manufacturers has gone into administration, with the loss of all remaining jobs in the city.

Adams Hydraulics was founded in the city over 120 years ago and made its name with the manufacture of specialist equipment for the water and sewage industries.

Its name is still seen on many drain covers around the city.

The company was bought by Ham Baker of Stoke in 2008, becoming part of Ham Baker Adams, but HBA and its parent company FJ Holdings have now gone into administration. Some subsidiaries have been bought by a new firm, but 34 jobs have gone in the process division, including the final seven at the firm's Clifton Moor site in York.

The number of employees in the city had been steadily cut in recent years.

One ex-employee, who recently left the firm, said: “I’m absolutely gutted. I’m devastated. To lose a great company like Adams Hydraulics was is very sad.”

The Press has been told several York suppliers have been left out of pocket, with the suggestion some are owed hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Administrators FRP Advisory would not comment on the sums, but said: “There are a number of creditors owed money by the company and we are currently in the process of writing to all known creditors to establish the extent of their claims. At this stage, it is unclear as to whether there will be sufficient funds available to distribute to unsecured creditors.”

Adams Hydraulics, which was founded in 1885 and incorporated in 1903, was based at King's Pool opposite Foss Islands Road until the 1990s, when it moved to a purpose-built manufacturing and assembly facility in Clifton Moor.

The 2008 sale was hailed as good news for York as it protected skilled manufacturing jobs.

York Press:

The group reported a consolidated turnover of £30m in its most recent accounts but faced cash pressures following an expansion into larger, longer-term contracts.

Efforts to raise additional funding over recent months failed.

In recent years staff numbers in York appear to have been significantly cut back, with only seven people said to work at the York site in recent times.

A spokesman for FRP Advisory said: “Upon appointment, the joint administrators have had to cease trading at HBA’s remaining Process division, whilst options are explored.

"This resulted in the closure of sites at York and Wath and around 34 redundancies across those sites and Stoke.”

“The York site formed part of Ham Baker Adams Limited’s Process division. We are currently assessing options for the Process division, but in the interim, have made all staff from the Process division redundant.”

The administrators said they are “inviting prospective buyers to contact us with details of their interest”.