The story of the first British light suspension bridges using steel rope and a novel
system of suspension
Harpers of Aberdeen was a successful company and a big employer in their day
In 1870 very few bridge cables in the UK were of wire. John Harper was one of
the first to use steel wire rope, now universally used
Written by John Harper's great grandson who has scoured the globe for
remaining bridges in telling their story
Many previously unpublished illustrations
With support and images from Aberdeen Museum
This is the story of Harpers of Aberdeen who developed from their mid-nineteenth-century fencing business a unique system of suspension that allowed their light foot suspension bridges to be relatively rigid and so overcame the main disadvantage of such bridges. Harpers built in excess of 60 of them throughout the UK and the British Empire between 1870-1910 and they have been little documented, although the Harper system of suspension was unique at
the time, providing a noticeable stiffening of the structure. John Harper was one of the first to use steel wire rope, now universally used.
The author, who is John Harper's great-grandson, searched the globe, found and crossed those still in use and describes
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