tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post7506821136692636460..comments2024-03-28T18:12:54.222-04:00Comments on Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.: Vanished tool makers: BroomWade, EnglandMister Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17663484841011868779noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-32592191925389799672021-08-04T07:26:35.611-04:002021-08-04T07:26:35.611-04:00Was told 1961.
Wondering if anyone could verify it...Was told 1961.<br />Wondering if anyone could verify it?<br />WR120 like the green one in this writeup.<br />CheersMartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10336724850808542888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-14712837204459236292021-08-03T22:12:22.117-04:002021-08-03T22:12:22.117-04:00Ive got an old broomwade screw compressor.
With a ...Ive got an old broomwade screw compressor.<br />With a 4 cylinder fordson diesel motor.<br />Still starts n runs like s gem.<br />Id love to know what year model she is?Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10336724850808542888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-28466102528537385062021-07-16T08:10:04.216-04:002021-07-16T08:10:04.216-04:00I work at the GD redditch site right now. We'r...I work at the GD redditch site right now. We're still dealing with aftermarket repairs and refurbs of Broom Wade compressors even now. This usually involves digging around trying to find drawings from the 1970's in a lot of cases.. They may be gone, but they're certainly not forgotten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-84003043711806860082021-03-15T23:55:11.012-04:002021-03-15T23:55:11.012-04:00I worked in the foundry from 1983 untill 2007 it w...I worked in the foundry from 1983 untill 2007 it was a great place to work and was involved in the modernisation of some of the processes,to some people it was a scarey place but I loved it.Foundrymen are a different breed and it's in my blood. My grandad is one of the men sat on the Churchill tank and my dad worked for Broomwade for 29 years starting as an apprentice Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179387094155088758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-65731976369622905562020-08-13T10:40:46.715-04:002020-08-13T10:40:46.715-04:00A reader has sent in a couple of family pictures, ...A reader has sent in a couple of family pictures, here's hoping someone recognizes these employees! Mister Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663484841011868779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-49389064129355669212020-07-03T03:07:03.963-04:002020-07-03T03:07:03.963-04:00What wonderful background of people who personally...What wonderful background of people who personally experienced the BroomWade brand. Thanks a million for the comments, background and advice. We are here in 2020 in lockdown in South Africa and I am in the process of acquiring a BroomWade what looks like a very old BW2L (will know more when I can properly see the plate). Although I might not put the compressor back into use (tank looks suspicious), I look forward and will definitely add it to my Lister, Russell Newbery and Ruston Hornsby engine collection.Ivan de Clerkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892740800420191112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-45964340822128443242020-03-15T18:43:17.566-04:002020-03-15T18:43:17.566-04:00Thanks once again for everyone's input. Person...Thanks once again for everyone's input. Personal recollections make these posts come alive! Mister Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663484841011868779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-76301926186929845802020-03-15T11:59:36.798-04:002020-03-15T11:59:36.798-04:00I worked at "Brooms" from 1967-1971 what...I worked at "Brooms" from 1967-1971 what a fantastic place, with some really great Characters working there, as a photographer, it was my job to photograph the Retirements on a Friday Lunch time, These Guys were fantastic engineers and could build anything, some having been with Brooms for 40 years. I well remember The Foundry a scary place for a sixteen year old. One of my first jobs was to photograph a fleet of Jags.,some brand new. just delivered from Browns Lane, Coventry, for The Directors, what a sight, we had them all lined up outside the main office. The place filled me with confidence, it could make anything, The apprentices even restored a 20s Sunbeam car, I think it's in The National Motor Museum now. I will never forget the place. It's Quality of products was known around the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-49570722674716190022019-08-10T17:58:34.424-04:002019-08-10T17:58:34.424-04:00What happened to Canadian Broom Wade-I knew a fell...What happened to Canadian Broom Wade-I knew a fellow there named Jack,I believe he left and went to Perth Western Australia-anyone know him?john kilbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707293866766658862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-27031913608162002602019-01-27T13:27:27.542-05:002019-01-27T13:27:27.542-05:00The factory development can be seen on the various...The factory development can be seen on the various OS map surveys starting here:<br />https://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html#/Map/486500/193500/10/100589<br /><br />The first parts are the rectangular units north and south of Hughenden Avenue, north of the railway just above Temple Works. The smaller unit north of Hughenden Ave was sold off at some point and became part of a printers that printed banknotes and stamps<br />The site developed over the years, extending southwards across the allotment gardens towards Temple Works and Bellfield Road. There was a mainline railway branch into the factory, and a network of tracks around the site with small turntables between the various sheds.<br /><br />The smaller unit behind 10-20 Hughenden Ave was the 1960s canteen block and north carpark.<br /><br />The travelling crane was for loading scrap iron into the blast furnace at the foundry.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240919782085570928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-45939122751403124962019-01-27T12:24:15.628-05:002019-01-27T12:24:15.628-05:00You're welcome.
Interesting Pathe footage her...You're welcome.<br /><br />Interesting Pathe footage here:<br /><br />https://www.britishpathe.com/video/broomwade-presents-reel-1<br />https://www.britishpathe.com/video/broomwade-presents-reel-2<br /><br />The foundry was almost unchanged from this footage whilst I was there. Ditto the assembley areas, and the machine shop, except we used personal protective equipment. There was a large immigrant workforce in the foundry, as they were more tolerant of the awful conditions.<br /><br />I believe the portable division moved up to Ystalyfera, at the head of a Welsh valley. It was attractive for some employees, as they could sell small terraced houses in High Wycombe and buy big houses in Wales. When the redundancies came, they were stumped though. No work in the Welsh valleys, and not feasible for many to move back to Bucks.<br /><br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240919782085570928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-80679388027581580492019-01-27T12:11:30.348-05:002019-01-27T12:11:30.348-05:00Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and...Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience! First hand is so much better!<br />Mister Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663484841011868779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2693775542020483450.post-60190997275396309932019-01-27T07:16:49.709-05:002019-01-27T07:16:49.709-05:00I was very interested to read your account of Broo...I was very interested to read your account of Broom Wade.<br /><br />I worked there as a young engineer in the R&D department from 1979-83, when I was made redundant in the shake out following the Siebe takeover. I think we employed about 2000 on the site then.<br /><br />At that time the company was resting on it's previous record, and failing to innovate successfully.<br /><br />The V-Major and V-Compact machines were still revered and selling reasonably well but were expensive. <br /><br />Their first generation rotary screw machines had a good reputation, but in a cost cutting exercise were replaced by the 6000 series. There was a greater emphasis on appearance, colour, and logo design than functionality. The project was more run by the marketing department than the engineering department, and there were constant arguments between the two. Little attention was paid to practical aspects such as ease of service and long term durability. Endurance testing was curtailed to get the product to market, sometimes with disastrous consequences. a good example being the substitution of a thermostatic valve in the oil cooler system with a cheap thermal switch. This switched the cooling fan on and off, rather than running continuously. The shock of all this starting fatigued the cooling fan blade hub, sending the blades into the oil cooler radiator, and dumping gallons of oil over the floor and seizing the compressor. With minimal endurance testing before product release, this problem manifested in customer's compressor houses.<br /><br />Some specialist machines were built for the North Sea oil industry, and these were probably profitable.<br /><br />The smaller range of reciprocating compressors were still a great product offering decades of service. However, in cost conscious times, the competition was moving towards cheaper die-cast aluminium machines that undercut BW. Foreign air tanks were produced to lower standards than the BW ones, so were a lot cheaper. BW tried rebadging some cheap small Italian compressors, but the early models were just awful and did little for the BW reputation. They eventually settled on a reasonable range, but others did better more cheaply.<br /><br />There were some abortive attempts to develop new ideas. A two speed screw machine, an oilfree screw compressor, and a range of small oil free reciprocating machines were all abandoned. More modern and cheaper assembly methods used by others were not taken up quickly. In my years there, the capstan lathe was sill the stalwart production machine. There was some trialing of CNC machines, but they were a late comer. Building of compressors was small batch by individual teams rather than modern production line.<br /><br />The large centrifugal compressor project was well behind schedule when I left, although a couple of big machines (500hp I think) were running on test in Bristol with varying degrees of reliability.<br /><br />Running a full scale iron casting foundry in a residential area was somewhat archaic, even by late 20C standard. That would have probably had to cease sooner rather than later.<br /><br />Whilst being a good employer, the company had an archaic approach to personnel. An example being the four different canteens: directors, managers, white-collar, and shop-floor workers. Intermingling was frowned on. The one manager in R&D who rolled his sleeves up, put overalls on, and got stuck in with his technicians was discouraged. Much respected by his team, he left to work in Canada. Some of the design team were made redundant, and then hired back. These guys were on a higher salary than those that stayed, and morale fell.<br /><br />A sad end to a great company. Perhaps I should consider moving back and getting an apartment in the retirement village.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240919782085570928noreply@blogger.com