Marconi works

This topic has 10 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 1 May 2016 at 10:35 by Bazyle.

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1 May 2016 at 04:22 #236969
hth
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@hth
I came across this pic of the Marconi works. I can't believe they had so many lathes . Manufacturing wireless equipment ? Must be the lunch break, because the machinery is not moving !
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1 May 2016 at 04:22 #24513
hth
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@hth
1 May 2016 at 08:36 #236975
Lambton
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@lambton
Probably coil winding machines rather than conventional lathes.

It is a still picture!
1 May 2016 at 08:47 #236977
John Haine
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@johnhaine32865
If you look at early radios there were loads of mechanical components in them, and as there wasn't a well developed supply chain at the time Marconi would have to make many of them inhouse.
1 May 2016 at 08:53 #236978
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
If that's a coil winding machine at bottom left, I'll eat my hat! Looks like a 5" lathe to me with a big 3-jaw chuck on it.

Neil
1 May 2016 at 08:54 #236979
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Lambton on 01/05/2016 08:36:41:

It is a still picture!

… But, even so: it is obviously posed, and

There is no motion-blur on the line-shafting

MichaelG.

.

Thanks for posting it 'hth'

[great picture, even if the ladder is a bit incongruous]
1 May 2016 at 09:10 #236983
hth
Participant
@hth
The lathe in the foreground looks like a early Colchester Master . The operator staring at the camera has placed a board on the bed , a place for his tools . Yes , it looks to be a posed scene.
1 May 2016 at 09:12 #236984
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
In those days, to take an indoor photo like that would have required a really slow shutter speed, probably several seconds, so posed pic would be the only option.

The ladder is probably to climb up to remove pieces of workers' anatomy from jamming up the pulleys after getting caught in the belts!
1 May 2016 at 09:22 #236986
frank brown
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@frankbrown22225
Looking at the age profile and the great variety of tasks being done, I reckon its a training school.

Frank
1 May 2016 at 09:55 #236991
John Fielding
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@johnfielding34086
The picture shown was of the New Street Works in Chelmsford which was built in 1912 and equipped in 17 weeks from start to finish.

An explanatory booklet was published which you can find here

http://www.industriouseast.org.uk/index.php?pageId=124&anchor=581&filter=gb

Edited By John Fielding on 01/05/2016 10:00:37
1 May 2016 at 10:35 #236998
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
What I notice is the lack of drawings or any paper, even a small note. They must all have been working to a verbal instruction and a sample to copy. When I started making macaroni at a different site there was a machine shop with 50 operators and associated planners, stores etc, and local workshops in each building. 20 years later it was down to a single youth with a CNC mill and most work was subcontracted.
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