OUR INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3259, 16 October 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR INDUSTRIES.

OTAGO AND WELLINGTON COPPER, BRASS AND ENGINEERING WORKS. MESSES A. AND T. BURT. The old and strongly established firm of Messrs A. and T. Burt—a firm which now employs on an average 150 workmen, and which possesses a warehouse and works covering an area of an acre and a-half of ground situated in Cumberland and Stuart streets, Dunedin, and a large branch in Wellington—intends shortly to erect larger and much more commodious premises hero. In view of tho fact and on account of the interest which so large a firm’s business involves we give below a resume of the history of-the firm since it was first founded in Dunedin. It was like so many others of the successful industrial ventures of the present day, started on a very modest scale. Dunedin was a'very small place when in 1862 the brothers, Messrs Alexander and Thomas Burt, commenced business in a small way in the Octagon as

plumbers and gasfitters, and very little scope appeared to oiler for the exercise of their capabilities as tradesmen; but in that same year, with the large influx of population attracted by the discovery of the goldfields, such an enormous impetus was given to the building trado that, in order to meet the demand that was made upon them, the brothers had soon to extend their operations. As the city grew in size, and it became necessary to institute means of satisfactorily illuminating its buildings and public streets, the Dunedin Gas Company was formed, and with its establishment the business of the firm was largely increased, for they secured several contracts from the company, one of them being for the lighting of the exhibition hold in ISGS in the building now used as the Dunedin Hospital.- That exhibition gave an impetus to all classes of industries, and the manufacturers heartily combined to make it a success. Messrs A. and T. Burt exhibited largely on that occasion, their exhibits being chiefly of sanitary appliances, for which they were awarded a first-class certificate. From that time up to the present date the firm has sustained its reputation j for appliances of that order by introducing to the public all the latest designs and improvements in sanitary arrangements—and these not only of its own manufacture, but from all the sanitary engineers throughout the world. The construction of water and gasworks plant has formed a considerable portion of the firm's output. They obtained the contracts for introducing the water supplies to Caversham, Outram, and Keefton; and at the present time they are constructing'plant for extensions to the Lyttelton, and Wellington waterworks at Wainui-o-mata. The plant for the Masterton gasworks was wholly supplied by them, and was erected by their own engineer; while at Westport also they supplied and erected the whole works, and, moreover, fitted up most of the public buildings and shops with the necessary pipes and fittings. The recent additions to the Port Chalmers works—the principal being the erection of a new holder—were carried out by them. It may be stated also that when the Dunedin gasworks were taken over by Mr Haukey, through his attorney (Mr Larnach) large additions were made to the works, and Messrs A. and T. Burt were entrusted with the laying of several miles of mains throughout the city. The business of the firm soon began to increase to such an extent that even after they had built upon all the spare ground they had in the Octagon their works were still too small, and then they secured larger premises in Princess street. In these shops the plant was manufactured for a great many of the early browing firms in New Zealand, and one can hardly go into a brewery without seeing some of the work which gained for the firm a reputation that placed them in a foremost position, not only for New Zealand, but also throughout the Australian colonies. The establishment of the preserved-meat industry in New Zealand in 1867 by a Glasgow firm led to a great deal of work going the way of Messrs A. and T. Burt, for they received the order for the manufacture of the principal portion of the works at Timaru, Kakanui, and Invercargill, while they had also' the contracts for supplying the whole of the plant for the Green Island and Winton preserving works. The industry just mentioned in now a thing of the past, having been superseded by the frozen meat industry, in connection with which, also, the firm have had their share of manufacturing. In 1872, finding themselves again short of room in which to successfully carry on their increased trade, Messrs A. and T. Burt removed from the centre of the city, whore land had become exceedingly valuable, to a less crowded locality, where they would not be cramped for want of space. They purchased a site, where their works now stand, and erected a new and improved. plant such as would enable them to compete against imported goods—a matter in which they have to a large extent been successful. At the time in point their manufactures consisted mainly of plumbers’ and engineers’ brass work, brewers’ and distilling plant, gas and water fittings, lift and forcepumps, injectors and ejectors, sanitary appliances, lead and compo pipes, and all kinds of lead, copper and brass goods. In 1879 they were in a position to send to the Sydney Exhibition a splendid display of their manufactures, which not only gained for them a medal and the very highest awards, but commanded a ready sale in the market; and ever since that period the firm have been doing a select trade among the brewers of the neighbouring colonies. The success of their venture in Sydney emboldened them in the following year to compete against all-comers at the Melbourne Exhibition, where their exhibit was of greater magnitude than that sent to Sydney, and was a large show in itself, standing boldly at one of the corners of the New Zealand court. The result was again in every way satisfactory to the firm, who were awarded two gold and five silver medals. In 1881 the manufacturers of Dunedin hold an exhibition, where, in order that New Zealand residents might know what was being done in our own colony and be able to compare the quality with that of the imported article, Messrs A. and T. Burt made a very large exhibit of goods of their own manufacture. That exhibition, they believe, gave a great impetus to the trado all over the colony—particularly in the manufacture of brass and copper goods. The increased demand in mining plant for 1882 necessitated a considerable extension of Messrs A. and T. Burt’s ironmoulding and engineering works, and a large addition was made to their plant in the shape of extra lathes and labour-saving tools. The first water engine made by the firm, which was constructed in 1886, was of a very primitive kind, but it supplied the original power used in their works, driving the brassfinishers’ lathes. After a good many experiments they succeeded in bringing out the present motor which, on account of its free exhaust, gives, the firm claims, a larger percentage of power than any other cylinder water engine in the world, and has secured for them first-class awards at all the colonial and intercolonial exhibitions since 1880. The demand for these engines was at first for power varying from t to 3-horse, but eventually the demand went up to 23-horse power; and one has even been built for the freezing works at Oamaru indicating 147-horse power. This engine, which has now been working constantly for several years, during which time it has given the greatest satisfaction, the wear and tear being at a ]

minimum compared with that of steam engines, is the largest oscillating water engine that has ever been made. The firm manufactured the whole of the machinery required last year for the extensions at the Kaitangata coal mines—consisting of a new winding engine and gear, together with the pithead work and extensive pumping machinery, the latter, worked by compressed air, throwing the water a vertical height of .700 ft in one lift. This department of Messrs A. and T. Burt’s works is at present engaged with the construction of Mudie’e- ore crashers, which are now finding favour with the mining community. The last crusher of the kind finished was shipped to Bio de Janeiro to the order of a New York firm, while one is now in hand to the order of the Alpine Qnartz Company, Beef ton.-The firm have also several orders in hand for

hydraulic mining plant, consisting of valves, "giant” revelling nozzles, elevators, and so on. These lines are being constantly enquired for, so much so that certain sizes—“ giants ” from Tin to loin, and valves from 3iu up to 21in —are always kept in stock. A pattern stare has recently been erected, where each and every pattern is numbered and registered, so that the foreman has only to refer to the register book to enable him at once to lay his hand on what is wanted. Besides their own large accumulation, Messrs A. and T. Burt have secured a large portion of the stock patterns of the late firms of Messrs Conyers and Davidson and Messrs Kincaid and M l Qan.-n, and they have thus placed themrelvts in a position to supply castings for every class of work in connection with mining machinery, dredges, pumps, flour mills, Ac. The ironmoulding shop in connection with the engineering department is an important branch of the firm’s works, and is well equipped for carrying on a large trade in iron castings. It is divided into two parts, for heavy and for light work, and the whole covers about a quarter of an acre of laud. The plant includes an overhead travelling crane which is capable of lifting as much as 10 tons to any part of the shop; while in the centre of the floor there is a watertight pit, ISft deep, which enables them to cast vortical castings of cylinders and other special work, the effect being to ensure what is very essential in hydraulic cylinders—solid, sound castings. At the rear of the building are throe cupolas capable of melting many tons of metal. Thera is also a largo ooro-drying stove, 20ft by 12ft, right into the centre of which is laid a line of rails, whereby the truck containing the boxes and cores’ can quite easily be run in and out underneath the crane which will convey them to the portion of the department where they are wanted. The firm had for several years the contract for supplying the whole of the railway castings requised between Addington and the Bluff; and, together with their ordinary work, this enabled them to put through from three to five tons a day. The range of the firm's work in eastings may be understood when it is stated that they have executed them varying from under lib in weight to seven tons, while with their present plast they can take in hand eastings up to 10 tons. Next to the ironmoulding shop is a very compact brass foundry, and, in view of the value of the material in use in this department, the floor is laid with bricks and cement so that the metal spilt in casting may be swept up and recast. The bulk of the goods moulded here consist of ordinary brass steam and water fittings, pumps, injectors, gas fittings and sanitary appliances, this work ■ being executed over tubs; while the larger brass castings are, as in the ironmoulding shop, done on the floor, a handy crane being used for lifting the heavy boxes. Light smelting furnaces are connected with the brick stack, each man having his own furnace and crucible for compounding the necessary quality of metal required for the class of goods he is moulding, 1 for castings are executed in yellow brass, gun metal, phosphor and manganese bronzes. For large brass castings an air furnace of considerable size is erected. This furnace can melt three tons of metal, Messrs A. and T, Burt being thus enabled to do bronze or other castings up to this weight, and it is used, moreover, for compounding and refining special metals for the firm’s various manufactures, and also for re-melting all the brass turnings and sweepings from the finishing shop, the metal being run from the furnace direct into ingot moulds ready again for use in the moulding shop. It is in this department also that the church and fire bells, for which the firm are noted, are cast.' It may truly he said that Messrs A. and T. Burt’s hells are now ringing all over New Zealand, while a few have found their way also to the neighbouring colonies, th e large bell, shown by them at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, and weighing 9owt, having been purchased for a church at Grenfell, N.S.W. One of the largest bells they have cast is that now hanging in the top tower of the Town Hall in Dunedin, its weight being over 15owt. As the castings are turned out they are removed to the dressing shop, which adjoins the workmen’s store, where they are all dressed, cleaned and weighed before going to the finishing shop. Bight down the centre of the shop is a double row of lathes —24 in all—which are fitted with the most modern appliances. The plant includes also a very compact milling machine, which simultaneously squares oft two sides, thus not only saving time but turning out most accurate work. Through the agency of this machine and a variety of emery and polishing machines, the Aim believe that they can produce goods equal in quality to any that can be imported. The whole of the flat above the workmen’s store is occupied by the electroplating room, which contains a complete modern plant capable of electroplating with brass, copper, nickel, silver or gold. In addition to plating their own manufactures, the firm do a large trade in replating old goods, and they claim to be able to replate domestic articles so that they will he equal to newThe goods when-plated are sent to the burnishing room, where six-power polish-' ing brushes are constantly at work. Some of these brushes are run at as high a rate of speed as 3000 revolutions per minute. These little machines save an enormous amount of labour in polishing, and their use enables the firm to turn out work to their customers at English cost prices. At the rear of. the engineers’ shop the coppersmiths are placed in a building 100 ft by 36tt, where copper work of every description is turned out. The plant consists of two spring plenishing hammers and a large tilt hammer for knocking [up heavy work, such as bottoms and domes for large brewers’ coppers and copper steam pipes tor marine and other purposes. On the centre of the floor are three blast brazing forges and two atmospheric gas forges, the blast for which is supplied from a large silent fan in the centre of the engineers’ shop, distributing its power, through pipes laid underground, to the blacksmith’s shop, and also tp the cupolas in the ironmonlding shop. This blast is sufficient to braze the joints of marine copper pipes of the largest dimensions found on the steamers frequenting New Zealand ports. The principal work executed in this department is in connection with brewing, distilling, and preserving plants and general marine work, the Union Steam Ship Company being the firm’s largest customer for the latter. In the boiler shed is built a 23-h.p. steam boiler, which supplies steam to five different engines throughout the work. To the, uninitiated the load pipe factory is perhaps the most interesting department of these works. Nine out of 10 people, if asked how lead pipes were made, would probably say that they are rolled, soldered and drawn,, or would describe any process other than the right one. The process adopted is what is technically called “squirting.” The metal which is to be converted into pipes is melted in an iron pot with a capacity of several tons of lead, and thence it is run into what is called the container. This is placed-verti-cally and fitted with a solid piston, moved by powerful hydraulic pressure. A die corresponding with the external diameter of the requited pipe, and fitted with a central spindle which corresponds with the internal diameter, is placed on the top of the container. The piston is then moved upwards, and the lead is forced through the die surrounding the core, the pipe being thus formed. The metal in the container is kept heated to a point just below fusion. When the pipe requires to be tinned, as in the case of gas composition piping, it is made to pass through a cup containing molten tin, which, adhering to the surface, not only stiffens the pipe but gives it a bright, white appearance. The hydraulic pumps used in this process are very powerful, and are giving a pressure equal to four tons to the square inch. Tery compactly fitted up alongside the pumps is the hydraulic machine, which is worked by a 10-horse power engine, and can turn out pipes of any thickness required and varying from tin to 6Jia in diameter. The plumbing shop is fitted up with all the latest contrivances for the manufacture of lead work of every description suitable for domestic purposes and marine and chemical works, as well as of baths, water-closets, wash-hand basins, and all classes of sanitary appliances, and is famished with one of the most improved smoke testers, -whereby the slightest leak in soil pipes and drains can be detected. A novelty

f f made in this shop is tho " Fischer patent ” hot-wator and bath-lioater, for which the firm hold the Xew Zealand rights. A special industry in itself, in the shape of the manufacture of galvanised iron ridging, guttering, and down pipes—a class of goods for which there is a largo demand —Is carried on in an adjoining building*. The firm’s warehouse, which is a three-story brick building, possesses extensive storage accommodation. Attached to the warehouse are too large metal stores, in which all the heavy materials, such as copper, brass, iron sheets, pig iron, water and gas pipes, sheet lead, sheet and plate tin are stocked. This description of tho industry conducted by the firm, having keen somewhat of a historical character, would be incomplete if mention were omitted of the fact that Mr Thomas Burt, who in the earlier days took a very active part in building up the works, passed away in 18S-i, since which tho surviving partner, Mr Alexander Hurt, has himself carried on the operations of tho firm until April 30th of this year when it wrts* found desirable for family reasons to form the concern into a private limited company now trading under the style of A. & T. Burt, Ltd. The demand has greatly increased for new dredges for dredge-mining tho Cluthaand other rivers bearing gold. The demand for this class of work has caused tho firm to enlarge its engineering works to a very large extent to enable them to keep up a supply. At present the firm has contracts m hand for tho machinery of seven dredges ranging in price from .£3OOO to .£SOOO each. There ig also an order in hand for 100 tons of flaming pipes for hydraulic running.