HUGE WORKS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13891, 23 December 1913, Page 2

HUGE WORKS.

GENERAL ELECTRIC WORKS.

The General" Electriq Company's works are not as is generally supposed situated in one district, but there are no loss "than five distinct factories under the direction of the firm. For instance, at the Witton Works, Birmingham, the larger machinery is manufaflturod, suah as dynamos, motors, etc., and the different departments of this factory, comprising conduit works, engineering works, power house, foundry, carbon work are shown. A cupola pouring molten iron into a mould," a big 28ft. boring mill in operation, carbon preses and ovens are a few of many interior views of the Witton Works. - At the Lomingtori Glass Works the making of raw glass, and subsequent drawing pf tubes, is undertaken. Then, at the Osram lamp works at Hammersmith, the var 7 ioiu stages of manufacture of lamps is most interesting, including glass blowing, exhausting air from the bulbs, testing, etc. The photometer room and detailed view of photometer attract considerable attention. - All tho different 'operations necessary ..in the making of telephone; wires and cables are included in pictures illustrating the P^el works, including views of a wonderful automatic screw-making machine, turning out screws ■ by. the hundred, apparently without any human attention, ai«o an automatic grinding macihine. At the Salford works the firm makes tho various instruments necessary in electric practice, such as circuit breakers, and many kinds of measuring meters, the work of calibrating 'breakers and meters, which has to be done with great oxactitude, being witnessed. The G.E.C! electric light fittings aro made ab the lleene works, where the very opposite of the large machinery of tho Witton works is seen, most of the processes being on the artistic and scientific rather than tlio large scale.

Highly skilled organisation is necessary to successfully run such a large concern. The welfare of the large army of employees, numbering 10,000, is carefully considered, and the various works have attached to them tea rooms, clubs, '. cricket and tennis grounds, etc., and views "of the em-

ployees ,at recreation are interesting. This consideration no doubt accounts for the interest taken by the emplcyeos in their work, and is an important fuetor in maintaining the reliability and excellent workmanship for which the manufactures of this firm are celebrated. The fire-drill is gone through at unexpected times, 2000 walkers leaving a building the short space of 21- minutes, and tho fire, fighting staff attached to the Woraks ready to combat a lire in an incredibly short time.'