A New Industry in Hamilton

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 4182, 27 August 1909, Page 2

A New Industry in Hamilton

Those whose business brings them in contact with machinery have often wondered why, in the event of a breakdown it was necessary to visit either Thames or Auckland in order to have a simple casting made. This entailed no end of delay at times, the machine being some times thrown out of commission for a week or two. Perhaps the time was not ripe for the establishment of such an industry in Hamilton, but with the steady growth of the town such an innovation was bound to follow. It has been left for Mr H. Upton, engineer, of Hamilton, to supply the want. He has recently installed a furnace capable of running castings up to lOcwt, while two brass furnaces are nearly completed, which will also be capaole of melting small quantities of iron up to fcwt. A demonstration was given at the workshop yesterday afternoon, when a number of castings were turned out in the most satisfactory manner. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the right kind of sand; but at last the proper thing was struck somewhere near Firewood Creek, Te Akatea. The experts had their moulds all ready to receive the molten metal. The furnace was charged with foundry coke and a mixture of scrap and pig iron, and the blast started from a 30 inch fan. In ten minutes the metal was ready for the ladles and a number of moulds were rapidly charged. In about half an hour the top half of the largest mould was removed,displaying a very handsome lamp post which will be erected in the borough at an early date. It is a far better looking article than those at present in use in the town. The casting turned out perfectly sound, but being in a red hot condition was covered up with sand and left till the morning. Other moulds were cast containing repair parts of machinery and in every instance the result was highly satisfactory. Work lately finished includes three dozen cast iron boxes with lids for the Hamilton Gas Company to be set in concrete blocks. Mr Upton is also making shaft bearings, pumps and agricultural machinery, including Cambridge rollers, with some improvements on previous styles, and we have no doubt he will be amply rewarded for his enterprise.