A Workshop, a War, and a Wadkin

**Vann** · 21st September 2015, 08:39 PM

When picking up the Machinery Record card for my recently acquired Preston bandsaw, I was able to peruse the cards of a few other machines. The notes on one machine were more extensive. I don't have a blog, so I'll reproduce them here, to bore you to death, and for future researchers

.

The machine in question is a Wadkin RMA Combined Surfacing & Thicknessing Machine – or to be more precise, two Wadkin RMAs

The first letter in the file is from the Comptroller of Stores (I love that word 'Comptroller'

) of New Zealand Railways, to the Managers of the Hutt Railway Workshops (Wellington) and the Hillside Railway Workshops (Dunedin). Dated 17th September, 1942

THICKNESSER MACHINE FOR PATTERN SHOP : HUTT & HILLSIDE

The General Manager has authorised the purchase of two thicknesser machines, one each for Hutt and Hillside.
Please, therefore, arrange to order the following machines. : -
2 Wadkin combined surfacing and thicknessing machines, type R.M. 16" size.
1 No. for each of Hutt and Hillside.
The local agents for Wadkin machinery are Messers. J.C. Riddell & Company.
Please refer to Treasury Authority Ty.510 No.39/779.
CHIEF MECH. ENGINEER.

Works Manager,
HUTT.
For you information. As requested by the Establishment & Efficiency Committee for the Pattern Shop. Estimated completed cost 410 pounds. Loco.204A* No. S.M.1166 has been issued.
P.R. ANGUS
CHIEF MECH. ENGINEER. 17.9.42

* Note: a Loco.204 was a Railway Dept work order for external purchases.

I worked for maybe two weeks in the Pattern Shop at Hutt Railway Workshops in 1980. I was impressed by the variety and age of the patterns stored there. There were patterns for all the components for locomotive, steam powered Westinghouse air pumps (for train braking system). When I asked about patents on such items I was told that due to the difficulty of obtaining parts during WW2, they had to make their own parts.

Which raises the question: if it was so hard to get parts from the States during the war, why did they order two big Wadkins from UK? I'm under the impression that ships were being sunk left, right, and centre

Anyway, I have no further information on the Hillside machine, but the Hutt machine, RMA 839, was packed and checked, ready for dispatch, on the 18 October 1943, and was supplied with:
- One each double ended spanners 5/16" x 3/8", 7/16" x 1/2", 9/16" x 5/8".
- One 5/8" hexagon double handled box spanner.
- One cutter setting key.
- Key for 1/2" whit. hexaon hole safety screw.
- Four 1/2" x 1 3/4" hexagon screws with washers for bottom table.
- Four 5/8" washers for dovetail cutterbolts (To be sent in labelled bag)
- One pair of knives (in cutterblock)
- Crank handle for Top Table.
- Fence complete with two spring holders & springs.
- Telescopic Guard complete with chain & weight.
- Grease Gun.
- Sample tin of ball bearing grease.

and as extra equipment: -
- 1 pair HSS Knives.

To be continued (if you're not asleep yet

)

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 21st September 2015, 08:57 PM

The machine was fitted with two English Electric Company Ltd (Bradford) electric motors, with Messers. Brookhirst Switchgear Ltd, Northgate Works, CHESTER supplying ancillary gear.
The motor for planning head was a 4hp, 2860rpm, 400/440v, 3phase, 50cycles electric motor (#1722) No.5N. 10125/6,
while that for the feed rollers was a 1hp, 930rpm, 380/420v, 3phase, 50cycles electric motor (#1723) No.5N. 10128/16.

RMA.jpg Data sheet on motors.

The Hutt machine - RMA 839 - was to hand in Wellington by March 1944. A work order for its installation was issued on 6th March, and the installation is noted as completed on the 14th March, 1944. It became Hutt Workshop's machine #1721.

Net cost: £350 0s 0d; Freight and other charges £73 19s 5d; Installation expense: £16 5s 4d. Total cost £440 4s 9d.

In 1980 the Pattern Shop had a staff of less than a dozen men - I believe the machine would have had only a few careful users. What happened to it after the closure of the Pattern Shop less than a decade later, I don't know. Hopefully it found a good home.

The Hillside Railway Workshops was closed completely in late 2013. However it's Foundry and Pattern Shop were sold to Bradken as a going concern. Chances are, its RMA is still in service.

Cheers, Vann.

**Stewie D** · 21st September 2015, 11:35 PM

I'm sure all that info would prove to be invaluable for someone who owns one of these beasties in poor condition.
Nice score on the bandsaw too by the way.
Cheers, Stewie

**Vann** · 11th December 2016, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Vann

...In 1980 the Pattern Shop had a staff of less than a dozen men - I believe the machine would have had only a few careful users. What happened to it after the closure of the Pattern Shop less than a decade later, I don't know. Hopefully it found a good home...

It did (find a good home) !!

I found it today, currently owned by a guy who loves old iron, and especially old Wadkins. It appears to be in regular use (as a buzzer). It's less than an hour's drive from the railway workshops where it spent it's first 43 years.

aRMA80.jpg aRMA77.jpg aRMA78.jpg

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 1st May 2017, 12:10 AM

When I started this thread, I simply had some rare information that I thought might be of mild interest to one or two fellow "Waddies". I never thought I'd actually track down either of the machines mentioned in the WW2 correspondence.

Originally Posted by Vann

When picking up the Machinery Record card for my recently acquired Preston bandsaw, I was able to peruse the cards of a few other machines. The notes on one machine were more extensive. I don't have a blog, so I'll reproduce them here, to bore you to death, and for future researchers

.

The machine in question is a Wadkin RMA Combined Surfacing & Thicknessing Machine – or to be more precise, two Wadkin RMAs

The first letter in the file is from the Comptroller of Stores (I love that word 'Comptroller'

) of New Zealand Railways, to the Managers of the Hutt Railway Workshops (Wellington) and the Hillside Railway Workshops (Dunedin). Dated 17th September, 1942

THICKNESSER MACHINE FOR PATTERN SHOP : HUTT & HILLSIDE...

So now I've seen the second one, still in use in the pattern shop it was bought for, way back in 1943.

RMA 842b.jpg RMA 842.jpg RMA 842a.jpg

RMA 842.

So thats:
RMA 839, test 20982, of 1943 - Hutt Workshops; and
RMA 842, test 20955, of 1943 - Hillside Workshops.

Cheers, Vann.

**bryn23** · 1st May 2017, 08:30 AM

Such beautiful machines, good to see them still working

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