J&E Ledger Perth

[rodm]

I don't remember this company but here is a link to one of their milling machines for sale.
Here (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/herne-hill/tools-diy/milling-machine/1004686089)
Bob you are older than me :) so do you remember the company located in Pier Street Perth. On the plate it says manufactured by them so wondering if there was a parent company or were these cast and made in Perth.

[rodm]

A google finds Frank Ledger is the great grandfather of Heath Ledger the actor.
An interesting read here (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/the-history-of-ledgers-bottom-line/story-e6frg6pf-1111115803906)

[Anorak Bob]

You've got me there, young Rod. I had a look on Google Maps. That address is at the corner of Aberdeen and Pier Streets. It is now a carpark next to the Telstra building.

I imagine there would have been a number of Perth based manufacturers of machines that came and went after the Second World War, F and R Tough being one. I was out looking for Blackwoods in Canning Vale last weekend and drove past VEEM Engineering. Remember their lathes?

How are preparations going for the arrival of the big toy?

BT

[rodm]

I suppose in the early days Pier street was an industrial area as it is fairly close to Royal Street and surrounds where there was a bit of industry. It would be interesting to read about the history of engineering in Perth. State Engineering Works is the only large foundary I know of but looks like there may have been others.

I do remember Veem and Tough.

Progress on the shed preparations is reasonable and have updated the BM30 thread to keep it all in the one place. It might be of some value to follow the thinking about to actually having it in the shed.

[Combustor]

In the days when WA was a long way from anywhere, we had a number of foundries and some serious heavy engineering capacity.State Engineering Works, and State Implement Works (Fremantle) were Government operations,but there were others ,some of which still exist in some form. At various times there were firms such as J&E Ledger, Hadfields, Tomlinson, Bradford Kendall etc. WAGR (Westrail), Millars Timber and several Goldfields mines had sizeable foundries and were known to produce their own machine tools, sometimes unbranded, when imports were not readily available.
I personally own a large unbranded lathe, and have seen another of its close relatives, almost certainly made here in the very early 20th century.They share a few similarities with imports of the time, but many differences as well. Mine still gets called on when needed to swing 80 cm over the gap.
Some larger country towns had quite capable foundries at least till late 1960's. All disappeared under the suburban sprawl now. Combustor.

[rodm]

Combustor,
It is interesting to hear the history of early manufacture in WA. I think a lot of Australian industry particularly in the early years had to be self reliant due to out remote location. Farmers are well know for their innovation and self reliance and no doubt industry have done the same.
I wonder if there is anything written about this side of our history.

[Anorak Bob]

I did a quick delve and found that the State Library of WA has an online catalogue of photos. Looking at some of the photos brings back childhood memories. Remember Hadfields and Vickers Hoskins in Bassendean?

SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations (http://innopac.slwa.wa.gov.au/search~S1?/dHadfields+%28W.A.%29+Ltd+--+Photographs./dhadfields+w+a+ltd+photographs/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=dhadfields+w+a+ltd+photographs&10%2C%2C16)

And this from the National Library's Trove - Search results for 'subject:"Factories -- Western Australia -- Bassendean -- Photographs."' - Pictures, photos, objects - Trove (http://trove.nla.gov.au/picture/result?q=subject%3A%22Factories+--+Western+Australia+--+Bassendean+--+Photographs.%22)

BT

[markpest]

Indeed; do you recall ISAS (International Sales & Service); Wigmores in Belmont who trained many an apprentice; McPhersons in Vic Park; the Dobbie Dicko Water Meter foundry (good for model engineering small castings); Australian Glass Manufacturers in East Perth?

[4-6-4]

Greetings chaps I know I ramble on about Vickers Ruwolt here in Melbourne but Chas Ruwolt started in Wangarrata building mining dredges he moved to Richmond early in the 1900,s and it was swallowed up by Vickers. and then there was Sunshine Harvester works at Sunshine originally McKay's. Yours 4-6-4.