Thread: Wadkin Trenching Heads.

And finally:
Wadkin's fifth size of "Expanding, trenching and Grooving Heads" have an 13" diameter cutting circle. I don't know the bore, but I suspect 1¾".

These are designed to fit:
Wadkin dimension saws model PK and PP;
Wadkin automatic cross cut saws model CJ-2, CJ-3, CW-1, and CW-2; and
Wadkin 20" saw benches model SQ, SV, and Wadkin-Bursgreen model BSW.

There are two widths for the above machines:
JP 550 For grooves ½” to 1” wide, and up to 1½” deep.
JP 558 For grooves 1 1/16” to 2” wide, and up to 1¾” deep.

PK saws require special sleeve PK216 with spindle nut and spacing collars, giving widths of cut in sixteenths for either head.
PP saws require special sleeve PP135 with spindle nut and spacing collars, giving widths of cut in sixteenths for either head.
CJ and CW saws require special sleeve CJ733 with lock nut and spacing collars, giving widths of cut in sixteenths for either head.
SQ, SV and BSW saws require special sleeve SQ185 with lock nut, driving peg, and spacing collars, giving widths of cut in sixteenths for either head.

The JP 550 cutters are;
Adze cutters: 2 pair JP 552.
Spur Cutters: 2 pair JP 553.

The JP 558 cutters are;
Adze cutters: 1 pair JP 560 and 1 pair JP 561.
Spur Cutters: 2 pair EK 155.

Cheers, Vann.

Not heard or read anything about Robinson buying Wadkin, what year did that happen?

Originally Posted by Camelot

...what year did that happen?

I have seen it written somewhere, but not sure where. I believe Robinson were taken over by a company that were not much more than asset-strippers. They went around buying many of the remaining woodworking machinery companies, including Wadkin.

Without a thorough search, the best I can come up with is it had happened by 1987 - as Wadkin were putting out EEs in 1987, which I believe were a Robinson product. Probably Wadkin were assembling the last machines with parts from the defunct Robinson assembly line.

But I might be assuming too much. Others who know more will be along...

Cheers, Vann.

Hi Vann,

I have asked the question in the old Wadkin employees group, some of the group only ever worked for Wadkin, so someone there must know the history.

Edit: An old Wadkin employee replied to my question and he was working for Wadkin at the time of the takeover, it seems Robinson's were using their wealth gained from years of making flour mills and the like to buy up lots of UK Companies. The Wadkin board members were all given the boot at the time of the takeover and not replaced by any quality and things started going downhill from there.

I remember reading that the guy responsible for all the asset stripping got a knighthood from Thatcher "in recognition of his contributions to British Industry"!!
Sounds about right!

Alli

Hi Vann,

I have had a further more detailed response from an old Wadkin employee, it seems the takeover was a few years earlier, quote from employee.

"The Wadkin takeover was finalized on 3rd April 1986. The two companies involved were Thomas Robinson and Son PLC & Wadkin Public Limited Company. A few days after this a non trading holding company under the title Thomas Robinson Group PLC was established for overall control of the two PLC's"

Thomas Robinson & Son PLC was composed of the woodworking machinery division, two main flourmilling operations in Australia and S Africa, a separate engineering firm linked to these two and Northern Woodworking which was the former Whitehead woodworking machinery. After the Wadkin acquisition in 1986 they further acquired in the next two years, Wilkinsons, Dominion, Titman and Calder, but also ventured further afield by adding a string of luxury car dealerships which at the time were very profitable. Pre tax profits in 1985 were just under half a £million by 1987 they had risen to £12.3m. There was a lot of half information floating around, most of it unverifiable. I hope this answers your question. In answer to Nigel Knight's question Thomas Robinson Group PLC were bought out in 1992 by BM Group, the Wadkin group of companies were separated from Robinson Group PLC and Brunel Holdings became Wadkins parent company. Green Lane Works were sold in 2005 and what was left of Wadkin relocated to Barden Hill. It all ended in receivership in December 2009/January 2010 when Wadkin as an independant woodworking machinery manufacturing company ceased to exist