About Us
Company History
1884 | 1935 | 1957 | 1958 | 1962 | 1972
Postbag.
An article from the 1957 edition of the 'Expamet Newsletter'.
Sir,
The fencing panels, which were recently delivered, have now been erected, and I am extremely satisfied with the result. Many people have remarked since seeing it that your “Expamet” panels are the answer to the need we have in this part of the country to provide forecourt and garden fences, which are animal proof (straying mountain sheep, etc.) and yet have aesthetic value, in addition to being strong and durable. I shall arrange in the near future to have a photograph taken of the erected panels, which I shall send to you. You will be at liberty to use some for advertising, etc. if you so wish.
Sincerely,
John Mason
Abertillery, Mon.
Sir,
It may interest your readers to know when electricity was first introduced into the Stranton Works. It may not be generally known that in the early years the power for the machines was supplied by two steam engines situated at the far end of the mill with two shafts running down between the machines, each of which was fitted with a losse pulley so that any one could be stopped without interfering with the others.
But in 1902 the Company installed the first 16ft. machine in Great Britain, known as No.9. This was the advent of electric power in the works. I remember being present when the first sheet was cut. At about 11.45 am on Saturday Mr. Salmon came into the mill and detailed a machine man, two “pushers-in” and two labourers to go for our dinners and return as soon as possible for a tryout. My workmate and I were sorely disappointed, as we had arranged to go to the cricket match West Hartlepool v Norton, who were keen rivals. As we were returning, my pal said to me “Ah’l tell tha summat. Boss is captain a’ West and if he gans we gan.”
We all returned well before the p.m., and the first 12ft. plate was put in. After one or two minor adjustments the first sheet was cut without a flaw.
The first big order received was for export to Buenos Aires. I was appointed chief packer and this order kept us working overtime for months.
One by one the machines were changed to electricity and speeded up. Orders poured in from all parts of the world. This was, I think, the turning point in the history of expansion.
Sincerely,
Fred Skelton.
