For a few years, from 1957, I worked as a "Student Apprentice" and later
(ingloriously) in a design office at Fraser and Chalmers, Erith. At that
time, the most prestigeous products were the steam turbines that the parent
company (GEC) linked to its Whitton produced generating gear. The group
head office was indeed at Magnet House (I spent a few months there in the
export department too).
The mining side continued with a range of crushers, grinders, shaking
tables, conveyors, screens etc., even pithead winding gear. I recall seeing
reference to Allis-Chalmers, possibly on an engineering drawing, and
understood that some of our production was based on a license from that
company.
The F & C works was on the side of the Thames and partly below river level,
steam pumps kept the site from being flooded by incoming ground water. It
boasted an iron foundry, and blacksmithing shop as well as a more modern
plate shop, metalurgical laboratory and welding school. The then managing
director became group chairman, the last man to achieve such high office via
the engineering route.
The parent company became GEC-Marconi and when I last heard, only the latter
name survived.
I hope that these dubious recollections may help in your general researches,
even if your stamp mill is a N. American product.
Martin Pearce
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Marvin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:51 PM
Subject: Fraser and Chalmers Stamp Mill
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