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I worked with John Little ( aka The Moker ), some time after the initial installation of the 1000 ton press. I cannot recall the reason for this visit. The 2500 ton Metal Powder Press was close by. I remember, this press compacted powdered Titanium, into solid blocks. These blocks were then welded together by means of a long thin plate of metal, covering the block length of 15 to 20 feet. The column was installed vertically into an electrical vacuum furnace. Upon removal fusion was complete.
Chippy and John, you are both correct regarding the Eley Kynock shot gun cartridges. As an avid bird and clay shooter, I was able to purchase 12 gauge cartridges at really cheap prices through in – house agreements, at that time. I was also the first person at F & P to acquire a Titanium crowbar, lost many years ago.
Jim, I am very pleased that you could add to the story about the processing of compacted titanium powder. Shame about the crowbar! F & P supplied a new main cylinder and refurbished ram for the 2500 ton Metal Powder Press, in 1996. The company’s name at that time was Timet UK, the largest European supplier of Titanium products for defence industries. John B
Thanks John, I just could not remember the name Kynoch when I was writing that piece! Also, thank you for pointing out that it was Bob Phelps, I think I have seen him in one of the photos of the accident outside the works that Alistair Adams put up the other day. Chippy Aston
Would I be right in thinking that this machine eventually worked for IMI (Imperial Metal Industries) in Birmingham? I and Mike Southcott, with acceptance engineer Bill Wagner, worked on this press in the late 1970’s. I can’t remember exactly what we had to do, one thing was to replace some wearing plates on the bed of the machine. I do recall having to undo some large nuts, with the help of a sledge hammer, in a very awkward place! I still have the hammer we used, it has been quite useful over the years as it has a cut-down shaft, we had to cut it down to be able to use it in the confined space we were working in. I hope I am right about the location of where this photo was taken, if I’m wrong can any one help? If it is the site I am thinking of, munitions were made on the same site? We did hear a story about an explosion that happened there once and some time after, a contract electrician working alone one night saw something which terrified him and he ran out, never to return! Not even to collect his tool box! What did he see, we’ll NEVER know! On a brighter note, it looks to me that the one and only Joe Pinkney has made it onto film again! And I think the engineer is Jack Hobbs. Chippy Aston
Chippy! Another great story! You have most of it correct. The Kynoch Works site was owned by ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) at the time the order was placed. It later changed hands and became IMI, as you have identified. Ammunition was certainly produced on this site, I recall seeing 12 bore Rifle Cartridges marked with Kynock on them! Fielding & Platt supplied a number of presses to this site over the years. The engineer in the second photo at the controls, is Bob Phelps, who, at the time of installation, was probably a Senior Acceptance Engineer. Jack Hobbs was the Chief Acceptance Engineer, in charge of the Acceptance Department. John B
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