Frederick Smith and Co:1935 Review
Note: This is a sub-section of Frederick Smith and Co
Visit of the Iron and Steel Institute to the Iron, Steel and Engineering Industries of Manchester and District
Frederick Smith and Co. (Incorporated in the London Electric Wire Company and Smiths Ltd.)
This Company with works at Salford and Trafford Park employs about 800 persons. For some fifty years it has been established for the production of copper, and high copper alloy wires, the raw material being of Empire origin. For the most part the products are used in the electrical industry and have to meet the stringent specifications for purity, conductivity, strength, gauge and brightness of surface imposed by Government departments, cable makers, etc. Other important products are trolley and contact wires for rail and tram systems and strip and bar for transformers. A miscellaneous business, considerable in the aggregate, includes wire for weaving, stranded wire, tinned wire and strip, lightning conductors, wireless aerials and earths, etc. An important proportion if the output consists of fine wire drawn down to the smallest sizes used in industry.
The plant includes a foundry, hot rolling mill, cold drawing plant, etc., supported by an adequate engineering and technical staff and laboratory. As a result of the very close limits called for, special attention is paid to the polishing of the diamond dies and the most up-to-date appliances are used in checking and inspecting the dimensions and quality of the product at every stage of manufacture.
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