Whinfield Works
in Smethwick
1855 Advert: 'TO MALTSTERS, BREWERS, PUBLICANS, &c. IMPROVED MALT MILLS, Double Geared, to gain either Speed or Power, and Constructed to meet the requirements of the Excise Commissioners, are now being manufactured by DIXON, BELL, AND CO., WHINFIELD WORKS, SMETHWICK. ...'[1]
1856 Sale Notice: 'TO ENGINEERS, IRONFOUNDERS,MACHINISTS, AND OTHERS. IMPORTANT SALE OF FIRST-CLASS MACHINERY, At the "WHINFIELD WORKS," SMETHWICK, near Birmingham.
RICHARD CLARKE has been favoured with instructions from Mr. Adam Dixon and Mr. Alexander Morton Bell (who have dissolved partnership) to SUBMIT to PUBLIC AUCTION, at the above Works, situated in Harden-street, near to the High Park-road, Smethwick, on Monday next and Tuesday, the 22d and 23d days of September — the whole of their costly and very valuable MACHINERY, TOOLS, and EFFECTS; comprising—
A very compact and highly-finished eight-horse power high-pressure STEAM-ENGINE, with over-head reverse cylinder, 9 in. diameter, and BOILER, ft. long and 4 ft. diameter, with complete set of boiler mountings, viz., safety-valve, water indicator, Bourdon's patent steam-pressure gauge, test cocks, steam, feed, and exhaust pipes, check valve, steam cock, &c. &c.
A very powerful and costly SCREW-CUTTING and SLIDE LATHE, by J. and J. Kershaw, of Manchester, with 16 in. back geared head stocks, planed bed, 30 ft. long, 16 1/2 in. face, with guide screw and rack, the whole length of bed, saddle and compound slide rest, two face plates, improved stay, for sliding, bell chuck, complete set of change wheels, and self-acting traverse motion, extra-raising blocks, face plates, clamps, steadies, over-head driving apparatus, and disengaging gear, complete.
A valuable PLANING MACHINE, by Lord, of Leeds; will plane 6 ft. long by 3 ft. 6 in. wide and 2 ft. high, with driving apparatus, complete.
A capital SLIDE SCREW-CUTTING LATHE, with 12in. head stocks, double geared bed, 12 ft. long, compound slide rest and saddle, two face plates, bell chuck, and complete set of change wheels, and over-head motion to ditto.
A useful double-geared LATHE, with 9 in. head stocks, planed cast iron bed, 9 ft. long, fitted with rack and traversing saddle, compound slide rest, hand-rest, and two face plates.
Two valuable self-acting and vertical DRILLING MACHINES, by J. and J. Kershaw, of Manchester.
Two valuable SHAPING MACHINES, by Lord, of Leeds.
A powerful long-stroke PUNCHING and CLIPPING MACHINE, with bright counter shaft, fast and loose pulleys, heavy fly-wheel, plummer blocks, brackets, &c, &c. Screwing Machines, Shaping Apparatus, valuable Screwing Tackle, by Whitworth and others; cast-steel Turning and Planing Tools, Rimers and Rose Bits, eighty feet 2t-inch black Shafting, with numerous pulleys, a capital 30-inch Blowing Fan, by Middleton, useful Foundry Requisites, Cupolas, Moulding Boxes, &c.; several best Smiths' Anvils, Swage Blocks, Oliver and Oliver Block, and capital lot of Smiths' Tools, quantity of NEW MACHINERY and general PATTERNS, ten new well made and easy-going MALT CRUSHERS, Engineers' and Ironfounders' Stores, OFFICE FURNITURE, a first-rate TRAP and Trap Harness, narrow-wheel CART and Cart Harness (nearly new), and other valuable Effects. Sale to commence each morning at half past ten o'clock, under the usual conditions. The Auctioneer confidently recommends the above Machinery to the attention of parties in want of first-class Tools, most of it being recent make and quite equal to new. It may be seen in motion on Friday next, ....'[2]
1857 Advert: 'HEARD. UNDERWOOD, and Co., MILLWRIGHTS, ENGINEERS AND IRON FOUNDERS, YORKSHIRE WORKS, (late Whinfield Works,) SMETHWICK And at VULCAN WORKS, HALIFAX.
MILLWRIGHT WORK in all its Branches; including Water Wheels, Corn, Sugar, and Malt Mills,
STEAM ENGINES, on the Beam, Condensing, High-pressure principle, either Horizontal, Vertical, Oscillating, Portable.
IRON AND BRASS CASTINGS. Estimates. Plans, and Specifications furnished, and Repairs executed on the shortest possible notice.'[3]
1870 Sale Notice: 'PEREMPTORY AND UNRESERVED SALE OF THE WHINFIELD WORKS, BROOK STREET, SMETHWICK. MESSRS. CLARKE and BARROWS have received instructions to SELL by AUCTION, on FRIDAY, the 29th day April inst., at the Union Hotel. Union Street, Birmingham,.... the above-mentioned desirable FREEHOLD MANUFACTORY and PREMISES, situate in Brook Street, Smethwick aforesaid, known as "Whinfield Works," formerly the occupation of Mr. Beasley, ...'[4]