Magnesium Metal Co

of Patricroft, Manchester

1865 advert: 'REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF MAGNESIUM.—The Magnesium Metal Company Limited have the pleasure to announce that, having entered upon the manufacture on an extensive scale, with the view of the metal becoming an article of large utility, they have been enabled to effect a very considerable reduction in the price. The Wire Ribbon (and requisite apparatus) sold by all the principal opticians and chemists. J. MATHER, Secretary.'

1865 Dublin International Exhibition: 'Magnesium, produced under Mr. Sonstadt's patents, and exhibited for the Magnesium Metal Company by Messrs. Johnson, Matthey and Co., as their sole agents.—
Pure distilled magnesium; weight, 134 ounces. Obelisk of pure magnesium metal (a solid casting), weight 162 ounces. Turnings of pure magnesium metal, weight 13 ounces. Pure magnesium wire—a coil one mile and six yards in length, weight 47 ounces. Pure magnesium ribbon — a coil 4800 feet in length—weight 40 ounces.

1867 British Association meeting: 'SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS AT LAST NIGHT'S SOIREE. Several very interesting scientific instruments were exhibited last night. Mr Samuel Mellor, manager of the Magnesium Metal Company at Manchester, exhibited a magnesium lamp, the invention of Mr Henry Sarkins, engineer, Eagle Court, Clerkenwell. This lamp is ingeniously devised to economise magnesium, for the metal is reduced to a state of very fine powder, and afterwards mixed with about twice its bulk of dry sand. In using the lamp the mixture of sand and magnesium is placed in an upper vessel, and passes through a fine seive into a pipe beneath. This pipe can be opened or closed at pleasure by turning a tap. Beneath the tube a small spirit lamp is always burning, so that when the tap is turned a fine shower of magnesium and sand falls through the flame. This flame ignites the metal, which burns in the lamp like an oval tongue of fire. The light is somewhat flickering, and it has rather a ghastly effect; but after the eye becomes used to it, objects appear their natural colour by daylight, and the ghastly effect ceases. The lamp is elegantly constructed of copper, and has a chimney to carry off the smoke.
Another lamp was also exhibited by Mr Mellor. which is an American invention, aud burns magnesium ribbon instead of magnesium powder. Two coils of ribbon are wound upon wheels, which wheels are driven by clockwork. The ribbon is thus passed vertically down the chimney of the lamp, and then between two small metal rollers. Between these rollers the ribbon is ignited, and the lower bar of the rollers cuts off the fine ash which falls from the light. If it were not so cut off, the heavy ash would be liable to fall occasionally and suddenly into the lamp, and thus extinguish the light. This lamp, therefore, is an improvement upon the older ones burning ribbon.'

1871 In the context of municipal elections, Mr. Samuel Mellor was described as a magnesium metal manufacturer, of Springfield Lane, Salford.

1890 Samuel Mellor of the Magnesium Metal Company, Patricroft, became a new member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

The 1905 O.S. map shows the Magnesium Metal Works occupying a triangular plot immediately north of a complex of railway lines centred on Patricroft locomotive shed. Adjoining the magnesium works was a brass and iron foundry. The magnesium works had its own rail connection, and had road access from Green Lane. Nasmyth's Bridgewater Foundry was 200 yds to the west.

1909 Funeral of Samuel Mellor. Attended by representatives of the Magnesium Metal Co: Messrs Sellon, Moss, Pendlebury, Matthey.

1909 'ALDERMAN MELLOR, ECCLES. FORTY YEARS' PUBLIC WORK. The death occurred about midnight on Thursday of Ald. Samuel Mellor, Bromyhurst, Barton-on-Irwell, a member of Lancashire County Council and of other local authorities. He was seventy-five years of age and for forty years had been engaged in public work. Ald. Mellor last November was made the first freeman of the borough of Eccies, as he held the record in the municipal government of the borough, having behind him the longest term of public office. In the late sixties he made his first effort to gain municipal honours, when he contested Greengate Ward, Salford, but was defeated. His connection with Eccles dates from 1872, when he removed his works — the magnesium metal works-from Salford to Patricroft. He at once entered into the public life of the town, being instrumental in commencing evening classes under a science and art scheme, which proved very successful, and were continued until taken over by the borough at the passing of the last Education Act. He was selected to fill a vacancy, without election, on Barton Local Board, and his first and only contest was after twenty-eight years of public life, when the borough was incorporated in 1892. He took an active part in obtaining the Charter of Incorporation. He was elected for Patricroft Ward, made alderman, and in the second year — 1893-4 — was mayor of the borough. In 1894 the borough bench was formed, and he was made a Justice of the Peace. For over ten years he had represented Patricroft on the County Council and was appointed to represent the borough on the Mersey and Irwell Joint Committee. He had been chairman of the County Council Education Sub-Committee for the rural portion Eccies Division. For nearly thirty years he was a teacher in St. Peter's St. Sunday School, Manchester. About two years ago Ald. Mellor had a serious illness, but so far recovered that was able about six months ago to resume public work, and it was at this time that was made freeman of the borough. A fortnight ago he had a seizure in the nature of stroke, at his works, and gradually sunk to the time of his death. He leaves a widow but no family.'

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