Western Foundry
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Founded in early 1860, William Higgins' Western Foundry (on Urquhart Street, Ballarat West [1]), was one of the smallest foundries on Ballarat in 1861 - employing only five to six men. Yet the foundry displayed a significant production of domestic ware. It manufactured cast-iron ovens and ranges (William Higgins is reported as claiming to be the only maker of cast-iron stoves in the colony at that time [2]) – but even these included models intended for commercial use in bakeries. It can be noted that by 1868 the same foundry had expanded its range to include umbrella stands and door scrapers – but these were not observed in 1861.
Background
History
| The Western Foundry, established in the beginning of the year 1860, by its present proprietor, Mr William Higgins, is situate in Urquhart street, Ballarat West. The premises consist of one large shop 30 feet in length, by 25 feet in width, seared on an allotment more than double these dimensions, which the proprietor trusts, in the course of time, to be able to roof over. At present he employs from five to six men, who are engaged in turning out iron and brass castings of every description. Mr Higgins claims to be the sole manufacturer in the colony of cast-iron ovens, ranges, &c. He also produces, on a large scale, brass bearings for mills and machinery, agricultural implements, as also puddling, pumping, and winding gear. He is now engaged in producing duplicates of the reaping machine which obtained the first prize at the late Agricultural Show. He has supplied large quantities of mining machinery to the companies on the Western Township, including the Koh-i-Noor, the Extended, the Cosmopolitan, the Great Eastern, the British, and the Western. When we visited the works on Saturday last we found great preparations were being made for casting ovens, ranges, and portions of agricultural implements. A bench fitted with one vyce occupies one corner of the shop, and closely adjacent is a pattern lathe, and patterns in infinite variety stored up for future reference and use. Moulders’ boxes not actually in use are piled up in every available corner. At the rear of the premises is the cupola, capable of turning out a ton of molten metal. It is enclosed on three sides by brick, and with the brass furnace in conjunction, is fed by a powerful hand-blast. Adjoining is the smiths’ forge, a stock of pig and bar iron, and a quantity of articles too large for admission within the shop, which is decidedly too small for the proprietor’s increasing requirements.[3] |
| ‘WANTED a few tons of Old Metal – Copper and Brass; high price given. Wm. Higgins, Western Foundry, Urquhart street.[4] |
Site
| TUBAL CAIN FOUNDRY, Urquhart Street, Ballarat. | |
|---|---|
| JACOB THOMAS, having retired from the firm of Robinson, Thomas, and Company, begs to intimate that he has been appointed to the Management of the business to be carried on under the above style, in the premises in Urquhart street, hitherto called the Western Foundry. All orders to be executed under the immediate superintendence of JACOB THOMAS, Manager, Tubal Cain Foundry.[5] |
Innovations
Community Involvement
Works Produced
Workplace Relations
The People
Legacies
See also
Further Notes
References
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), Wednesday 20 November 1861, page 3.
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), Saturday 14 December 1861, page 2.
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 – 1864) Saturday 10 August 1861, page 2.
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), Wednesday 20 November 1861, page 3.
- ↑ The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), Friday 4 November 1864, page 3.
Further Reading
External Links
--Beth Kicinski 12:50, 9 December 2011 (EST)