Anyone worked at Firth Browns?

[swowls 10]

It might be an urban myth,but they said they could forge an RB211 engine shaft in 45mins on the GFM, whereas it took a full shift on a normal press.

 

Swols. I was given a dressing down by Bill Steele, who was a fiery Glaswegian. All the apprentices were s...scared of him.

 

The GFM could turn out the RR shaft in about that time. It had to because I dont believe there were any reheat furnace up at GFM just the "donut" heating furnace. The manipulators were fast and perfectly timed to the hammer strokes so it was very efficient.

[PeterR 10]

Yes Peter them water towers were on the cover.answer to your quote 629.

Could you please put me this picture on firth browns thread.

No Y,04075 its roll grinders shop and you will have walked though this shop

in your time. Yours Brian, Thanks.

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04075&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92664

 

Hi Brian,

 

No.2 shop, Roll Grinding (pic you asked for above) was next door to my office block at 36 gate. When I was an office junior there in Progress and Planning dpt. fresh from school in Feb. 1959 aged 15 one of my first duties was to mash tea for all the office staff.

I was shown where the boiler was in no. 2 shop and mashed in a big teapot almost as big as me with initial guidance from one of the workers in no.2.

I was amazed to see the size of the place and the massive rolls. I remember the Inspector in the brown smock below. Don't know his name though...

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04076&pos=170&action=zoom&id=92665

 

Peter.

Edited December 21, 2017 by PeterR

[stpetre 12]

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04075&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92664

 

Hi Brian,

 

No.2 shop, Roll Grinding (pic you asked for above) was next door to my office block at 36 gate. When I was an office junior there in Progress and Planning dpt. fresh from school in Feb. 1959 aged 15 one of my first duties was to mash tea for all the office staff.

I was shown where the boiler was in no. 2 shop and mashed in a big teapot almost as big as me with initial guidance from one of the workers in no.2.

I was amazed to see the size of the place and the massive rolls. I remember the Inspector in the brown smock below. Don't know his name though...

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04076&pos=170&action=zoom&id=92665

 

Peter.

 

As per photo, what is a 'Steel back up roll' something used within FB's or sold to an outside customer ?

[PeterR 10]

As per photo, what is a 'Steel back up roll' something used within FB's or sold to an outside customer ?

 

Hi stpetre,

 

Firth Brown produced rolls for their own use as well as supplying them to their clients.

 

When I was a clerk in the Forgings Sales office in the Head Offices on Savile Street East, between 1961 and '64, one of my pals had the same role in Roll Sales office down the corridor.

 

Below are some info and pics which I feel will answer your questions....

 

http://www.skf.com/group/industry-solutions/metals/Processes/downsstream/mill-stands/back-up-rolls/index.html

 

https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/engineering/products/back-up-rolls

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04112&pos=1&action=zoom&id=93212

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04504&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92873

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?&pages=10&searchterms=firth+brown&action=search&keywords=all%3BCONTAINS%3B%25firth%25%3BAND%3Ball%3BCONTAINS%3B%25brown%25%3B&page=22

 

Peter.

Edited December 22, 2017 by PeterR

[swowls 10]

We also made highly polished rolls for paper rolling mills in Canada.

[melv 16]

And steel tyres for the trams in Blackpool.

[swowls 10]

And contracts with British Rail for train tyres.

 

---------- Post added 22-12-2017 at 17:52 ----------

 

Do you remember the tyre drop test outside the tyre mill? it was at the town side of the bridge over Carwood rd. A big old weight and a vertical slide. There was also a lathe in the tyre mill that was like from the late 1800's

[brian1941 11]

Hi stpetre,

 

Firth Brown produced rolls for their own use as well as supplying them to their clients.

 

When I was a clerk in the Forgings Sales office in the Head Offices on Savile Street East, between 1961 and '64, one of my pals had the same role in Roll Sales office down the corridor.

 

Below are some info and pics which I feel will answer your questions....

 

http://www.skf.com/group/industry-solutions/metals/Processes/downsstream/mill-stands/back-up-rolls/index.html

 

https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/engineering/products/back-up-rolls

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04112&pos=1&action=zoom&id=93212

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04504&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92873

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?&pages=10&searchterms=firth+brown&action=search&keywords=all%3BCONTAINS%3B%25firth%25%3BAND%3Ball%3BCONTAINS%3B%25brown%25%3B&page=22

 

Peter.

--------------------------

Hi Peter, Many thanks for all the pictures you have shared on this thread

of Firth Browns, thanks for your reply and here is a good one of

Roll Hardening Shop No y,04074 if you could put on here please.

------------

My very best wishes to you and your family - good health - for 2018

Yours Brian.

[PeterR 10]

--------------------------

Hi Peter, Many thanks for all the pictures you have shared on this thread

of Firth Browns, thanks for your reply and here is a good one of

Roll Hardening Shop No y,04074 if you could put on here please.

------------

My very best wishes to you and your family - good health - for 2018

Yours Brian.

 

Hi Brian, thanks for your kind words.

 

Also I return the sentiments to you and your family.

 

Here's the pic you requested....

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04074&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92663

 

Where exactly was the Roll Hardening Shop ??

 

Peter.

[swowls 10]

Hi Brian, thanks for your kind words.

 

Also I return the sentiments to you and your family.

 

Here's the pic you requested....

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y04074&pos=1&action=zoom&id=92663

 

Where exactly was the Roll Hardening Shop ??

 

Peter.

Rolls were hardened in vertical induction furnaces I believe. Wasn't it around the light machine shop area?

[melv 16]

I remember the roll hardening dept was the shop directly above south treatment, going towards town.

[swowls 10]

I remember the roll hardening dept was the shop directly above south treatment, going towards town.

 

Didn't those guys and the machine shops have their own maintenance guys? I dont remember having ever done any maintenance in there.