ATKINSON'S ENERGETIC FOUNDRY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1636, 19 May 1879, Page 3

ATKINSON'S ENERGETIC FOUNDRY.

Amongst the number of thriving industries that have arisen in Christehurch from very small beginnings there are few that have made more rapid progress and assumed more important dimensions than tho business conducted by Mr Atkinson, in T am street, and known as the Energetic Foundry. Mr Atkinson commenced business four years ago in a small wooden shop twenty feet long by fifteen feet wide, confining his trade to the manufacture of small cooking ranges only. The castings were turned out by tho firm of Messrs John Anderson and Son, and the fitting and finishing were done by Mr Atkinson. From tho first, tho superiority of tho ranges in quality and convenience was acknowledged, and the demand for them rapidly increasing, the necessity arose for enlarging the premises and increasing the plant, so as to enable the supply to keep pace with the demand. Bit by bit tho business was built up, and fresh departments added, and now the various workshops occupy a space of over a quarter of an acre of ground, and still Mr Atkinson complains that his operations arc cramped and his business limited by the contracted space of hit foundry. All kinds of castings aro now undertaken by the firm, although the staple of the business still consists of various kinds of cooking ranges and stoves, which aro largely supplied to private houses, hotels, and boarding houses. At present the firm send out, on tho average, forty ranges per month, all the casting being done on the premises at about half of the original cost when the business was first started. This economy, tho proprietor states, enables him to sell the ranges of every description at a less price than they could be imported for. There has been a little Blackening lately in this branch of the trado, owing to tho firm having taken the contract for the supply of the twenty-five new lamp posts for tho borough of Sydenham. The contract time was eleven weeks, in which the patterns had to be made and the necessary plant fitted for the castings. They are now finished and ready for delivery, and tho work has been dono in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The premises now consist of a show room, 20ft. by 15ft., devoted to tho display of cooking ranges, washing furnaces, register grates, t.nd general ironmongery. In continuation of this is the drilling and general repairing room, 28ft. long by 15ft. wide, and a largo brick annexe, 31ft. by 21ft., used for fitting up ranges and storing castings. Tho foundry proper is 42ft. long by 21ft. wide, and adjacent to it is a large drying furnace, 12ft. by 10ft. The valuable plant includes a large tubular smelting furnace, capablo of smelting 30cwt. of iron at a timo, driving, punching, and drilling machines, and other necessary machinery. To work these a new four-horse power engine, by Eichies and Watt, of Norwich, is being put up, and in connection with t a new Boot's patent blower, by Thwaites and Garbett, of Bradford, will be fitted. This blower, which for efficiency and economy of wear and tear is an improvement on those hitherto in use in tho colony, has only been recently imported, and is capable of smelting 25cwt. of metal per hour. In addition to tho ordinary description of work turnod out Mr. Atkinson has been supplying the Drainage Board with the circular and square ventilating and gully gratings which have been put down in the Ferry Eoad in connection with the new drainage works. These castings weigh 3icwt. each. It is a substantial proof of the appreciation of tho quality of the goods manufac tured in the Energetic Fouudry that for ranges Mr Atkinson obtained a honorary cortifica 1 © of merit from tho judges of the Christehurch Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1875 ; seven highest, honorary certificates in 1876 ; and a first and second prize at the Ashburton show last; yc ir. Since commencing business four years ago, the value of tho ranges alono that havo been tupplied by the firm, amount to oror £7OOO. At present, seventeen mon find, on the average, constant employment, and a l»rge capital is represented by tho valuable plant, a..d Btjck-in-trade, Tho business is steadily increasing, and Mr Atkinson expects that in another year or so his workshops will double the area of ground they occupy now.