Report - Wadkin Woodworking Machinery, Leicester December 2013

[mookster]

I honestly can't remember much about this visit, probably because it's lost in the mists of time. I do however remember the heating and electricity being on in the offices which was rather nice on a cold December afternoon, and I vaguely remember something making us leave rather quickly but I can't for the life of me remember what happened to cause that.

In 1897 John Wadkin founded the company alongside his brother in law Mr W Jarvis. The company was formed following an idea to invent a machine that would be so versatile that it could carry out operations that were originally done by hand. John Wadkin titled this machine, "a pattern milling machine" The partnership was not successful and Mr Wadkin eventually left the company. Mr Jarvis then acquired the help of Mr Wallace Goddard with the intention to expand the business. Mr Jarvis became acquainted with a Greek gentleman by the name of Ionades who invented an advanced carburettor. General Motors in the US confirmed that they were interested and invited Mr Jarvis for a meeting to discuss, which led to Mr Jarvis booking a place on the Titanic as a means of travel and the disastrous result that he went down with the ill-fated liner.

This left Mr Wallace Goddard with a business in Leicester and no-one to run it. Luckily he had a son that took charge and this continued until 1927 when Mr J Wallace passed away. The 1914-1918 war saw the Government ask Wadkin for help to develop a machine that could turn out wooden propellers for the R.A.F. at a high-speed rate. After the war the demand for woodworking machinery was at a tremendous upsurge. Throughout the 1930's Wadkin extended their range and entered the high technology market and began making larger, high production woodworking machines such as moulders and double ender machines.

From the 1990's Wadkin recognised the need to develop back up service support to its machine customers, and developed a nationwide network of engineers in developing its customer response team, which still stands today offering support 365 days a year. In 2010 following the liquidation of Wadkin Limited, the intellectual propert rights were purchased by Nottingham based woodworking machinery distributors and manufacturers A L Dalton Ltd. This move brought together two long established woodworking machinery suppliers who have traded with each other for over 50 years and accumulated over 200 years experience in the industry between them. Today Wadkin continues to offer woodworking machines and specalist services to the woodworking sector from its new home in Nottingham, including new machine manufacture, spare parts, tooling and training.

It was a strange place, as although it was empty - very empty - the aforementioned heating and electricity was still on in most of the building. I believe it's long gone now.

Thanks for looking ​

 

[MotionlessMike]

That's nice. You got some nice winter sunlight in some of them shots!

 

[host]

Great report, was it a ghost that made you leave this is my kind of place or was.

 

[jezzyboo]

very sorry to see this a sad demise of our once great industrial past , have a wadkin table saw from 1967 and still works perfectly quality lost out to cheaper imports , good report and pics

 

[Jane Doe]

Wow i really like that ... lovely photos

 

[mookster]

Great report, was it a ghost that made you leave this is my kind of place or was.

I think it was the ghost of Christmas past

 

[trikey]

very sorry to see this a sad demise of our once great industrial past , have a wadkin table saw from 1967 and still works perfectly quality lost out to cheaper imports , good report and pics

I have to agree, I have used various Wadkin machines over the years (To trim plastic of all things) Fine bits of kit.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Like that, has a bit of a deco feel to it!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nice set there. I really like the risen floor in one shot. Not sure why. Good stuff

 

[dave]

Great report there. I well remember my visit here took me quite a while to get in then triggered the alarm after a while took a lot quicker to get out until I got stuck on the barb wire gate happy days.

 

[Midir]

As your budget is 500$, you have 2 options in my opinion.