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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 0557.PDF
FEBRUARY 22, 1940 THE INDUSTRY When completed the new Opperman factory will be of modern pleasing appearance. Stainless SteeL Electrode A NEW stainless steel, known as" Stainvveld D," is announced by the Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, Herts, to be used as the positive electrode for arc welding stain- less steel of the 25 per cent, chromium, 20 per cent, nickel type. It can also be employed for welding various stainless steels to mild steel and for steels such as armour plate, which are air hardening and cannot be heat treated after welding. '' Stainvveld D '' electrodes may be had in five sizes ranging from ^in. to £in. ; are packed in 251b. containers and are njin. in length irrespective of size. New Opperman Factory WORK has begun on the constructionof a new factory for S. E. Opper- man, Ltd., the aeronautical engineers to augment the company's existing works on the North Circular Road. Although the latter was built as recently as 1936 it has become too small for the increased activities of the company. The new works are being constructed on the most modern lines and will provide a con- siderable increase of floor space over the older building. An interesting feature of the frontage will be an historic clock constructed originally for the Great Ex- hibition held at the Crystal Palace. The clock, which has been kept in good order for nearly 90 years, was recently in the market as scrap metal, but was rescued by Mr. S. E. Opperman at the eleventh hour. Its face is made of copper and is some 5ft. in diameter; the pendulum weighs three-quarters of a hundredweight and the bell four and a half hundred- weight. The new factory is the latest develop- ment in the history of one of the oldest engineering families in this country. The origin of the various Opperman under- takings was a watch and clockmaking business started by Mr. C. Opperman, grandfather of the present managing director, in the middle of the last cen- tury, lie did a big business in making and exporting watches to America until the Civil War put an end to this market. Apart from the aeronautical side of the business the company have built up a large business in reduction gears, geared motor units and agricultural implements. Illuminated Magnifier AS an aid to inspection of detail workthe " Partington " illuminated mag- nifier gives in a single unit the advan- tages of the electric torch and magnifying lens. The theory that has been followed is that the average reading distance from the eye is approximately ten inches and the actual area on which the eye con- centrates at that distance is a circle of only 17 mm. diameter. Therefore a x 10 achromatic lens of 17 mm. diameter has been designed to give per- fect focus ten inches from the eye and has been mounted oil a x 2.5 lens of larger diameter to enable the observer to quickly locate his object. The mag- nifier assembly is of white bakelite and screws on to the handle which contains the battery and carries the bulb and reflector. The light produced is the colour of true daylight. For final focusing the lens is mounted in a quick thread, and it is easily removed for cleaning by taking out a rubber ring. The whole apparatus is constructed in such a way as to be good enough for any purpose, however exacting, and yet enable minute examinations to be made by comparatively unskilled men. (Left) Partingtonilluminated mag- nifier. The doublelens, white bake- lite reflector andtorch bulb are clearly shown. (Right) Looking through the Par- tington magnifier, showing the two magnifications. (Actual size.) It is supplied in a strong teak box com- plete with transparent " Magnicometer " graduated in |in. and Jin. squares and ruled from i/55in. to i/i2oin. S. W. Partington, 96, Gloucester Road, London, S.W.7, are the makers. The price is /jj 17s. 6d. Aviation Developments, Ltd. '"THERE has been some changes on the J- board of this company owing to Mr. David Orr, who was the financial spon- sor of the company, taking a commis- sion in His Majesty's service. His con- trolling interest has been sold to Mr. Stanley T. Johnson, the original founder and present managing director, and Mr. Orr's seat on the board has been taken by Mr. Joseph Shevlin. Aviation Developments, Ltd., are re- sponsible for the introduction to the British Empire of the well known Chobert system of riveting which origin- ated in the Bleriot works in France. It was invented by Leo Kirste, an Austrian, who was at that time chief designer at the Bleriot concern and is now, unfor- tunately, in a concentration camp in Austria. It seems that the Chobert sys- tem has had almost a "corner" in air- craft pioneers, for not only did it have >s flown prt passenger'fatality, the hiiilttsIt Wthr<-,- iin!i>s tht- wttov figure the Sirst
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