Three Sheffield Precision Tool Manufacturers (2022)

A film of an online lecture originally given by David Eaton on 25 May 2022 at Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield.
From the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century Sheffield was a centre of excellence in the design, development and manufacture of precision measuring tools. In this context precision implies being able to measure accurately to at least one thousandth of an inch.
The three Sheffield companies of James Chesterman, Moore & Wright and Shardlow were of major importance, especially during WW1 and WW2 when Britain urgently needed to manufacture high precision products for the war effort. Products of this kind included parts for aircraft engines and state of the art armaments which had to be made accurately to specific tolerances for interchangeable manufacturing purposes.
The Hawley Collection houses a comprehensive range of measuring tools made by these three companies. Included in the collection are over 300 different designs of micrometers and an impressive range of Vernier calliper gauges and height gauges. Some of the equipment used in the manufacture of these tools is also part of the Collection. These include a SIP linear dividing engine used by James Chesterman to make precision Vernier scales, slip gauges, surface plates and go/no-go gauges.
Over the years many innovative products have been collected including a Moore & Wright Braille micrometer and a Braille calliper gauge which was a joint venture between Moore & Wright and James Chesterman. These are supported by engineering drawings and patent information. They were used by service people who had been blinded in WW2 and who wished to return to their peace time jobs as quality inspectors. It is highly likely that these products would have been commissioned by the RNIB.
Also included is a range of height gauges, designed by the brilliant engineer Tom Bailey of James Chesterman, with specially sectioned columns that can measure heights up to 48 inches to an accuracy of one thousandth of an inch without any appreciable deflection taking place.
To find out more about the Hawley Collection and to donate, visit our website: www.hawleytoolcollection.com/
See also our sister website at hawleysheffieldknives.com/

[@diggmore1362]

I would be really interested in looking at the Hawley collection . Mad about Toolmaking

[@zen4men]

Sheffield is very lucky Ken Hawley existed! ...... Good to keep great traditions alive.

[@annarboriter]

It seems that machine tooling once occurred in the UK

[@benjaminzedrine]

Interested? I am! But I'm Australia so it's a bit of a schlep.

[@benjaminzedrine]

We're totally missing the transparencies, aren't we? Wah.