Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by George on 28/4/2025, 1:50 am

As with most of our industry, nothing exisits to identify where once gigantic machines, ships and engines were once made. By chance I came across this item when reading about war time preparations. "Sheffield War Years and The Sheffield Blitz". A question had been raised asking who supplied the huge lathes used during the war years. The answer was to be found in an article published 27/03/1934.

Work Commenced yesterday on the removal of what is probably the biggest modern lathe ever built.
It has just been completed by Messrs: 'Noble & Lund', (Felling near Gateshead) tool and machine makers,to the order of the English Steel Corporation, Sheffield, and it is the largest lathe the firm has turned out in its 50 years career.
The huge headstock of the lathe commenced its journey to Sheffield yesterday by road, the remainder of the lathe is following by rail.
When re-assembled at Sheffield the lathe will be driven by a 250 h.p. electric motor, and will admit forgings up to 60 ft in length by 80 inches in diameter, and weighing 250 tons.
This photo shows a striking view of the giant lathe prior to the commencement of its removal.

The man standing at the far end gives a good idea of its size.

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Norman Dunn on 28/4/2025, 10:02 am, in reply to "World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Massive lathe that George.
Our NE area was famous for Engineering and Shipbuilding & it is all gone now.
Where will the young people learn a trade because we will still need machinery to produce things in the future.

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by ricky on 28/4/2025, 10:31 am, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

All the engineering works I knew in the 80's when I worked at BUMA ENGINEERING , Robson Street ,Byker are now gone. Parsons, Pearsons, Buma and loads more.
Can you name more?

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Colin Thompson on 28/4/2025, 2:16 pm, in reply to "World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

It wouldn't surprise me if that is still running today in some Asian country - - I worked at nobles and we built strong machines (old fashioned but strong). I worked for Noble and Lund in British steel and firth Brown both in Sheffield and they had quite a few of our machines there.

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by George on 28/4/2025, 3:59 pm, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Colin, I take it you installed these mighty machines at various places for Noble and Lund ?

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Colin Thompson on 28/4/2025, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Some instalation but mainly repairs and service

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Stan Wears on 28/4/2025, 6:23 pm, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Vickers a Elswick had a vertical borer in 29 shop to machine tank turrets. The operator walked around the bed to sweep cuttings off. Not as big as the lathe shown here but impressive!

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Colin Thompson on 28/4/2025, 6:38 pm, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

We produced a plano mill that had two double decker busses on the table under the cutters for a promotion photo

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Davy on 30/4/2025, 4:19 am, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Was the angus gear works doing this norman?

For Davy

Posted by Norman on 30/4/2025, 9:52 am, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

The Gear works in Hebburn started off as the 'Reay Gear Works' then as you mention Davy it was called the Angus Gear works at one time & later changed to 'RW Transmissions'.
I was at RWT for about 6 years (65 to 71) and they made gear wheels & industrial gear boxes.
When car ferries were made on the Tyne, they had our Gearboxes in them.
They never made lathes.

Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling

Posted by Davy on 30/4/2025, 4:26 am, in reply to "Re: World's largest lathe - made in Felling"

Was the angus gear works doing this?

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.