Paxman Paint Making Machinery
The history of Paxman's involvement in the manufacture of paint mills and mixers is a story in two parts. The first part covers a three year period from the summer of 1925 to the summer of 1928. During this time Paxman built paint making machinery to the orders of only one customer, Sidney Smith & Blyth. After mid-December 1927 the business fell away dramatically with the last order being placed in July 1928. The name of Sidney Smith & Blyth does not appear again in Paxman's records and Paxman made no more of this type of machinery for the next five years.
Right: Paxman 12" x 26" Single Roller Paint Mill
The second part of the story commences in spring 1933 when Paxman re-entered the paint making machinery market. It is relevant to mention that the engineering combine which Paxman had joined in 1920, AGE, collapsed in 1932, taking Paxman with it. No doubt in the aftermath Paxman reviewed all opportunities to exploit its known capabilities as it struggled to get back on its feet. This time the Company is clearly manufacturing paint mills under its own name and selling direct to end users. A fair number of orders flowed in for three or four years before beginning to tail off. After war was declared in September 1939 only four orders were booked, two in 1940 and two in 1941. The following year Paxman sold off its paint making machinery interests but there is some evidence to suggest it continued, at least for a while, to make paint mill component castings for the new owners of the business.
The only publicity material I have seen for Paxman paint mills is Paxman publication No 1021, a leaflet entitled The Paxman Double Bar Single Roller Mill. Because it contains helpful descriptions of both the use and construction of these mills, the text of the leaflet is reproduced as Appendix 1, lower down this page. There are also very brief references to Paint Making Machinery on the last pages of Paxman publications 1022 and 1042, catalogues describing the Company's 'Heavy Duty Diesel Engines'.
The Sidney Smith & Blyth Era
Our current knowledge of Sidney Smith & Blyth is somewhat limited. The Paxman copy order books reveal that paint making machinery built for this customer was sent to a variety of destinations in the UK and overseas in addition to its own Wandsworth premises. The natural conclusion to draw is that Sidney Smith & Blyth, who are thought to have been paint manufacturers themselves, were suppliers of paint making machinery to other paint manufacturers.
An article in a 1927 issue of The Engineer gives an account of new methods of paint manufacture then being adopted in the industry using two and three roll mills for grinding paste. A later volume has an account of the 1928 Building Trade Exhibition at Olympia where Sidney Smith & Blyth of Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London, were exhibiting two and three roll mills for grinding paint, enamel, and inks, etc. The account also makes reference to combined plants comprising twin paste mixers mounted on a tandem two roll mill, edgerunners and whirlpool mixers. From the order records we know these were precisely the types of equipment Paxman was making for Sidney Smith & Blyth at the time. From the size and range of its exhibits at Olympia, Sidney Smith & Blyth appear to have been a mid-sized company. This assessment tends to be confirmed by the regular stream of orders placed with Paxman following on immediately from the first two orders booked on 12th June 1925.
A number of questions about Sidney Smith & Blyth and its relationship with Paxman remain. How, for example, did Paxman come to start making equipment for this customer? Did Paxman make the first approach, or was it approached by Sidney Smith & Blyth? Had the latter previously built the machinery themselves, or had they sub-contracted the work to some other engineering firm, or was the marketing of this machinery a completely new venture with Paxman being contracted to do the actual manufacturing? Who was responsible for the designs of the paint mills and mixers? What led to the sudden downturn of business in early 1928 and its cessation six months later? What subsequently became of Sidney Smith & Blyth? It would be good to have some answers to these questions. In the meantime one is left with the impression that Paxman's role was basically that of a sub-contract manufacturer for Sidney Smith & Blyth.
It is noteworthy that although the 1927 article in The Engineer explained that new methods were being adopted in paint manufacturing, using two and three roll mills, no two or three roll mill was built by Paxman during its second period of producing paint making machinery from 1933 to 1941.
Non-Paint Manufacture Applications
It is interesting to observe that not all mills were sold for paint making. On 17th October 1925 orders were placed by Sidney Smith & Blyth for seven 'Upright Three Roll Mills' which were despatched to the Royal Sovereign Pencil Company. On 23rd October an additional nine 'Upright Three Roll Mills' were ordered and shortly after, on 2nd November, a further thirteen. The order book records that all the mills ordered on 23rd October and 2nd November were sent to Neasden (north-west London). There is no reference to the Royal Sovereign Pencil Co in these later order entries, but it is known that Royal Sovereign did have premises at Neasden. Further, all mills in these three batches are described as 'Upright Three Roll Mills' and their dimensions are non-standard. No other mills ordered from Paxman are described as 'upright'. It therefore seems most probably that all the mills were for Royal Sovereign who presumably used them for milling materials used in pencil lead manufacture. It would be interesting to have confirmation or otherwise of the accuracy of this surmise. Another totally different application was chocolate manufacture! Two items ordered by Sidney Smith & Blyth on 19th May 1926 are described in the order book as chocolate machines.
Orders
Orders from 1925 to 1928
Important sources of information on Paxman's first period of building paint making machinery are two surviving copy order books which span the relevant years. From the earlier book we know the first two orders for paint mills were placed on 12th June 1925. These were followed by a steady stream of orders up to December 1927. In 1928 only three orders were placed, one in late January, another in March, and a final one, for a mixer, on 16th July. After this last order there was an interval of five years during which Paxman's paint making machinery activities lay dormant.
As previously mentioned, all the orders during this period were placed by Sidney Smith & Blyth. Between 12th June 1925 and 16th July 1928, orders were received for 85 single roll paint mills, 27 two roll mills, and 36 three roll mills, as well as a number of paint mixers. The latter are variously described in the order book as horizontal single mixers, horizontal double mixers, horizontal twin mixers, whirlpool mixers, paste and double paste mixers. From surviving pictures and drawings one can see that the double mixers had two mixing drums rather than one. To what extent there were other significant differences in the basic design of these mixers remains unclear. At least two orders were for 'combined plant', which consisted of a paint mill and a mixer. Mixer sizes included one of 30 gallons and another of 80 gallons capacity.
Orders from 1933 to 1941
The second of the copy order books referred to above ends at early October 1934 and the subsequent book, assuming there was one, has been lost or destroyed. Fortunately two old and well-used notebooks, which provide invaluable information about Paxman's second period of manufacturing paint making machinery, found their way into the Company archive. Inside the front cover of each notebook is inscribed: "J M Bedwell D.O." (i.e. Drawing Office). Biographical details of MacDonald Bedwell, who had a long career with Paxman and became one of its Chief Draughtsmen, can be found in Appendix 3 at the foot of this page. Bedwell's notebooks not only contain details of paint mill orders from 1933 to 1941 but also list the engineering drawings to be used for building each of them. Photographs of many of these drawings have survived and the draughtsman's initials on most of them are 'JMB'. There can be little doubt that MacDonald Bedwell was the man chiefly responsible for producing and controlling Paxman's paint making machinery drawings at this time.
The paint mill order entries in the copy order book between May 1933 and September 1934 are fully replicated in Bedwell's notebook entries for this period. From this, and Bedwell's obviously careful and methodical approach to record keeping, we can be confident that his notebooks provide us with a complete list of paint making machinery orders from 1933 up to the time Paxman disposed of this part of its business. The table below shows, by machine size and year, the number of paint mill orders received. (No dates are available for orders placed between January 1938 and April 1939, so the figures for 1938 and 1939 have been combined.) A full list of the individual orders is provided in Appendix 2 below.
| Size | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938/39 | 1940 | 1941 | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6" x 10" | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| 8" x 18" | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
| 12" x 26" | 6 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 68 |
| 15" x 36" | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
Only one mixer order was placed between 1933 and 1941. This was in August 1936, for a twin 30 gallon Whirlpool mixer.
Customers from 1933 to 1941
One of Paxman's most important and best-known customers for paint mills between 1933 and 1941 was the Walpamur Co Ltd of Darwen, Lancs. (An order for a paint mill for Darwen was received as early as 1927.) Walpamur later became the well-known Crown Paints brand which is now part of Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings Ltd, still based at Darwen.
Paxman Paint Mill at Walpamur's Dublin factory – the final stages of manufacturing 'Duradio' paint.
Photograph dated 1949.
Other well-known paint manufacturers to whom Paxman supplied paint mills were International Paints at Newcastle upon Tyne, J Dampney & Co, also of Newcastle, Goodlass Wall, Lewis Berger & Co, Colthurst & Harding of Bristol, Merry & Minton, and Cellon.
The names of all paint mill customers between 1933 and 1941 can be found in the table of order details in Appendix 2 below.
Paint Mill Sizes
From 1925 to 1928 the paint mills built by Paxman were of three main standard sizes: 12" x 18", 12" x 22" and 15" x 30". Looking at surviving photographs and drawings, there is little doubt that the two dimensions given for each size refer to the diameter and length respectively of the roll. During Paxman's second period of paint mill manufacturing, from 1933 to 1941, the three main standard sizes are different, namely 8" x 18", 12" x 26" and 15" x 36". In May 1934 a stock order (i.e. an internal order to build machines for stock) was placed for four mills of a smaller size, 6" x 10". It took some time to shift these four mills, the last not being sold until 1938. No further 6" x 10" mills were built. One wonders whether the change in standard sizes from 1933 was made to get round patent protections covering the designs of mills made for Sidney Smith & Blyth between 1925 and 1928.
Paint Mill Design and Construction
The engineering drawings specify chilled cast iron for the paint mill rolls; a very hard material for this vitally important non-wearing part of the mill. The wearing part(s) comprised one or two grinding bars which were held up against the surface of the roll. The material being milled passed between the grinding bar(s) and the roller. Some of the mills fitted with two grinding bars appear to have been designed to achieve a higher throughput than the single bar type by allowing a proportion of the material being milled to by-pass the first bar before passing between the roll and the second bar. As noted above, we believe the grinding bars were wearing parts and in Bedwell's notebooks there are details of orders for replacements. From the drawing descriptions in the table below one assumes that the grinding bar moved laterally along the length of the roll.
Some of the paint mills were water cooled. In these types the roll, and the shafts on which it rotated, were hollow to allow cooling water to flow through.
A good idea of the main assemblies and constituent components of a single roll mill can be gained by examining the photographs on this page and the following extract from one of Bedwell's notebooks.
| Assembly Name | Description of Drawings |
|---|---|
| Roll | Roll & Shafts |
| Baseplate | Base Frame Main Bearings & Caps Hinge Shaft & Brg & Wedges Clamping Stirrup Counterweights |
| Hopper | Hopper Hopper Base (Double Bar) Hopper Base (Single Bar) Two stage Grinding Bars & Fittings Single Grinding Bar (2 stage Bar Mills) Single Grinding Bar (Single Bar Mills) |
| Scraper Plate | Scraper Plate Scraper Plate Details |
| Lateral Motion Details | Lateral Motion Gear Lateral Motion Casing Water Cooling Gear |
| Fast & Loose Pulleys | Fast & Loose Pulleys Striking Gear |
| List of Springs |
Paxman Disposes of its Paint Making Machinery Business
The last two orders of which we have a record were booked in February and June 1941. These were both for 12" x 26" paint mills, driven by 7hp and 8hp electric motors respectively. It seems surprising that Paxman continued to accept orders for paint mills during the war when the Company was so busy with essential war work. However, we do know that Paxman relinquished its paint making machinery interests the following year. In one of MacDonald Bedwell's notebooks there is an entry dated 14/5/42 which reads "Disposal of all paint mill parts, tools, drawings as agreed to in schedule". This is followed by the name and address of the purchaser: "Mr Keenok & Co Ltd, Murray Works, Warton Road, London E15". Additional notes on the page say "Mr Keenok and Mr — came to Works May 12 & checked Nos of Drgs." and "3 rolls of tracings sent 27-5-42". On the facing page of the notebook there is a further note that Keenock & Co Ltd later moved to 13 City Road. That page also mentions a letter dated 8/4/53 from Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, Keenok Sales Dept, Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, London SW1 followed by the note "Keenok & Co Ltd was absorbed by above company in 1947".
On a subsequent page in Bedwell's notebook there is a note dated Oct 13 (19)43 saying: "Keenoks wrote asking us to forward all the Patterns so that they can examine them and make modifications. Mr Sycamore agreed that we should send them the patterns." The words 'so that they can examine them and make modifications' seem to suggest that, after the transfer of the paint machinery business, Paxman were casting paint mill components for Keenok and would continue to do so.
In December 2005 the Agreement for the sale of Paxman's paint machinery interests was found among some old papers. Made on 30th April 1942, the agreement is between Davey Paxman & Co Ltd and Keenok Company Limited of Murray Works, Warton Road, London E15. Under its terms, the goodwill of Paxman's paint machinery manufacturing business "together with all patents including No. 408,026 of 14/10/32 (British) and No. 606,904 of 15/10/33 German" was sold for £1,000, the jigs, tools and templates for £1,200, the drawings, designs and patterns for £800, the stock for £750, and the benefits of all uncompleted contracts for £78 5s 6d.
Can You Help?
Apart from what has been learned while preparing this page, I have no knowledge of paint making machinery or paint manufacturing technology. It would be good to have some further information and comment from people who do have experience of the industry. If you are able to help, please contact me in the first instance using the form on the Contact page of this website.
Appendix 1 - Paxman Publication 1021
The Paxman Double Bar Single Roller Mill.
FOR FINE QUALITY PAINTS, ENAMELS, INKS, ETC.
Two-Stage Grinding.
The principal use of the Single Roller Mill is for finishing liquid and semi-liquid materials after suitable preparation.
It is found in practice that certain soft colours require only a preliminary mixing or wetting before finishing on a Single Roller Mill, whilst harder colours require an initial breaking down in a multiple roller or other suitable type mill.
In the case of hard colours it is advisable to carry out the preliminary breaking down to a certain degree only, and then pass the material one or more times through standard pattern Single Roller Mills.
Our new design PATENT Mill is arranged with two grinding bars fitting together against the hopper base, each bar being capable of independent adjustment.
In dealing with material, for example, which in the ordinary way would require two passes through a Standard Single Roller Mill, our PATENT TWO-STAGE Mill will do the work with one passage only.
It will be readily understood that when two grinding bars are employed, the second being adjusted for finer grinding than the first, more material will pass the first bar than the second.
The volume difference is dealt with in a novel manner, the material being allowed to return to the main hopper of the machine through the first grinding bar by way of special channels and slots.
The time saved by using a TWO-STAGE MILL is immediately apparent, as it naturally follows that by employing this type of machine on material requiring double refining, the whole of the period occupied by the first passage through a Single bar mill is saved.
Increased Output.
For treating material which requires one passage only, a special pair of grinding bars are provided. These are so arranged that each receive an independent feed from the main hopper of the machine, the resultant output being approximately double that obtainable from a similar size Single Roller Mill with one grinding bar.
The two sets of Bars are easily interchangeable.
Cleaning.
Every part of the machine which comes in contact with paint during working, may be easily and perfectly cleaned, and in no instance need the operator trust to luck, as there are no parts which cannot be actually seen.
Milling and cleaning operations may be conducted
entirely from the front of the machine.
Specification.
The machine is strongly constructed, the main frame, hopper base and baseplate being of cast iron. Main roll bearings are of gunmetal, in halves, and of ample dimensions.
Roller. This is of the finest quality chilled cast iron, accurately machined and polished. The chill is carried to an ample depth and the degree of hardness is the most suitable for the work the roller is called upon to perform.
Hopper. The hopper base, adjacent to the roll, is made of cast iron. It is accurately machined and bedded to the roll and is arranged for vertical adjustment by means of machined wedges. The hopper, or container, is made of cast aluminium, its base being machined to fit the hopper base. To facilitate cleaning, an arrangement of pivoting is adopted. The whole of the hopper, hopper base, etc., being easily swung back without disturbing the adjustments. After cleaning, the hopper may be swung back to its original position and quickly secured by means of the two stirrups shown in the illustration.
Right: 12 in. x 26 in. TWO STAGE Single Roller Mill.
Hopper Swung Clear for Cleaning.
Grinding Bars. These are of special quality close grained cast iron, accurately machined and bedded to the roll and hopper base. Simple clamps are provided for clamping them against the hopper base.
Lateral Motion. The lateral movement of the roll is effected by means of a worm and wheel, the latter being formed with an eccentric, actuating a rocking lever which is attached at its upper end to a double thrust washer on the roller spindle. The whole gear is contained in a neat cast box and is absolutely silent in operation. The gear box forms an oil bath for the gear and is arranged for quick draining of the oil.
Scraper Plate or Doctor. The whole of this fitment is easily removable for cleaning. The plate itself is of cast aluminium, the inside surface being machined and polished and the scraper blade itself is of special Spring Steel and easily removable from the scraper plate. The molasses type cock shown in the illustration may be removed from the doctor if found advisable.
Lubrication. Oil should be used in the lateral motion gear box, but in all other cases grease lubrication is arranged for, Stauffers being fitted, in easily accessible positions.
Drive. Drive is by belt in all cases, fast and loose pulleys being fitted direct on to the roll spindle. The belt shifting gear is of the universal type, suitable for belt at any angle.
Special driving arrangements can be arranged to suit client's requirements.
Temperature Control. With certain materials it is necessary to maintain the working temperature between specified limits.
All roll spindles are drilled for water cooling and a simple form of attachment to water supply and drain is incorporated in the lateral motion gear box.
LEADING PARTICULARS.
| Roll Dia. x Length | Pulleys (F + L) Dia. x Width | R.P.M. of Pulley | App. B.H.P. | Output per 8 hour day. Galls. app. | Overall Length | Overall Width | Overall Height Hopper Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" x 18" 12" x 26" 15" x 36" | 14" x 3¼" 20" x 4¼" 24" x 5¼" | 200 200 200 | 3 to 4 4 to 5 7 to 8 | 70-175 150-400 250-750 | 5' 0" 6' 8" 8' 10" | 2' 10" 3' 10" 5' 0" | 4' 6" 5' 6" 6' 2" |
Appendix 2 - Details of Paint Mill Orders from 1933 to 1941
| Order No. | Date | Description | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18105 | 12 May 1933 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | St Helens Colour & Varnish Co |
| 18110 | 25 May 1933 | 8" x 18" S R (Single Roll) Paint Mill with Double Grinding Bars. (Returned to Paxman's Works to have a single grinding bar fitted on 25 Jul 1933, in place of the double grinding bars.) | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18123 | 21 Jun 1933 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Joseph Mason & Co Ltd, Derby |
| 18159 | 2 Aug 1933 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18160 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | ||
| 18206 | 20 Oct 1933 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | |
| 18214 | 7 Nov 1933 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Merry & Minton Ltd, Birmingham |
| 18215 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | ||
| 18227 | 11 Dec 1933 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Angus R Walbrook & Co Ltd, 99 Tanner St, Bermondsey, London SE1 |
| 18243 | 24 Jan 1934 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18247 | 27 Jan 1934 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Scolite Ltd, Welwyn Garden City |
| 18266 | 15 Feb 1934 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill with Double Grinding Bars | Smith & Walton (Haltwhistle) Ltd |
| 18267 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill with Double Grinding Bars | ||
| 18270 | 21 Feb 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar | Glazebrooks Ltd, Melbourne |
| 18308 | 23 Mar 1934 | 15" x 36" Twin Bar Paint Mill with Double Grinding Bars (Two Stage & Increased Output) | Cellon Ltd |
| 18324 | 13 Apr 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double Grinding Bar. Mill to be fitted with two stage, increased output & single grinding bars. | Burt, Boulton & Haywood Ltd, Silvertown |
| 18332 | 23 Apr 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double Grinding Bars. | Joseph Mason & Co Ltd, Derby |
| 18342 | 10 May 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | Merry & Minton Ltd, Birmingham |
| 18360 | 11 Jun 1934 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | |
| 18365 | 20 Jun 1934 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18372 | 11 Jul 1934 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | Storey Bros & Co Ltd |
| 18413 | 21 Aug 1934 | 6" x 10" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. Grinding bar face to be ½" wide. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18414 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | ||
| 18415 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | ||
| 18434 | 5 Sep 1934 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Double Grinding Bars. | British Xylonite Co Ltd |
| 18451 | 9 Oct 1934 | 6" x 10" S R Paint Mill, Tilting Hopper Type | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 18461 | 15 Oct 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill, Double Bars Full Set. | Leather Cloth Co, London |
| 18472 | 19 Oct 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill, Double and Single Bars | Colthurst & Harding Ltd, Bristol |
| 18486 | 31 Oct 1934 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill, Two Stage & Single Bar | J Beard Ltd, Manchester |
| 18487 | 7 Nov 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | J H Fuller & Co, Reading |
| 18495 | 13 Nov 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. (note: Feb 22.(19)35 Mill to be exchanged for another new one) | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18504 | 10 Dec 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars. | Paragon Chemical Co, Baxenden, Accrington |
| 18506 | 12 Dec 1934 | Special 15" x 30" S R Paint Mill. ex-Walpamur. To be overhauled & bar reduced from 15/16" to 5/8" wide central face. | T & W Farmiloe |
| 18512 | 17 Dec 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars. | Henry Matthews & Co Ltd, Bristol |
| 18518 | 20 Dec 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars | Keystone Varnish Co, Hull (Hindley, Lancs 1-6-42) |
| 18522 | 28 Dec 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Clover Paint & Composition Co Ltd, Chaloner St, Queens Dock, Liverpool |
| 18523 | 31 Dec 1934 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars. | Colthurst & Harding Ltd, Bristol |
| 18526 | 4 Jan 1935 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Old Type. Double & Single Bars | Bryce Weir Ltd, Watford |
| 18533 | 14 Jan 1935 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars. | Royal Sovereign Pencil Co |
| 18551 | 7 Feb 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Lewis Berger & Sons Ltd |
| 18604 | 7 Mar 1935 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 18605 | 11 Mar 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Hill, Son & Wallace Ltd, Manchester |
| 18614 | 20 Mar 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bar. | Freitas & Gameiro, Portugal |
| 18615 | 18 Mar 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | John Hare & Co (Colours), Bristol |
| 18632 | 25 Mar 1935 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage. Increased Output & Single Bars. | Cellon Ltd |
| 18638 | 29 Mar 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | St Helens Colour & Varnish Co |
| 18645 | 4 Apr 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bar. | T Howse Ltd, Quinton Works, Blackheath, Birmingham |
| 18647 | 8 Apr 1935 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | J Dampney & Co, Newcastle |
| 18684 | 28 May 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Colthurst & Harding Ltd, Bristol |
| 18685 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | ||
| 18689 | 3 Jun 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage Double Bars. | Leather Cloth Co, London |
| 18713 | 12 Jul 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage Bars & Single | UK Paint & Varnish Co Ltd |
| 18719 | 17 Jul 1935 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 18727 | 30 Jul 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bars. | J Dampney & Co for Spain |
| 18735 | 16 Aug 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bars. | A E Onions Ltd, Staines |
| 18743 | 6 Sep 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bars. | Glazebrooks Ltd |
| 18770 | 18 Oct 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18786 | 7 Nov 1935 | 6" x 10" S R Paint Mill with Single Grinding Bar. | The Kepec Co (Eng) Ltd |
| 18789 | 11 Nov 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Gross, Sherwood & Heald |
| 18793 | 11 Nov 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bar. | Lisle, Munday & Co, Southampton |
| 18824 | 20 Nov 1935 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage &Single Bars. | T S Jackson & Sons Ltd, Mitcham |
| 18852 | 5 Dec 1935 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Blundell, Spence & Co, for shipment. |
| 18894 | 15 Jan 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. 2 Stage & Single Bars. | Gross, Sherwood & Heald |
| 18907 | 7 Feb 1936 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 18913 | 7 Feb 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Double & Single Bars. | Burt, Boulton & Haywood Ltd |
| 18927 | 5 Mar 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Associated Lead Manufacturers Engineering Co |
| 18951 | 24 Apr 1936 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Double Bar. | Nobels Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd |
| 18978 | 17 Jun 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Leather Cloth Co Ltd |
| 18988 | 30 Jun 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | A R Walbrook & Co Ltd |
| 18995 | 14 Jul 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Walker Bros (London) Ltd, South Africa |
| 19003 | 29 Jul 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Adolphe Crosbie |
| 19011 | 13 Aug 1936 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 19012 | Twin 30 Gallon Whirlpool Mixer. Driven by 4BHP Motor 460 Volts DC (1,610 RPM). Chain drive between motor and countershaft. | ||
| 19055 | 8 Oct 1936 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Texrope Drive. Two Stage & Single Bars. | British Manufacturers' Association (International Paint & Compositions) |
| 19056 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Texrope Drive. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19057 | 8 Oct 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Texrope Drive. Two Stage & Single Bars. | British Manufacturers' Association (J & D Hamilton Ltd, Glasgow) |
| 19101 | 16 Dec 1936 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Bryce Weir Ltd, Watford |
| 19102 | 16 Dec 1936 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | T S Jackson & Sons Ltd |
| 19107 | 18 Dec 1936 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 19108 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19130 | 1 Feb 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Byrom Paint & Varnish Co, Stockport |
| 19148 | 18 Feb 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | British Manufacturers' Association |
| 19149 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19150 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19169 | 13 Mar 1937 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 19175 | 16 Mar 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Glazebrooks Ltd, Tyseley, Birmingham |
| 19176 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19270 | 27 Jul 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Leather Cloth Co, London |
| 19277 | 17 Aug 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Glazebrooks Ltd, Tyseley, Birmingham |
| 19278 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19289 | 20 Aug 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage Bars & Single. | Enfield Chemicals, Clayton-le-Moors, Lancs. |
| 19295 | 5 Oct 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Brent Manufacturing Co Ltd |
| 19305 | 26 Oct 1937 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Keep Bros Ltd |
| 19312 | 11 Nov 1937 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. Motor driven by Texropes. Omit Fast & Loose Pulleys & Striking Gear. | Walpamur Co Ltd |
| 19318 | 2 Dec 1937 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd, Ireland |
| 19323 | 17 Jan 1938 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Byrom Paint & Varnish Co |
| 19325 | 26 Jan 1938 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Nobles & Hoare |
| 19351 | (no date) | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | British Manufacturers' Association, International Paint, Newcastle |
| 19425 | (no date) | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. Texrope Drive. 10HP Motor supplied by client. | Allied Paints & Chemicals Ltd |
| 19427 | (no date) | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Taylor, Simpson & Mosley |
| 19441 | (no date) | 6" x 10" S R Paint Mill. Single Grinding Bar. | Walpamur Co Ltd, Darwen, Lancs. |
| 19481 | (no date) | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Dr Landolt, Switzerland |
| 19516 | (no date) | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | |
| 19528 | 25 Apr 1939 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Goodlass Wall & Lead, Cookson Lead & Antimony, Chester |
| 19536 | 5 May 1939 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bar with Pads. | Blundell, Spence, Valparaiso |
| 19551 | 5 Jun 1939 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Colthurst & Harding Ltd, Bristol |
| 19563 | 27 Jun 1939 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. ORDER CANCELLED 6/7/39 (but see 19680 below) | Thomas Wood & Co, Southport |
| 19569 | 5 Jul 1939 | 15" x 36" S R Paint Mill. Single Bar. Texrope Drive. | Allied Paints & Chemicals Ltd, Birmingham |
| 19586 | 17 Aug 1939 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Walter Carson & Sons Ltd |
| 19587 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19588 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | ||
| 19676 | 1 Feb 1940 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Portugal |
| 19680 | 28 Feb 1940 | 8" x 18" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Thomas Wood & Co, Southport |
| 19808 | 21 Feb 1941 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Drynamels Ltd, Birmingham |
| 19834 | 10 Jun 1941 | 12" x 26" S R Paint Mill. Two Stage & Single Bars. | Goodlass Wall & Lead |
Appendix 3 - J M Bedwell, Chief Draughtsman
John McDonald Bedwell, always known as McDonald, was born c.1876 and during his long career with Paxman rose to become Chief Draughtsman. It is interesting to note the early flowering of his draughting talent: one of the optional papers he took and passed during exams in December 1891, at the age of fifteen, was 'Freehand & Model Drawing'. During exams in 1893, when he was aged about seventeen, he achieved First Class in the Advanced Stage of Machine Construction and Drawing. The following year, 1894, one of his cousins, Ralph Bedwell, was killed in an explosion at Paxman's Standard Works on 31st March, at the age of 22 or 23.
By 1901 McDonald Bedwell was a draughtsman working on Linde refrigeration compressors made by Paxman. At this time his pay was £2 per week. He appears in a photograph of a Paxman senior staff outing, taken in about 1905. His early experience of working on compressors must have made his employment relatively secure during the inter-war years. Paxman, along with most other similar companies, suffered from the severe shortage of engineering work during the 1920s. Old order books show the importance of the compressor business to Paxman during these lean times and without it one can question whether the business would have survived.
We do not know when McDonald Bedwell was appointed Chief Draughtsman but he continued at Paxman certainly until the early 1940s. He died in October 1965. By this time another member of the Bedwell family was at work in one of Paxman's Drawing Offices: Geoff Bedwell who spent the latter part of his career in the Company's Applications Engineering Department.
Acknowledgements: My thanks to Mike Gipson for sight of drawings and pictures he has retrieved from Paxman's photographic archive, to Andrew Phillips for information he has gleaned from past issues of 'The Engineer, and to the Bedwell family for allowing me sight of their family tree and McDonald Bedwell's academic certificates.
© Richard Carr 2005, 2009
Page updated: 12 AUG 2010