The Birthplace of the Wrigley Worm.
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Established in 1897, the Factory of E. G. Wrigley & Co., Ltd., Has Again'Been Extended.
At the invitation of Mr. J. U. Steven, the popular managing director of E. G. Wrigley and Co., Ltd., a select party of the friends of the company assembled at the Soho Foundry Lane Works in Birmingham in order to celebrate, on Friday of last week, the opening of a handsome new suite of offices, and to take advantage of the opportunity of inspecting the recently-erected new shop accommodation. Under the presidency of Mr. J. Kenrick, the Mayor of West Bromwich, who is Chairman of Directors of Wrigley's, a pleasant luncheon party preceded a stroll through the works. Unfortunately, several representatives of the Press, who had notified their acceptance of the directors' invitation, were unable to keep their engagement.
Mr. Kenrick, in a short speech, welcomed his visitors, and took the opportunity of drawing their attention to the fact that Wrigley's had always made the comfort of their workpeople one of the primary features of their works organization. Our representative was interested to note in this connection that the formal celebration was to be followed by an entertainment for the employees and their friends. Mr. Kenrick said that until quite recently " Brummagem " bad been a term of opprobrium, but he—and we think with considerable right —claimed that that day was passing, and that although much that was solely imitation was still produced in Birmingham there was growing up in that city a number of new industries whose products were of the highest grade and could compare favourably with the output of works in any other part of the country or abroad. This is certainly true of Wrigley's. Their workmanship and their material leave nothing to be desired ; there are no Brummagem methods about this company's procedure ! A handsome new suite of offices — we reproduce a photograph of the frontage—is a striking feature of Wrigley's latest building developments, and the department which is affected most in respect of this improvement is the drawing' office. The draughtsmen, of which 18 are now constantly employed, are housed in an extensive and well-lighted room, with ample overhead illumination. A word must here be said for the drawingoffice record methods, which are in accordance with the latest practice. Section drawings, upon which a record of every operation is carefully kept, are used in connection with large-scale general arrangements for assembly purposes. The standard form of these drawings, which, by the way, are of uniform size-12 in. by 15 in., has been carefully thought out. A fine big steel room has been built into the drawing office for the efficient fire-protection of valuable drawings and other records, amongst which, of course, is an enormous mass of data relative to gearing of all descriptions which has been produced over the period during which Wrigley's business has been active. This is not the occasion to describe in anything like detail the large number of interesting special machines which find a place on Wrigley's shop floors. Primarily, the production departments are divided into three big sections ; the manufacture of twist drills, cutters, and small tools of all kinds ; the machining of toothedgearing of every description ; and the assembly of gearboxes and other complete units. The small tool department, which was erected in 1910, has an approximate area of 10,000 sq. ft. It is not in all probability realized what an important branch of this company's activities is that devoted to the manufacture of twist drills, milling cutters, etc. It was in 1902 that these drills were first made at Foundry Lane. The original works which were started by Mr. E. G. Wrigley at Aston Road, Birmingham, were fully employed in the manufacture of
milling cutters and reamers. There are batteries of special lathes for turning the shanks of twist drills, and on these machines the beds are permanently set to a Morse taper. Several sets of specially-designed macnines for the grooving of twist drills of all sizes form an interesting part of the equipment of these shops.
Other special tools which are made in large numbers are hobs, metal-slitting saws, and all kinds of special cutters and gauges. We were interested to hear that the twist drills produced amount to no fewer than 100,000 high-speed units in a working year. This total is in addition to the special manufacture of a large quantity of carbon-steel drills. The shops which are devoted to the production of miscellaneous toothed gearing are of special interest to users of all types of commercial-motor vehicles ; here may be seen gear components of all kinds in the process of evolution; including the hobburg of worm wheels and toothed sectors, and skew and bevel gear production. Gleason automatic bevel-gear cutters, as well as Reinecker's special machines for the same purpose, are undoubtedly the most interesting features of this shop's equipment. In addition, a battery of vertical
gear shapers is installed. Evidence of the care which this company lakes to ensure that its gears
shall he correctly produced is forthcoming in the matter of the establishment of a special testing room, in which all gears are run on suitably-mounted mandrils in conjunction with a standard pinion or worm before they are finally passed by the viewer.
Wrigley worms—if we may UK: the not inappropriate expression—
were shown to the visitors as examples of the remarkable finish which is given to this company's productions. Worms are ground, after cutting, on specially-designed grinders, and the resultant finish is that of electro-plate. As a matter of fact, several of the more critical of the visitors on Friday last were difficult to persuade that plating had not been resorted to. Amongst the work Which was going through in considerable quantities, we noticed a number of the " (jommer-Car " gearboxes, with their unique gear-shifting appa ratus.
At the present time Wrigley's employ a staff to the number of 47, and 280 men in the shops. These all work under conditions which reflect the greatest credit on the management.
A word in conclusion must be said for the efficient ventilation and the general cleanliness and welllighted aspect of the shops. The ventilation in particular struck the visitors as being unusually efficient. Mr. Steven, when questioned as to this, admitted that the system that had been adopted was one in which he had considerable faith, and consisted, at any rate so far as the larger shops were concerned, of low-pressure hotwater heating, and an ample supply of exhaust fans at various suitable places in the roofs.
Wrigley's development is not at an end by any means, and short iy, additional freehold land, which is the property of the company, adjacent to the factory will be subjected to the attentions of the builders. The Foundry Lane works are it is true, situated in a none too salubrious neighbourhood, but that is of little moment : the shops are models of cleanliness and order.