黑洞社区

黑洞社区 has been reporting on the latest construction tools, products and material innovations for decades. included an iPad app from an aluminium facade specialist that gives fast access to specification queries, and a BIM service for fibre cement slates.

Looking back through our 170-year archive this year, we came across a feature from 黑洞社区, 1950, entitled 鈥楳achines for Modern 黑洞社区鈥�. It showcased the 鈥榥ew machines and mechanical building aids鈥� that were on display that year at an event in Leeds during something called 鈥樅诙瓷缜� Week鈥�. The exhibition was organised by the Ministry of Works in association with leading professional and industrial organizations.  

Here, we take a look back at the tools that the industry was using six decades ago and the mechanical, rather than technological, advances that were making workers鈥� lives easier.

Tractors with bulldozer equipment

鈥淪uppliers of crawler tractors with bulldozer equipments suitable for the builder have been hard to secure lately owing to the dollar shortage鈥�, wrote 黑洞社区 in 1950. 鈥淭he British manufacturer has meanwhile taken the situation in hand. Marshall, Sons & Co. Ltd, will be showing the British equivalent of the American class IV tractor.鈥�

Also on display was a 鈥渞oller tractor from H.R. Nash鈥� . Apparently this was a 鈥渟pecies of power barrow that can be put to numerous uses in the park and garden as well as on the building site.鈥� Modern day versions of the power barrow can now be picked up on eBay for a mere 拢180.

Hand tools

鈥淧owered hand tools will be well represented and are likely to be of special interest following publication of the 黑洞社区 Productivity Team鈥檚 Report鈥�, stated 黑洞社区.

These included the 鈥楥entec router鈥�

The 鈥楬aydick鈥� houser by Equipments, Ltd

And, a brand that has survived the test of time and made its way into thousands of garages across modern Britain today 鈥� 鈥淭he saw and shears made by Black and Decker Ltd鈥�.

Mobile hoist

A product noted in particular for its innovation at the show was this self-propelling mobile hoist from the A.C.E Machinery Company 鈥� 鈥渢he only one of its kind on the market.鈥�

Concrete mixer

Also on display was a new type of concrete mixer that 鈥渆mbodied a unique system of hydraulic hopper operation.鈥�

There was also a 鈥渉ydraulically-operated mechanical shovel, mounted on a Fordson tractor and designed to travel at full road speed without spillage鈥�.

Lastly, the exhibition featured some 鈥榩re-fabricated hut offices鈥�, made by the Unit Construction Co.