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INTRODUCTION TO MEEHANITE IN AFRICA |
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It
is generally believed that MEEHANITE METAL resulted from research
– work done on reducing the annealing time of BLACK HEART
MALLEABLE IRON.
This did not shorten the annealing time but did result in
MEEHANITE METAL wich was produced consistently.
The process for producing this metal was patented in 1922
and was called MEEHANITE after Gus Meehan who had discovered this
technique.
This happened in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.A.
However during the 1920’s another man by the name of
Oliver Smalley, a distinguished graduate of Sheffield University,
was also doing similar research work on cast irons in Britain.
Oliver Smalley was invited to join the Ross-Meehan Company
to develop other physical properties of Meehanite not covered by
the original G A range and also set up precise control processes
which were needed in order to achieve the desired strength and
properties in the Meehanite Irons.
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BRIEF HISTORY |
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Meehanite was introduced into South Africa in the mid 1930’s and we have in our records a signed document to this effect by Mr Oliver Smalley. We also have an agreement of one of our first licensees, namely (Thomas Begbie) Thos. Begbie & Co. (PTY) Ltd dating back to 22nd November 1939. If we refer once again to 1939 we find another South African link with the U.S.A Meehanite Organisationin that another very distinguished graduate of Sheffield University was employed by the original Meehanite Company. This was our very good friend Bill Moore who was going to join his father Arthur Moore in Standard Brass, Benoni, after having gained some experience with Meehanite in the U.S.A. He eventually opted to stay in the U.S.A after serving Meehanite for some three years in India and he ultimately became President of Meehanite world wide.
In
the late 1940’s George Leslie Lewis (also a friend of Bill Moore)
took control of Meehanite in S.A.
Mr Lewis ran the company very well until he sold the operation
to Adrian Lionel Gray on 15th December
1975. Mr
Gray sold the S.A. Meehanite operation to Walter Desond
Wiggill
in
November 1984.
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OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE |
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The
South African Licensees serve on as Advisory Board.
Each licensee is permitted one member to the Board.
This system is unique in the world of Meehanite and it was
introduced for the first time when we changed the name from Meehanite
Africa (PTY) Ltd to New Meehanite and Casting Materials (PTY) Ltd.
Whilst at present time the running of the Meehanite operation is
done by Walter Desmond Wiggill, Brian Wiggill and Michael Low who
represent a well balanced and very experienced foundry team, we hope to
employ a young graduate metallurgist to assist in promoting Meehanite in
Africa in the near future.
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