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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Cossens And Black

Cossens And Black (Alexander Black), Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, Crawford Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 213. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Maitland Street. This business was founded about the end of 1874, by the present owner in conjunction with the late Mr. Thomas Cossens, who died on the 25th of March, 1891. The site on which the works stand measures 209 by 148 feet, and is the firm's freehold, the buildings being erected in brick. The first building, which was but forty-four feet square, still forms a portion of the foundry, which has been frequently enlarged; the latest additions consist of a workshop, 102 × 44 feet, and a commodious block of offices, two stories in height, along the street line. The lease of a piece of ground adjoining has also been acquired, in order to increase the yard space. These additions have been found absolutely necessary to meet the ever increasing volume of the trade. The plant is worked by steam generated in a fine twenty horse power boiler, which drives a fourteen horse power horizontal engine, made by Messrs. Marshall and Sons, of Gainsborough. In the engineer's shop there are several lathes: one, weighing eleven tons, will turn a piece of metal up to six feet diameter, while others are used for finer work: also a splendid planing machine by Messrs. Mathieson and Co., of Glasgow, together with a shaping machine, and a new patent key seater for cutting key ways. Besides these fine machines there are three drilling machines, two wood turning lathes for pattern making, a combined band and circular saw and boring machine by F. W. Reynolds, of London, also for the pattern makers' use, and every necessary appliance. In the blacksmiths' and boilermakers' shops, a five hundredweight steam hammer by Messrs Glen and Ross, of Glasgow, with an eleven inch cylinder, turns out good work. There are four smiths' forges, and two of the lever rivetting machines page 323
Messrs Cossens And Black's Foundry.

Messrs Cossens And Black's Foundry.

made by the firm, which will complete thirty rivets per minute. Messrs. Cossens and Black have disposed of a good number of these machines, which are very effective. This department also has a saw for cutting hot iron, one of Baker's patent rotary blowers for the cupola, a large binding roller, and four punching machines, the largest of which weighs twelve and a half tons. There is also a huge roller, capable of binding a sheet of iron eight feet long by five-eighths of an inch in thickness. The moulding shop, which is at the back of the section, has a five ton movable crane and two cupolas, three and two tons capacity respectively, which can be worked at the same time. In the large yard there are two massive derrick cranes, capable of lifting five and three tons each. There is also a tar bath, built in brick, for dipping mining pipes. The pattern store is the old office built by Messrs. Brogden and Sons, which is filled with patterns of divers kinds, grouped conveniently together, and each numbered and indexed, so as to be easily found when needed. Messrs. Cossens and Black employ from fifty to seventy hands in their extensive works, which are up-to-date in every respect. The firm has gained some fifteen awards for machinery at the different exhibitions and shows at which it has competed. Mr. Black, the surviving partner, was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland, in 1847. He was brought up on a farm, his father being a farm servant. Having learned something of the work of a black-smith, Mr. Black was apprenticed to Messrs. James Brown and Co., shipbuilders, of Montrose. He was afterwards employed at his trade in Glasgow till 1870, when he came to Port Chalmers in the ship “William Davie.” After some experience on the goldfields, during which he was able to save money, he joined Mr. Cossens in purchasing the nucleus of the business which had been commenced in a very small way shortly before. Mr. Black was married in 1875 to a lady from Alloa, Scotland, and has four sons and five daughters.