GASWORKS GENERAL - A collection of non-categorised gasworks related records
This page contains multiple records - scroll down to see the latest
Page index: 1. Gasworks history. 2. Sundry items. 3. No 5 Gas holder. 4. Tools collection 5. Yellow paint 6. 1998 Wedding 7. Street light column. 8. Why is the chimney bent? 9. Tar oil 10. The whistle
1. Gas works history
A must read for GWM volunteers is Peter's History of Dunedin's Gas works. A copy is held in the GWM library, but can be accessed on line at:
http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/documents/P.%20Petchey,%20%27History%20of%20Dunedin%20Gasworks%27%202009%20(323KB).pdf
Peters article records a blow by blow description of the evolution of the various gas production equipment at the gas works and the political machinations of the times.
http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/documents/P.%20Petchey,%20%27History%20of%20Dunedin%20Gasworks%27%202009%20(323KB).pdf
Peters article records a blow by blow description of the evolution of the various gas production equipment at the gas works and the political machinations of the times.
2. Sundry Items.
The following items are resident at the museum. While
some of these are not directly appropriate as indicated in the museum
charter, never-the-less, they are valuable industrial heritage items
and must not be lost to future generations. As a participant in
heritage preservation, I believe we must protect such items, albeit
in the shorter term until a more appropriate location be found.
A sad example of this is a steam windlass, offered to the museum but declined by the museum's Board. Later, an appropriate location in Southland had been identified, but to my dismay, it is to late and the windlass has been scrapped.
A sad example of this is a steam windlass, offered to the museum but declined by the museum's Board. Later, an appropriate location in Southland had been identified, but to my dismay, it is to late and the windlass has been scrapped.
Notated A1 This engine is ex McLeods soap factory. It is unclear what the engine drove.
Notated A2 This steam operated pump is ex the Otago Coop Dairy company cheese factory in Anzac Avenue Dunedin. (Now the Hocken library) Another pump from the same source is located outside on the museum's northern boundary fence.
Notated A3 This steam operated pump is ex Cherry Farm hospital.
Notated A3 This steam operated pump is ex Cherry Farm hospital.
Notated A5 The wheel assembly in the foreground is from the water gas holder.
Notated A6 The steel plate section in the background is from the Kensington gas holder
Notated A6 The steel plate section in the background is from the Kensington gas holder
Also notated A5 this plate section is also from the water gas holder
Located near the southern boundary of the museum is a steam operated hammer, ex McGregor's foundry. Alongside the hammer is a steam operated pump, ex NZ Refrigeration Burnside and used for site drainage. The Bookcase now situated in the fitting shop library is also ex NZF.
3. No5 Gas holder
No5 Gas holder was the largest of the holders. All that remains is the name plate "stored" outside at the museum. The name plate is just visible in the pix of the tank, immediately below the lower hand rail, and above the tank label, (both just above the pix date stamp)
This short tale needs no explanation.
Supervisor: "Good afternoon Bob, have you had a good day?"
Bob: "Afternoon boss, yes thanks, but last night I had a nightmare - I dreamed no 5 gas holder had fallen over on it's side"
Pause:
Supervisor: That's no good Bob - but weren't you on night shift last night?"
Bob: "Yes"
Supervisor: "Good afternoon Bob, have you had a good day?"
Bob: "Afternoon boss, yes thanks, but last night I had a nightmare - I dreamed no 5 gas holder had fallen over on it's side"
Pause:
Supervisor: That's no good Bob - but weren't you on night shift last night?"
Bob: "Yes"
4. Tools collection
This section will be updated as items of interest crop up.
March 2014. From the museum's tools collection, in the foreground a gas meter in the process of being returned to an animated exhibit. The unit, donated by Barry Dell Plumbing had previously been animated, but it is a coin-in the-slot unit and significant parts were missing. The current project will restore the missing parts, have the meter running, (on air) and may include a user interface for visitors to donate-to-operate.
27 April 2013. The gas meter animation is complete and the exhibit processed for public display.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201312718933741&set=vb.1645876092&type=2&theater
alternatively try youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTym7e435V4&feature=youtu.be
In the back ground, a 10 foot measuring stick. This particular unit was used by Gas works admin staff, dispatched on bicycle's, to determine the various service main requirements for new and altered domestic, commercial and industrial connections.
27 April 2013. The gas meter animation is complete and the exhibit processed for public display.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201312718933741&set=vb.1645876092&type=2&theater
alternatively try youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTym7e435V4&feature=youtu.be
In the back ground, a 10 foot measuring stick. This particular unit was used by Gas works admin staff, dispatched on bicycle's, to determine the various service main requirements for new and altered domestic, commercial and industrial connections.
March 2014. From our tools collection, John had great fun firing up this kerosene blow torch. Having said that he had to rely on the others to assist him to remember how it worked.
5. Yellow Paint
A unique tint of yellow was chosen as the “works colour” and as is often the case, some was “left over” and saw service on various workers houses, cribs, (batches to North Islanders) and the like.
One weekend, a works manager was observed taking considerable notice of a newly painted crib on the Dunedin peninsula.
Monday Morning:
Manager: “Bob, please call up and see me”
Bob: “On my way”
On arrival at the managers office
Bob: “Morning boss, I see you have painted No5 gas holder the same colour as my crib!”
Manager “ Get back to work”
One weekend, a works manager was observed taking considerable notice of a newly painted crib on the Dunedin peninsula.
Monday Morning:
Manager: “Bob, please call up and see me”
Bob: “On my way”
On arrival at the managers office
Bob: “Morning boss, I see you have painted No5 gas holder the same colour as my crib!”
Manager “ Get back to work”
6. 1998 Wedding
In 2014 we came across this photo, and others, of the Miren Marshall-Seeley wedding pix taken at the museum in 1998.
The general clutter on the site, compared with today, indicates the progress made with the museum over the years. Thanks to Miren for sharing these special memories with us.
Photo: Miren Marshall-Seely.
The general clutter on the site, compared with today, indicates the progress made with the museum over the years. Thanks to Miren for sharing these special memories with us.
Photo: Miren Marshall-Seely.
7. Original Street light column and lamp
Uplifted to the Gas works museum 17 June 2014, this column and lamp is one of very few remaining “original” Dunedin gas street light columns. Anecdotal evidence indicates this lamp was originally positioned in Great King Street outside the Orphans Club club rooms. The rooms burnt down in 1960 and new buildings were constructed in Clyde street, in 1961. It is likely the street light was relocated to Clyde street at this time. On the demise of the Orphans club, the building’s were taken over by a Muslim group for their mosque, and it was from this organisation the column and lamp were transferred to the Gasworks museum.
Photos' by Mack Holmes and John
Photos' by Mack Holmes and John
8. Why is the chimney bent?
Why is the chimney bent?
This story is presented for record only. The author neither endorses or censures this story.
The chimney's distinctive lean to the NE, has often been explained by the scenario: Dunedin's severe but infrequent SW gales have, over time, moved the top section of the structure, exposing grouting gaps in the bricks and allowing accumulating debris and dust into these crevices, the compound result being the obvious lean. This theory is somewhat negated by this site author's observation that the area's predominant wind is from the NE, and as all locals are aware, it is a regular cold wind, often strong, coming down the harbour and regularly making city life miserable.
Recently we had a senior, retired tradesman visitor, who noted: “ Not so'', he continued the likely reason for the lean is as follows: “In those days chimney's were erected by installing a scaffold inside the construction, and four Brickies would work together laying the bricks, and moving upward as the job progressed. Regularly the workers would rotate their work area 90 degrees to negate the minuscule differences in each workers technique, and the minor differences in mortar thickness etc, creating a vertical construction.” “It was likely” – he continued “near the end of the job, probably, one day, one two or three of the four went AWOL ( in those days - likely to the pub) leaving their colleague(s) to cover the absentees' and progress the job.” The result we can all see today is the non symmetrical upper section of the chimney.
This story is presented for record only. The author neither endorses or censures this story.
The chimney's distinctive lean to the NE, has often been explained by the scenario: Dunedin's severe but infrequent SW gales have, over time, moved the top section of the structure, exposing grouting gaps in the bricks and allowing accumulating debris and dust into these crevices, the compound result being the obvious lean. This theory is somewhat negated by this site author's observation that the area's predominant wind is from the NE, and as all locals are aware, it is a regular cold wind, often strong, coming down the harbour and regularly making city life miserable.
Recently we had a senior, retired tradesman visitor, who noted: “ Not so'', he continued the likely reason for the lean is as follows: “In those days chimney's were erected by installing a scaffold inside the construction, and four Brickies would work together laying the bricks, and moving upward as the job progressed. Regularly the workers would rotate their work area 90 degrees to negate the minuscule differences in each workers technique, and the minor differences in mortar thickness etc, creating a vertical construction.” “It was likely” – he continued “near the end of the job, probably, one day, one two or three of the four went AWOL ( in those days - likely to the pub) leaving their colleague(s) to cover the absentees' and progress the job.” The result we can all see today is the non symmetrical upper section of the chimney.
9. Coal Tar Oils
Coal Tar oils
Some tar was heated on site to produce distillates including various tar oils, creosote etc. Product that could not be sold or further refined was stored in a tank near the second water gas plant and used as a supplementary fuel on the Dunedin engineering boiler. -( see boilers section)
Some tar was heated on site to produce distillates including various tar oils, creosote etc. Product that could not be sold or further refined was stored in a tank near the second water gas plant and used as a supplementary fuel on the Dunedin engineering boiler. -( see boilers section)
10.The whistle
The gas works always had a steam whistle, but somewhere over the years the device was lost. In the early days of the museum, a locomotive whistle was obtained, purloined, whatever, and installed in the boiler house. In regular use, until around 2010, the device was the envy of many, and often the high-lite of the visit. (it still is - Ed) When operating the whistle, John routinely warned visitors the noise was about to become excessive. However one visitor day, a senior lady, in spite of my warning, received a serious fright, second only to my concern for her welfare.
This prompted an immediate relocation of the whistle to an exterior location.
Today this whistle is still routinely operated with the appropriate warning, and receives the same accolade, but now with some certainty our visitors will survive the occasion. Clearly audible in the surrounding suburbs, the whistle has become a Dunedin “icon”
The legend.
Joe, (not real name) regularly and routinely was rostered to the day shift. One of his duties was to operate the works whistle at 3.00 PM, and, in the surrounding suburbs, this became an essential part of the day's routine. Due to staff shortage, Joe was one day rostered to the night shift – an almost unique event for him. Starting at midnight, it was routine for the night shift staff to inspect their plant, take the appropriate readings, and retire a a suitable “spot” (each had their own – Ed) for a quiet “time”. Joe followed the routine, but awoke sometime later, checked his watch and noted it was just after 3 o'clock. Without hesitation, and following inbuilt routine, he rushed to the operating rope and set a large and long blast on the whistle.
It took some few days for the subsequent furore to subside.
This prompted an immediate relocation of the whistle to an exterior location.
Today this whistle is still routinely operated with the appropriate warning, and receives the same accolade, but now with some certainty our visitors will survive the occasion. Clearly audible in the surrounding suburbs, the whistle has become a Dunedin “icon”
The legend.
Joe, (not real name) regularly and routinely was rostered to the day shift. One of his duties was to operate the works whistle at 3.00 PM, and, in the surrounding suburbs, this became an essential part of the day's routine. Due to staff shortage, Joe was one day rostered to the night shift – an almost unique event for him. Starting at midnight, it was routine for the night shift staff to inspect their plant, take the appropriate readings, and retire a a suitable “spot” (each had their own – Ed) for a quiet “time”. Joe followed the routine, but awoke sometime later, checked his watch and noted it was just after 3 o'clock. Without hesitation, and following inbuilt routine, he rushed to the operating rope and set a large and long blast on the whistle.
It took some few days for the subsequent furore to subside.