Wadkins Woodworking
The Explore
An early start as usual, even earlier for some
and after collecting Matt_inked we made our
way down to Leicester to scoop up Session9. Then onwards to our primary objective and
met with Catbalou at our pre-arranged location. After introductions and a chin-wag we got down to business and
made our infil into our desired moochylum. Entry was successful, through jaggedy and nettley jungle terrain
(a machete would've been handy). Approx 1 minute 47 seconds later we were being escorted off site by Mr. Hi-Viz
WE WILL BE BACK!
So, onwards and upwards. We jumped in my car and headed in search for Wadkins. Unfortunately my Sat Nav must've
decided to smoke some crack while we were busy getting busted and it sent us on a mystery tour of Leicester,
but eventually we found the place and parked up. After a while sussing out the place for entry we finally
succeeded, almost minus a nipple or two on my part, and spent a good few hours exploring this not-so-reported-on
site. Special thanks to the secca man watching ladies tennis in his office for failing to
spot us from about two feet away and to Cat for spotting him first before I walked right past his self-loving
chariot. A quieter exit was swiftly made and on to the next place....
History (robbed mostly from Matt Inked cheers)
In 1897 John Wadkin founded the company alongside his brother in law Mr W Jarvis. The company
was formed following an idea to invent a machine that would be so versatile that it could carry out
operations that were originally done by hand. John Wadkin titled this machine, "a pattern milling machine".
After a while Mr Wadkin realised his brother in law was a bit of a bell-end and left the company. Mr
Jarvis had secretly thought the same after an experience at a recent bukakke/reacharound party
and was relieved that he could now recruit his gay lover Mr Wallace Goddard with the intention to
expand the business. This paragraph is just a test to see who actually reads the history part.
Mr Jarvis became acquainted with a Greek gentleman by the name of Ionades who invented an
advanced carburettor. General Motors in the US confirmed that they were interested and invited Mr
Jarvis for a meeting to discuss, which led to Mr Jarvis booking a place on the Titanic as a means of
travel and the disastrous result that he went down with the ill-fated liner. This left Mr Wallace
Goddard with a business in Leicester and no-one to run it. Luckily he had a son that took charge and
this continued until 1927 when Mr J Wallace passed away.
The 1914-1918 war saw the Government ask Wadkin for help to develop a machine that could turn
out wooden propellers for the R.A.F. at a high-speed rate. Throughout the 1930's Wadkin extended
their range and entered the high technology market and began making larger, high production
woodworking machines such as moulders and double ender machines. (Every household should have a good
‘double ender’ machine haha)
The first Wadkin numerically controlled machine was produced in 1956 and the machine proved to
be successful and generated much interest from the industry.
From the 1990's Wadkin recognised the need to develop back up service support to its machine
customers, and developed a nationwide network of engineers in developing its customer response
team, which still stands today offering support 365 days a year.
Since this, Wadkin have been at the forefront of development and have been named the first British
business to be accredited as a learning company by UK Woodchain.
In 2010 following the liquidation of Wadkin Limited, the intellectual propert rights were purchased
by Nottingham based woodworking machinery distributors and manufacturers A L Dalton Ltd. This
move brought together two long established woodworking machinery suppliers who have traded
with each other for over 50 years and accumulated over 200 years experience in the industry between them....
Yes, a large amount of text for the history section of this report but worth having a read if you have
the time. An example of what once was at the pinnacle of world-leading British engineering...
The Pictures...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Nice of them to leave the lights on for us in the last two pics I have pictures of the office area
and roof but they have been covered already.
As always, thanks for looking and feedback always welcome
The Explore
An early start as usual, even earlier for some
and after collecting Matt_inked we made ourway down to Leicester to scoop up Session9. Then onwards to our primary objective and
met with Catbalou at our pre-arranged location. After introductions and a chin-wag we got down to business and
made our infil into our desired moochylum. Entry was successful, through jaggedy and nettley jungle terrain
(a machete would've been handy). Approx 1 minute 47 seconds later we were being escorted off site by Mr. Hi-Viz
WE WILL BE BACK!
So, onwards and upwards. We jumped in my car and headed in search for Wadkins. Unfortunately my Sat Nav must've
decided to smoke some crack while we were busy getting busted and it sent us on a mystery tour of Leicester,
but eventually we found the place and parked up. After a while sussing out the place for entry we finally
succeeded, almost minus a nipple or two on my part, and spent a good few hours exploring this not-so-reported-on
site. Special thanks to the secca man watching ladies tennis in his office for failing to
spot us from about two feet away and to Cat for spotting him first before I walked right past his self-loving
chariot. A quieter exit was swiftly made and on to the next place....
History (robbed mostly from Matt Inked cheers)
In 1897 John Wadkin founded the company alongside his brother in law Mr W Jarvis. The company
was formed following an idea to invent a machine that would be so versatile that it could carry out
operations that were originally done by hand. John Wadkin titled this machine, "a pattern milling machine".
After a while Mr Wadkin realised his brother in law was a bit of a bell-end and left the company. Mr
Jarvis had secretly thought the same after an experience at a recent bukakke/reacharound party
and was relieved that he could now recruit his gay lover Mr Wallace Goddard with the intention to
expand the business. This paragraph is just a test to see who actually reads the history part.
Mr Jarvis became acquainted with a Greek gentleman by the name of Ionades who invented an
advanced carburettor. General Motors in the US confirmed that they were interested and invited Mr
Jarvis for a meeting to discuss, which led to Mr Jarvis booking a place on the Titanic as a means of
travel and the disastrous result that he went down with the ill-fated liner. This left Mr Wallace
Goddard with a business in Leicester and no-one to run it. Luckily he had a son that took charge and
this continued until 1927 when Mr J Wallace passed away.
The 1914-1918 war saw the Government ask Wadkin for help to develop a machine that could turn
out wooden propellers for the R.A.F. at a high-speed rate. Throughout the 1930's Wadkin extended
their range and entered the high technology market and began making larger, high production
woodworking machines such as moulders and double ender machines. (Every household should have a good
‘double ender’ machine haha)
The first Wadkin numerically controlled machine was produced in 1956 and the machine proved to
be successful and generated much interest from the industry.
From the 1990's Wadkin recognised the need to develop back up service support to its machine
customers, and developed a nationwide network of engineers in developing its customer response
team, which still stands today offering support 365 days a year.
Since this, Wadkin have been at the forefront of development and have been named the first British
business to be accredited as a learning company by UK Woodchain.
In 2010 following the liquidation of Wadkin Limited, the intellectual propert rights were purchased
by Nottingham based woodworking machinery distributors and manufacturers A L Dalton Ltd. This
move brought together two long established woodworking machinery suppliers who have traded
with each other for over 50 years and accumulated over 200 years experience in the industry between them....
Yes, a large amount of text for the history section of this report but worth having a read if you have
the time. An example of what once was at the pinnacle of world-leading British engineering...
The Pictures...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Nice of them to leave the lights on for us in the last two pics
I have pictures of the office areaand roof but they have been covered already.
As always, thanks for looking and feedback always welcome
