Published Resources Details
Conference Paper
- Title
- AJAX and the Tools of War
- In
- Engineering Heritage Victoria, Speakers Programme
- Imprint
- 24 November 2016
- Url
- https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/Event/ajax-and-tools-war
- Abstract
In 1888, at just 23 years of age, William Murray McPherson inherited a half-share in a modest-sized iron and machinery importing business, established in Melbourne in 1860 by his Scottish-born father Thomas McPherson. Just eight years later, when he became sole proprietor after the tragic death of an older brother, the firm had just eight employees. Over the following half a century, three generations of the McPherson family would forge the business into an engineering colossus, supplying a large share of the tools and materials that drove Australian industry.
The firm's comprehensive annual catalogue for engineers and industrialists became a standard reference on the shelf of every decent drafting office, machine shop, garage and farm workshop across the nation. Inspired by a recent donation from a descendant of Thomas McPherson, this talk will focus on McPhersons' manufacturing activities, which eventually diversified into to a network of 18 inter-related enterprises, beginning with a nut & bolt works in 1900, machine tools from 1916 and pumps from 1924.
Recognising the importance of having a local source of engineering equipment and tools, the firm made a major contribution to Australia's armaments manufacturing during both World Wars. Their 'Ajax' and 'Macson' brands became virtually household names and would help build the Trans-Australian Railway and two of Australia's most iconic bridges.