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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hey Mike,

    Sorry for dragging my feet with a response but.... I found a couple of McPherson showroom photos from, I imagine, the 60's. There must be some more comprehensive information about the firm. Ajax fixings were a household name. They were what you bought when you needed a nut and bolt. Ajax pumps were well known.

    Then there were Macson machine tools. We have all heard about them, I've seen a few Macson lathes but what of the factory that made these tools? I'm 59. McPhersons were around over here until the mid eighties. I bought some stuff from their showroom in 1982.

    Whilst they were originally purchased by others, my 3 nine inch Hercus lathes, my Hercus No.O mill and my Schaublin 13, were all sold by McPhersons.

    Maybe some of the older blokes know more about this iconic Australian firm.

    I hope so.

    BT

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Ok

    hi Bob

    You seem to know more about them than I do Their machinery and tooling was quite good quality , as evidenced by the McPherson camel back drill press I have here . Apparently P&N still does exist - still manufacturing twist drills as I see 'made in NZ' on the packets .

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-M...item19c47a8cac

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/McPherson...item19c0ee4dac

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Katherine ,Northern Territory
    Age
    69
    Posts
    736

    Default

    There is a post in this forum with links to MacPhersons catalogues .I think its the camel back drill thread.
    I recall buying tools from MacPhersons in Adelaide , I still have and use the two sets of Unbrako allen keys I bought from them .
    At the place where I worked we had thier catalogues , they were every where and made good reading on afternoon and night shift.
    Their machinery was well made , and a lot of it is still being used .

    Kev.
    "Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend ,inside a dog it's too dark to read"
    Groucho Marx

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    The McPherson's machine tool works was located at 392 MACAULAY ROAD, KENSINGTON
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    85

    Default

    Hi everyone,

    whenever you are looking for information, books, pictures, photos, digitised newspaper stuff, etc, try a search at The National Library of Australia.
    Especially for Australian material, such as McPhersons.
    Their search facility is called "Trove" (ie treasure trove).
    Home - Trove

    You will be absolutely amazed at what is held, and some photos are available online.

    NLA's catalogue is a combination of all contributing Australian library catalogues.

    You can get some of the material through your local library via "inter-library loans".
    Not all material is available; normally only books, some DVDs, and which are held in "lending" libraries, ie not reference libraries.
    Your local library will have details.

    mike

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default searches

    Another excellent source is: www.naa.gov.au

    I found some lathe pics there . And, my uncles POW records from Germany , amazing really . MIKE

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Cairns, Q
    Posts
    666

    Default

    McPhersons Ltd. is still going of course - they just changed direction about the seventies when imports of cheap machine tools and engineering tools and supplies started to cut seriously into their profits.

    McPherson's Limited - Company Profile : Company Overview

    I remember visiting their premises in Sydney in the early fifties with my father to buy some pulleys and other bits and pieces. I'd love to have been able to go in there with a few thousand pounds to spend!

    Frank.

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