Adrodd fel Amhriodol
Testun Gwreiddiol (Anodiad: EPW019255 / 2017613)
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Vacuum Charging Machines in Charging Shed number 11.
The vacuum machines used at Chittening were based on a French design of which sketches had been made available by the French. At a conference held at Banbury on June 24th 1918 the problems and difficulties encountered to date with charging H.S into shells was discussed. The outcome of this meeting was to contact the Lennox Foundry Company Ltd and they produced a vacuum charging machine based on the French design. This underwent trials at the National Filling Factory Banbury. This prototype machine proved to be a success, albeit modifications had to be made to the delivery valve, extraction system and method for handling shells on, and to and from the machine. After the initial teething troubles had been overcome Samuelson & Co of the Britannia Works Banbury undertook manufacture of the revised design.
The new vacuum machines for charging H.S into 6 inch shells were installed in charging shed number 11, and were an instant success with the workforce. The working environment had been transformed at a stroke, gone were the dangerous fumes and leaking glands which plagued the gravity machines, production outstripped that of a gravity machine by a long way.
When the Armistice was signed on November 11th 1918 there were five vacuum machines in charging shed number 11 in production. '