Electrical Appliances Made In Nelson

Most Nelsonians know the long, white building on the Main Road at Tahunanui, as the Nelson factory of Zip Industries. But, like many of you, we didn't know what went on in that factory until we were taken through it with our cameras recently. Inside, a staff of 65 is engaged in making and finishing several electrical appliances sold throughout the Dominion, The building also houses the head office of the company and the company's only electro-plating department. In the main, the completion of electric saucepans, and the manufacture of hot water cy-linders, display equipment and shower attachments, keeps the staff busy.

Above are most of the company's products, displayed in the showroom, and below the frontage to the Nelson factory.

Colin Marshall compares the size of a 3 gal water heater with a 200 gal heater that his department has just completed.

Bill Edridge corrugating the body of a hot water cylinder

A section of the metal polishing shop

Plenty of work is awaiting "tarry" Larimer and his jig drill

The roughcast metal of a saucepan is ground to a mirror-like finish by Phil Rundle

Workshop foreman Norm Gorman has a quick look at the progress being made by Merl Read on his 25-ton press.

The electric saucepans which are completed in Nelson are sent all over New Zealand. Before they leave the factory a thorough inspection of each one is made. Here manager Eric Freeman and Norm Gordon examine a saucepan.

An ingenious vacuum arrangement ensures that Pat Judge doesn't suffer from the effects of his spray painting. Behind Pat a huge funnel allows air to be sucked in by the machine in the background and the air takes with it any unused spray.

A press break which can exert 56 ton pressure is the only one of its kind in Nelson. Here Les Rickard operates the machine to form display equipment channels, a pile of which is stacked at right.

Under a canopy of shiny pipe, Bill James bends chromed pipe into the shape required for shower attachments.

Allan Smith handling a rack of pipes being nickel-plated

The final assembly of saucepans is done by Cedric Marshall

Sparks fly as Rabe Riley grinds off welds in display frames

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The Nelson Photo News

No 34 : August 17, 1963

Electrical Appliances Made In Nelson