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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Burt, A. And T., Ltd
Burt, A. And T., Ltd. (Alexander Burt, managing director), Machinists, Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, Coppersmiths, etc., the Otago Lead, Copper, Brass, and Engineering Works, Cumberland Street, Dunedin. Warehouse and offices, corner of Stuart and Cumberland Streets. Telephones, 3, 10, and 7. P.O Box, 15. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Cable address, “Burt, Dunedin.” Codes, A.B.C. and A.I. Branches, Wellington and Christchurch. Marine Brach, Port Chalmers. Residence of managing director, York Place. This well-known and old established firm was originally started in a small and unpretentious fashion by the present managing director, with the assistance of the late Mr. Thomas Burt, who died in 1884. The small premises in which the brothers commenced operations in the Octagon in 1862, as plumbers and gasfitters, were indeed petty in comparison with the firm's present establishment. Fortunately for Messrs. A. and T. Burt, there was, owing to the Otago gold discoveries, a vast influx of population about the time of the establishment of their first shop, and the impetus given to the building trade was such that they speedily found their premises far too small. From time to time the building was enlarged till the entire site was fully covered, and yet the business developed at a still more rapid rate, so that within four years it became imperative to find more space to accommodate the ever increasing plant, and to afford reasonable room for the additional workmen. A large section having been secured in Princes Street, the firm erected new buildings, consisting of warehouse and workshops, and of these they took possession in 1866. Six years later Messrs. Burt found these buildings also too small, and, as the value of land had enormously increased in the centre of the city, they purchased land in Cumberland Street, where a new factory was erected, and is still a hive of industry, which it is an inspiration to visit. The building occupied for the various departments of the company's operations stands on an area of one acre and a half in extent. The large, three storey page 322 brick building, known as “the works,” affords a flooring space on each flat of about 10,000 square feet, and is well lighted and ventilated throughout. The ground floor is devoted to the engineering and blacksmithing departments, which contain numerous machines, including large screw cutting lathes, an immense sliding gap lathe for turning pulleys up to twenty feet in diameter, planing, slotting, shaping, and screwing machines, besides many others which cannot here be enumerated. In the smith's shop are to be found six forges, a big steam hammer, cutting and punching machinery, and a plate furnace and bending table, as well as all modern tools and appliances for conducting a large business. The iron moulding shop, which is divided into two parts—for heavy and light work—and is situated behind the main building, covers about a quarter of an acre of land. A huge travelling crane, capable of lifting and transporting ten tons of metal to any part of the shop, is a feature of this part of the works. Centrally situated is a watertight pit, sixteen feet deep, which is used for casting large hydraulic cylinders. In connection with the moulding department there are three cupolas, which are equal to melting many tons of metal at one time; in fact, the whole of the appliances in this department are on such an extensive scale that a single casting weighing ten tons could be moulded and finished. Adjoining the iron moulding and casting shop is the brass foundry, which has a floor of brick and concrete, in order to prevent any metal that may fall from being lost. As elsewhere in Messrs. A. and T. Burt's premises, everything that is needed to facilitate the work is provided; eight furnaces for smelting purposes are ranged along the back wall of the building, while a large air furnace, connecting with a tall chimney, is used for casting up to three tons in weight. Behind the engineering department is situated the coppersmith's shop. This is a large building, containing two plumbing hammers, a large tilt hammer, three blast brazing furnaces, and two atmospheric gas forges. In the boiler house there is a forty horse power boiler, which ventilates into a huge chimney stack, carried up high enough for the smoke to clear the buildings. Six steam engines, situated in different parts of these extensive works—probably the most extensive in the Colony—, are supplied with steam from this fine boiler. On the first floor of the main building there is a workman's store, adjoining which is the dressing shop; here the brass castings are dressed, cleaned, and weighed, preparatory to being finished. The finishing shop, which occupies the second floor, contains a splendid set of machines, all fitted up with the most modern improvements. Over thirty lathes, besides numbers of emery and polishing machines, a cock boring machine, and an ingenious milling machine, are found at work in this part of the establishment. The pattern shop occupies the whole top flat of the main building; and there welllighted benches extend along the front windows, and all available labour saving appliances are in constant use. With the object of preserving all patterns, which now aggregate many thousands, a pattern store has been erected; all patterns are numbered and registered so as to facilitate business. The boiler and fluming pipe shop, which was originally located in part of the works, has been removed to a site behind the warehouse. This roomy building contains punching, rolling, rivetting, and all other needful apparatus for carrying on such an extensive department. Adjoining this is the plumbing shop, which is replete with a fully equipped plant, capable of turning out vast quantities of lead work of every description. The warehouse showrooms and offices of Messrs. A. and T. Burt, at the corner of Cumberland and Stuart Streets, comprise a three storey brick building of large dimensions. A large stock of goods of the firm's own manufacture, as well as imported articles, is stored on the ground floor, which accommodates also the company's offices. The first floor—used as a showroom—contains samples of brass and copper goods, all kinds of sanitary appliances, and household fittings of divers descriptions, while the top floor contains original packages, a hydraulic lift being utilised for the purpose of communication. Two large stores adjoining the warehouse contain heavy materials in bulk, including pig and sheet metals and pipes. It is quite impossible to convey an adequate impression of the variety of work executed by this well-known firm—which was incorporated as a limited company in April, 1897, for family reasons—but a few of the lines may be briefly noted. In gas fittings, Messrs. A. and T. Burt contracted for the lighting by gas of the Exhibition Building of 1865—now the Dunedin Hospital building. They have since supplied and erected the entire plants for the Masterton and Westport gasworks, and have enlarged the Dunedin and Port Chalmers works. When the water supply was inaugurated in Dunedin, they laid mains and service pipes throughout the city, and afterwards in South Dunedin, Caversham, Outram, and Reefton, besides constructing plant for extensions at Lyttelton and Wellington. In marine work they have executed large contracts for the Union Steam Ship Company, and other large companies, and have fitted up brewers and distillers' plant in various parts of the colonies. A vast number of water engines have been turned out by the firm and supplied to establishments throughout New Zealand, besides plant in connection with preserving and more recently refrigerating machinery. They have also supplied large quantities of railway castings to the New Zealand Railway Department. Since 1894 the revival of mining has created a demand for hydraulic dredging and elevating machinery, and the company's engineering plant has been largely increased to cope with the work. Numerous dredges have been constructed and erected, at prices ranging from £3000 to £5000 each. Besides all these large matters, Messrs. A. and T. Burt manufacture enormous quantities of household and domestic requirements in brass, copper, lead, zinc, tin, and iron, but these are too numerous to particularise. The managing director believes in New Zealand industries, and the splendid hive of workers under his control—numbering about 300—eloquently testifies to the success' of this large establishment. He has for many years aimed at producing in the Colony such goods as were needed, at prices which would compete with the imported article, and in very many cases his efforts have been crowned with unqualified success. As exhibitors at the local exhibitions of 1865, 1881, and 1890, Messrs. A. and T. Burt were prominent, many prizes and medals falling to their lot; they were, however, more concerned in giving a general impetus to New Zealand industries, and in this desire they have ample reason to believe they have likewise succeeded.