“M.L.S.” Works.

The Works of the Superheater Company, Limited, were built in the year 1914 and, from the outbreak of the War, were engaged on the production of munitions as a controlled establishment until 1918. They are situated in Mosley Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, close to the Ship Canal, and with easy access to the main Manchester-Liverpool Road. Private sidings give direct communication with the L.M.S. and L. & N.E. Railways.

The main buildings consist of 5 parallel bays 240 feet long, which are all under one roof, and cover an area of over 70,000 square feet. Each bay has overhead page 64 cranes up to 5 tons lift. In addition there is a gantry serving an uncovered area. Electricity obtained from the Stratford Corporation Electricity Department is used for driving the major portion of the plant. There are also Reavell and Ingersoll Rand air compressors, a hydraulic accumulator plant maintaining a pressure of 1,250 lbs. per square inch in the mains, with an intensifier for pressures up to 3,500 lbs., and an acetylene gas generating plant. Air pressure to furnaces is supplied by Sirocco and Sturtevant blower fans.

The plant in No. 1 Bay consists of Tool Room and Machine Shop, while Nos. 2, 3 and 5 accommodate the special plant which is employed in the manufacture of the “M.L.S.” integrally machine forged Return Bend Superheater Elements for Marine, Locomotive and Stationary Boilers respectively. No. 4 Bay is used for Stores and Despatch.

The Forging Plants, of which there are three complete sets, are of considerable interest, there being nothing similar in Great Britain.