Friday, 3 August 2012

Round oak balance beam of steel

Towards the bottom of the Hatton Flight At the Cape Locks at Warwick on the Grand Union Canal I noticed what was stamped inside a balance beam which was definitely not made of wood.


Round Oak 9 x 3


Any idea what this is all about?

edited to correct location
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6 comments:

No Direction said...

I think there used to be a Roundoak steel works, sounds like a question for the Capt.

4 August 2012 07:50
Graham & Jill said...

We have just left the site of Round Oak Steel Works; now known as Merry Hill shopping centre. Canal connections everywhere!

4 August 2012 09:56
Halfie said...

Ray, Graham and Jill, thanks. That explains the "Round Oak" bit. What about the 9 x 3 though? Feet? Inches?

I wonder when the balance beam was made.

4 August 2012 10:18
Graham said...

I think that the 9x3 is inches and refers to the size of the "H" beam; the beam is currently oriented so that the "H" is on its side. The height, or the bar in the "H", is 9" and the sides of the "H" are 3" wide.

The works closed in 1982 so the beam must have been rolled before that date, although of course not necessarily used for the balance beam at that time. From your picture the beam looks as though it has been galvanised which will explian why it has lasted so long in such good condition. An interesting piece of Black Country industrial history. Well spotted Halfie!

4 August 2012 10:42
Halfie said...

Thanks Graham.

4 August 2012 13:06
Captain Ahab said...

And taking as sightly wider view, most of the steel gates we see were built in the late 70's when the state owned bodies like BW were being asked to support the also Nationalised British Steel.

4 August 2012 13:59

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