Matchett and Moore
of Birmingham
Hinge makers
1840 'INQUESTS Two inquests were held on Monday, before J. B. Davies, Esq., M.D., ….. On Thursday, an inquest was held before the coroner, on the body of a man named Thomas Carter who came by his death under the following circumstances:—
Henry Dodd, of the Junction Row, at the side the Fazeley canal, a hinge grinder, stated that he was in the employ of Messrs. Matchett and Moore, in Leicester Street, and he worked at a grinding stone next to the deceased.
On Tuesday, about half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, he was putting some oil on the extremities of the spindle of the stone at which he worked, when he heard a report, proceeding the sudden fracture of the stone at which the deceased was at work. The place was instantly filled with dust from the injury done to the building.
He (witness) directly after ran out, having been first pulled out of the way, as he thought, by Philip, another of the workmen, who, on finding the slates falling from the roof, immediately made his escape out also.
In three or four minutes after he returned, and looked in at the door of the shop, wherein they had been at work, and he there saw that the stone at which deceased worked, had split into five or six pieces, two of which had passed through the roof, and another large piece, he should think exceeding two hundred weight, lay on the head and neck, and partly on the chest, of the deceased, whose body was the floor, extended along on the side at which he was working.
The piece of stone was almost directly after lifted off by two men named Smith and Hadley. He then perceived that the head of the deceased was crushed, and that he was quite dead. The body was removed to the Hospital.
The stone at which the deceased worked was moved by the same machinery and steam power which worked the one he (witness) was employ at. He did not know the exact weight of either of the stones, nor could he tell how many times the stone revolved in a minute. He had since examined the broken pieces, but could not see any flaw that would have caused it to burst. The stone worked entirely above ground, and there was no protection in the case of the stone breaking. He never heard tell of any protection against such accidents. He had heard of stones flying before, but he never saw one.
He (witness) was a journeyman, and had not been more than two months grinding in that way. Five minutes before the stone burst, his employer, Mr. Moore, been standing close the stone. Deceased was the first person who worked at the stone which burst, but the stone had had the band on, and had been at work the week before. The speed at which the stone going when the accident happened, was not greater than usual. Two minutes before the accident, the deceased put his stone on the tight pulley, as it was termed, saying it did not go fast enough. The bursting of the stone was, his judgment, accidental.
Philip Davies stated, that he was at work near the deceased, and when the accident occurred, hut he could not account for the stone flying. Thomas Davis stated, that at the time of the accident the engine was going at the usual rate. The stone was what was called Sheffield stone, and of good quality. He did not know how it was practicable to protect workmen under such circumstances. He calculated the revolutions made the stone to have been 198 in minute. Shortly alter the accident he felt what was called the extremities the stone, and they were quite hot; so hot as to blister a finger retained upon it. That heat was occasioned by want of sufficient oil, which it was the duty of deceased to supply from time to time. If not supplied, he could easily conceive that the result might be the breakage of the stone; to that cause he attributed the accident.
The jury returned a verdict of—Accidental death.
'The unfortunate man was thirty-four years of age. His head and face were horribly mutilated.' [1]
1843 Advertisement: 'IMPORTANT SALE Of very superior and COSTLY MACHINERY, on the most recent improved principle, for manufacturing HINGES; a powerful and complete TURNING LATHE, with 19 feet iron bed ; nearly 300 feet of WROUGHT SHAFTING, with all the Apparatus connected therewith; Warehouse and Counting-house Fixtures, and other Effects of Messrs. Matchett and Moore, Hinge Manufacturers, Great Lister-street, Birmingham.
'To be SOLD by AUCTION, by E. and C. ROBINS and Co. upon the premises, on Monday the 3d. of April, commencing punctually at half past ten (by direction of the Proprietors) - the very COMPLETE and COSTLY MACHINERY other Property of the above Works, including nearly 300 feet of superior bright and black wrought SHAFTING, from 2½ to 3½ inches diameter, with all the bright pulleys, wheels, hangers, brasses, &c. connected therewith, made by Messrs. Stoddart and Knight, Bolton, Lancashire; three cast iron SCOURING BARRELS, with iron framing, coupling boxes, driving wheels, shaft, &c. made by Stoddart and Knight; Grinding Stones, with iron frames, pulleys, &c.; cast iron Pillars, with brackets, fly-wheels, pulleys, and gearing; four CUTTING-OUT MACHINES; a four-motion Upsetting Machine; four NIPPING and BENDING MACHINES, complete; eight COUNTER-SINKING MACHINES, with all the apparatus, complete; a very superior and powerful LATHE, with a 19-feet iron bed, will turn a shaft 15ft. 3 in., with a 13 inch centre headstock, head motion, &c. all in the most perfect order, and equal to new, made by Lewis, Manchester; several Drilling Lathes, Mill Banding, Flattening Dies, quantity of old Cast Iron, extensive ranges of stout Work Benches, Warehouse Counters and Shelving, Scales and Weights, Gas-burners and Piping, Warehouse and Shop Stoves. Counting-house Fixtures, Copying Machines, &c. Catalogues may had four days prior to the sale at the office of the Auctioneers, New-street, Birmingham, or will be forwarded by post on application (by letter) to Messrs. Robins and Co. The Machinery may be seen on the Saturday previous to the sale from eleven till four o'clock, on application at the Works.'[2]
1843 Advertisement: Partnership between Frederick Matchett and Paul Moore, of Birmingham, Patent Wrought Iron Butt Hinge Manufacturers, dissolved 25th March, 1843. All debts owing to the late firm of Matchett and Moore to be paid to Paul Moore. 'TO MERCHANTS, FACTORS, &c. PAUL MOORE begs to return thanks for the liberal encouragement he has received from the Trade generally in the articles of BRASS and WROUGHT IRON HINGES.— P. Moore having taken to one-half of the large Stock of Brass and Iron Hinges lately manufactured by Messrs. Matchett and Moore, in all their varieties, solicits a continuance of their favours at his Works, in Great Lister-street, in Birmingham.' [3]