The Colonial Ammunition Company of Mount Eden

[geraldpetrie]

Just wondering if anyone knows of anyone that is researching this firm. I'd like to know if any company records survive. Any information would be appreciated. Cheers.

[rone]

I am an ex employee of the CAC, I served an engineering apprenticeship there. As did my father and an uncle during the 1920's. I have some knowledge that I can give, but am not aware of any research being carried out.
One bit of info that has a connection to this site is, a descendant of the CAC founder, Major Whitney, was a RAF Pilot during WW2. He is mentioned in a couple of recent posts on here. His name is Gray Whitney.

[Peter Lewis]

Probably not a lot of help, but I can remember reading a printed history of the CAC site at Mt Eden several years ago - NZ Herald? (Auckland) City News?

It particularly mentioned how the shot tower worked - molten lead particles were dropped down the interior and the airflow around them formed the particles into perfect orbs, and then cooled the metal as they descended.

[errolmartyn]

Sept 23, 2018 18:21:29 GMT 12 rone said:

I am an ex employee of the CAC, I served an engineering apprenticeship there. As did my father and an uncle during the 1920's. I have some knowledge that I can give, but am not aware of any research being carried out.
One bit of info that has a connection to this site is, a descendant of the CAC founder, Major Whitney, was a RAF Pilot during WW2. He is mentioned in a couple of recent posts on here. His name is Gray Whitney.

NZ4215701 John Grey Whitney enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on 4 Dec 42 (an ex-ATC Cadet), and who embarked on the Rimutaka for England on attachment to the RAF on 27 Feb 44.

Errol

[rone]

I realised later I spelt Grey incorrectly. What seems though, not generally known, is that the CAC did not just make ammunition. Back in the 1930's the CAC were one of the first firms involved in plastic manufacture, when Bakelite was the norm. Crown Seal's, bottle caps were a major product, possibly the only company in NZ making them. Metal Lipstick containers were another line, Clay targets made of pitch another, Air rifle slugs, and in the time I was there, Aluminium pie and Food dishes called ''Foiltainers'' and Alkathene water pipes. Then after, owned then by ICI, Toheroa Harvesting up at 90 mile beach. Attached to the Tool Machine workshop was the Hard Chrome plating shop where P & W crankshafts sent in from NAC had the bearing journals Chromed.

[Dave Homewood]

Was CAC the same company that had the munitions factory in Dey Street, Hamilton during WWII? I know that company had a branch in Auckland.

[shorty]

Sept 25, 2018 11:05:22 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Was CAC the same company that had the munitions factory in Dey Street, Hamilton during WWII? I know that company had a branch in Auckland.

More likely that Dey Street was a branch of the Mt Eden factory.

[rone]

Shorty is correct. There were actually two factories, Number One factory was at the end of Dey Street, recently demolished after some years of use by the University I believe. Number Two factory has been given to the Maori's and is now part of the Maerae. There are still some of the workers flats surviving along Peachgrove Road, at the intersection of Ruakura Road. There is a large building at back of the flats which was the Social Club Hall. Many of the Engineering staff were based down in Hayes Paddock. Other workers lived in Fairfield. All activities ceased in 1945, when the factories closed and we all went back to Auckland. The CAC factories and accommodation were built in approximately one year once the Japanese were expected.

[rone]

Another item produced over at the base of the Shot Tower was Lead Came, made by extruding lead billets through a die under very high hydraulic pressure. It was used to make Leadlight Windows.

[saratoga]

Try the NZCCC(NZ Cartridge Collectors Club),they have had a few books and articles over the years and CAC items are highly sought after.
PM for contacts if you like.

[rone]

Saratoga, I just might take you up on making contact. I still have a few items left of my time and my fathers time at the CAC. Like the Crossed Bullets Munitions Badge issued 1941. These are very collectable and very rare now, they are all numbered as they were only issued to current staff in 1941. I have seen one other in the Hamilton Museum.

[emron]

A search for "Hamilton's ammunition factories" provides further local heritage info and photos. Also see discussion under our "US Wartime bases in Auckland" post about GVP defence of the Mt Eden factory.

[geraldpetrie]

Many thanks for your replies; all very interesting. I will follow up on some of the leads.

I'm very interested in the fate of the company - I did not know ICI had bought it - when exactly?

I'm also interested in the company's advertising campaigns of the 1930s, and examples of advertisements. The firm was a client of the Outdoor Advertising Branch of New Zealand Railways - for billboards etc.

[The Red Baron]

1965 ICI tookover CAC.

[Dave Homewood]

Papers Past has over 10,000 hits on the company, with articles, photos and adverts.

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?items_per_page=10&query=+%22Colonial+Ammunition+Company+%22&sort_by=byDA

[rone]

A bit more history of the CAC. 5June 1936 there was an explosion when a factory girl was carrying trays of percussion caps, tripped and dropped the trays; she was supposed to only carry one tray at a time. The caps set off an explosion, the girl was killed, some other ladies were seriously injured, my father, an engineer who was close by was also badly injured. He was deafened for life as a result. He also had percussion caps embedded in his head which gradually worked to the surface for many years after.

[pjw4118]

I went past the Normandy Rd site this weekend and found the tower and front office both there, although needing paint.