18 pounder paperweight

[SG500]

I got this the other day off e bay..............it just looked interesting.....and was cheap.
Advertised as a paperweight made out of 18 pounder steel.

The inscription on the edge says
"18 pounder H.E. Steel
Blaenavon Cloy Lt
1917d"

A quick search on the internet revealed:

"Administrative and biographical history: The Blaenavon Iron and Coal Company was formed in 1836 and in that year purchased the ironworks at Blaenavon, Monmouthshire. The company went into liquidation in 1864. It was superseded by the Blaenavon Company Ltd, which sold out to the Blaenavon Iron and Steel Company Ltd in 1870. The cost of the switch to steel production in the 1870s forced that company's liquidation in 1878. It was replaced with a new Blaenavon Co. Ltd (the 'New Company'), incorporated in 1879, which purchased the Blaenavon Iron and Steel Works for £75,000. In 1909 the company's assets comprised 563 acres of freehold land, an iron works and steel works and underlying minerals. The plant then consisted of two blast furnaces, three Siemens Martin open hearth furnaces, soaking pits, reheating furnaces, cogging mill, finishing mill and boilers. There was also a steel tyre works, a quarry and three collieries. These works were extended by the erection of a Coke Oven and By-Product Plant in 1911 and a steel solid wheel and axle plant between 1937 and 1941. During both World Wars the Company was involved in Government work. During the First World War it manufactured shell steel as a Government 'Controlled Establishment'. During the Second World War a Crown Plant was installed for the production of aluminium and magnesium alloys for the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Following the First World War production gradually declined and by the Second World War steel production had stopped altogether. The Company lost its coal mining interests following the nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947."

What a great piece of history! I assume its one of those salesmans gifts that seem to crop up from time to time.

Dave.

[harley]

What a fasinating bit of history dave , you seem to have a knack of finding rare and interesting stuff whats the secret

[SG500]

What a fasinating bit of history dave , you seem to have a knack of finding rare and interesting stuff whats the secret

Thanks Harley, I went for this one because Blaenavon is only about 25 miles from where I live so, a bit of local history. As for finding rare and interesting stuff, well I just keep looking
Dave.

[paul t]

I have a paperweight, stamped

BLAENAVON 1917,
60LB HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELL STEEL
ROLLED BY BLAENAVON CO LTD
C. E. JONES ESQ
SOLICITOR

It is 4.5 inches in diameter, .5 inches thick, solid steel, with a round brass or bronze handle in the middle,
one inch in diameter and about one inch high.

I inherited it from my father-in-law, who was a lawyer in Hopkins, MN, USA.

[SG500]

Hi paul t, would you be able to post a photo of it please?
Dave.

[paul t]

SG500:
Yes, in about a week.
paul t