Colclad stainless, nickel and Monel clad steels : Brochure issued by Colvilles Ltd., Glasgow : nd [c1950] : front cover

A marvellous trade brochure issued by the Scottish steel concern of Colvilles Ltd. It is not dated but mentions the introduction of Monel clad steels in 1947 and, given the examples of use and no mention of the company's 1951 Nationalisation, I suspect it is about 1950.

 

Colclad steels were specialist plates manufactured from a layer of cladding material bonded to a selected thickness of carbon or low alloy steel. The cladding, that could be either stainless steel, nickel or 'Monel', were for use in situations where 'ordinary' steel plates were not sufficient for reasons such as reactivity or in very corrosive atmospheres such as in chemical reactions or refining. As noted Monel was an alloy of nickel and in the UK the rights were held by Henry Wiggin & Co of Birmingham who are, unlike Colville's, still in business.

 

The brochure's covers are fine examples of mid-century graphics including the back cover with the Colvilles 'fitness for purpose steels' strapline. The main 'Colclad' lettering is layered as was the product.

 

Coville's were largely based in the Motherwell district in the centre of the Lanarkshire and Clyde Valley coalfields. They expanded during WW1, taking control of other local concerns, and at the time of this brochure were on the verge of developing the vast new Ravenscraig works. This, largely funded during the years of nationalised ownership from 1951 to 1955, opened under Colville's ownership in 1957 and so past back into national ownership under the British Steel Corporation in 1967.

Done