Pragmata has been engaged by Norr Limited to carry out a condition assessment and prepare a plan of decommissioning and reinstatement for freight elevator T17 as part of the Union Station Revitalization Project currently underway at Toronto Union Station.

The elevator is a traction drive installed around 1927 and still operates with its original equipment, which includes the controller panel shown below.

After delivering a Historic Machinery Report on the Martin A Machine aka the John Price Brick Press for Evergreen at the Brickworks, Pragmata was invited to proceed to a further phase in the conservation of the press and its auxiliaries. Working with Steeplejack Services of Oakville, Powervac Hamilton and Sodablast of Simcoe, we will remove encrusted clay and grease from the equipment and prepare a detailed conservation plan for its many parts.

IN AUGUST OF 2009 we were assessing the condition of a Martin A brick machine for Toronto's Evergreen Brickworks. Evergreen is adapting the site of the former Toronto Brick Works in the Don Valley to its purposes as an environmental educator. For more information on the Evergreen and the Brickworks project, visit the Evergreen website.

This Martin A Machine is commonly called the John Price Brick Press, after the yard in which it was first employed. In 1969 it was moved to the works in the Don Valley and eventually erected in what will become the Welcome Centre when Evergreen begins actively interpreting the industrial and natural historical features of this site to visitors in the spring of 2010.

IN JUNE of 2009 we were below decks at the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology, evaluating the drainage system of the pump well basin.

Stormwater run off from the slate roofed buildings above is directed into the building, where it is collected in two channels within the stone walls and then passed to a sump which drains to the exterior. The drainage gradient is very shallow, making it difficult to fully dewater the lowest level of the pumphouse, even with the assistance of pumps. We investigated the situation and made recommendations for improvements.

PHOTO: Blimp Pic

IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH we conducted a condition assessment of a Goldie McCulloch Corliss horizontal steam engine for the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, and prepared a statement of work, a budget  and detailed specifications.This engine was supplied in 1908 to the Kaufman Footwear plant, where the above photo was taken, and put in storage in Kitchener in 2003. The engine is currently being restored for exhibit at the new Waterloo Region History Museum under construction at Doon Crossroads.

Photo: Kaufman Footwear, courtesy Owen Bosma