HENRY PARKIN & SON
"Harry" Henry PARKIN and his son "Tom" Thomas Henry PARKIN [P18]
Blacksmiths, Wheelwrights, Motor Mechanics and General Repairers in Yarra Street, Carnamah in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s [53]
At their Yarra Street workshop they received business mainly from local farmers[53]
Also received business from Carnamah townspeople and from some farmers from Coorow and Three Springs [53]
In the 1920s were the local agents for H. V. McKay farm machinery and spare parts [53]
Undertook motor springing and repairs and supplied quotes for all sizes of galvanised tanks [9: 15-Oct-1926]
Constructed a Power Station on land they owned at 3 Yarra Street, Carnamah in 1924 [P18]
Proprietors of the Carnamah Electric Light & Power Station [5: 13-Nov-1936]
They were the licensees to supply electricity to the Carnamah townsite from 1924 to 1953 [7: page 143] [P18]
For supplying electricity they received a concession from the Carnamah District Road Board [5: 28-Aug-1936]
From 1927 to 1947 they were also the local Undertaker for the Carnamah district [1] [7: page 144]
Between 1927 and 1947 Henry Parkin & Son were the undertaker at 69 of the first 72 burials at the Winchester Cemetery [1]
The cost of a regular funeral undertaken by them in 1934 was £25 [5: 12-Jan-1934]
In 1935 paid an undertaker's licence fee of £6 to the Carnamah District Road Board to act as the local undertaker [5: 22-Nov-1935]
People contacted them for floral tributes and they ordered them and they went to the cemetery with the coffin [P4]
In May 1926 their power station supplied electric lighting to his own premises and KROSCHEL's refreshment rooms [9: 28-May-1926]
In February 1927 purchased a Lister town lighting plant to supply Carnamah with an improved lighting system [4: 19-Feb-1927]
In early 1927 plans were in hand to provide the entire town of Carnamah with electric light from their Power Station [4: 23-Apr-1927]
The Three Springs Road Board granted them an electric light concession to supply electricity in Three Springs in 1929 [120: 26-Dec-1929]
Henry Parkin & Son supplied power and electric lighting to the town of Three Springs in 1930 and early 1931 [103: page 75]
In February 1931, during financial hardship, the concession was transferred to William A. ROGERS [4: 14-Feb-1931]
Agent in Carnamah for Lanz Crude oil tractors and the May & Millar Scarifier in 1929 [4: 28-Sep-1929 & 23-Nov-1929]
In 1929 also sold galvanised iron tanks - a 1000 gallon tank with top costing £6/10/- and a 2000 gallon tank costing £13 [4: 1-Jun-1929]
Conducted a trade exhibit of their business at the Carnamah Show in Centenary Park on 19 September 1929 [4: 28-Sep-1929]
Their exhibit consisted of a May & Millar Scarifier and an improved tractor draw bar [4: 28-Sep-1929]
The improved tractor draw bar had been designed and made by Henry PARKIN himself and was said to be more efficient [4]
During the Great Depression they went bankrupt and their estate was put under the management of a trustee [86: 20-Feb-1932]
Their trustee was Carnamah accountant John G. HUNTER [86], who absconded with money stolen from his clients [P399]
A football hit and twisted together power cables outside the Carnamah Hotel on Sunday 18 June 1933 [5: 23-Jun-1933]
The twisted cables caused the failure of the street lights and about half of the lighting in Carnamah for half an hour [5]
They fixed the problem and after returning electric lighting a fuse blew at their Power Station however was very soon replaced [5]
In July 1933 gave a quote of £39/9/6 to connect electric wiring to the Coorow Hall and install eight lights [5: 14-Jul-1933]
Advertised their business in the Schedule of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1933 [13]
"H. Parkin & Son - Wheelwrights, Blacksmiths & Motor Mechanics - Carnamah's Electric Supply Station - Batteries Charged" [13]
They also advertised their business in The North Midland Times newspaper [5: 24-Nov-1933, 10-May-1935]
In September 1933 they began for the first time to provide a continuous power service to the Carnamah townspeople [5: 6-Oct-1933]
The continuous supply was necessary after two local businesses in Macpherson Street installed electric refrigerators [5]
An additional generator was used and it caused severe wireless interference to about twelve local owners of wireless sets [5]
In the past a suppressor had been fitted to a generator and had prevented interference however in this instance it didn't help [5]
On 29 September 1933 a Radio Inspector visited Carnamah to try and help locate what was causing the interference [5]
Unfortunately neither themselves nor the Inspector could locate the problem, however he reported they were doing their best [5]
The problem continued until at least February 1934 when a round table discussion about the matter was suggested [5: 16-Feb-1934]
They placed a notice headed "Electric Interference" in The North Midland Times newspaper on 20 October 1933 [5: 20-Oct-1933]
In the notice instructed their consumers not to alter, extend or disassemble electrical wiring or fittings for legal and safety reasons[5]
At about 7 p.m. on Tuesday 31 October 1933 the main 55 foot long belt of their Power Station's main engine broke [5: 3-Nov-1933]
As the 55 foot belt broke a loud crash was heard as the belt smashed through the end iron wall of the power house [5]
The breakage was believed to have been caused by a bolt breaking in one of the fasteners holding the ends of the belt together [5]
One bolt fastener was hurled through the roof, while another went through the wall and into a 1500 gallon tank outside [5]
The hole in the tank caused a stream of water to spurt over through the broken wall, over the engine and the floor [5]
They immediately switched off the power and started up a smaller engine to provide lighting to Carnamah residents [5]
The smaller engine was not sufficient to cope with demand so the street lights were turned off [5]
Within a day the belt had been repaired, a new one ordered and the tank fixed (the tank was used to keep the engine cool) [5]
Constructed a windsail to blow all of the foul air out of the town well in Carnamah so it could be entered to make repairs [5]
After a few days the foul air had been blown out and they went down to the bottom of the well and repaired its pump [5: 19-Jan-1934]
Installed the electric component of a Viking turbine petrol pump for the Vacuum Oil Company in Carnamah in early 1935 [5: 11-Jan-1935]
They usually ran the smaller engine of their power station through the night, but in late 1935 it had a cracked cylinder head [5]
Instead ran their main engine through the night, however at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday 31 December 1935 it ran into trouble [5]
One of the main engine's four fuel coils had burnt out, so they disconnect that coil and their power service resumed [5]
On Friday 3 January 1936 they dismantled the main engine and replaced the burnt fuel coil with a temporary one [5: 10-Jan-1936]
Someone's Kelvinator motor in the Carnamah townsite shorted on Saturday night 29 February 1936 [5: 6-Mar-1936]
It overloaded their electric power engine, which instantly stalled the engine and threw the town into darkness for 15 minutes [5]
The street lights in Carnamah didn't light up on Wednesday evening 4 March 1936[5: 6-Mar-1936]
It was discovered that a storm that day had crossed a street light cable, which once discovered was uncrossed [5: 6-Mar-1936]
In 1936 their 8-horsepower engine couldn't carry the load at their power station, so most of the time they had to run a larger engine [5]
Running the larger engine increased running costs but even that couldn't keep up during peak periods on Saturday nights [5]
During such peak periods they had to turn off the street lights in Carnamah so their engine could carry the load [5: 24-Dec-1936]
In December 1936 they had to provide details to the Carnamah District Road Board about their Electric Light Concession [5]
They were looking at buying a 28-horsepower engine however a larger one was suggested to accommodate future demands [5]
The Road Board wanted "a satisfactory 24 hourly electric light and power service" provided for Carnamah in the near future [5]
Their Electric Light Concession paid by the Road Board stood the chance of being cancelled if they failed to comply [5: 24-Dec-1936]
After being initially unable to provide solid details they employed the services of accountant R. Goyne MILLER [5: 15-Jan-1937]
With additional collection of fees they hoped to pay instalments on existing plant and arrange for the purchase of new plant [5]
Due to their plant being overtaxed they installed a 24-26 horsepower single cylinder Crossley engine at their power station in 1937 [5]
After several weeks of improvements and preparing the new engine it was run for the first time on Monday night 5 April 1937 [5]
Two large water tanks coupled together fed and cooled their new and old engines [5: 9-Apr-1937]
"Parkin & Son" were the proprietors of the Parkinson Tennis Club's tennis courts and grounds [5: 28-Sep-1934]
The courts were located at 1-3 Caron Street in the Carnamah townsite (Lots 39 and 40 of Victoria Location 1936) [P18]
Miss "Elsie" Mary E. PARKIN and Mrs Marjorie E. PARKIN had opened and initially run the courts in 1931 [4: 19-Dec-1931]
Their courts were destroyed by a horrific 36 hour dust storm that raged in Carnamah over 9 and 10 February 1937 [5: 12-Feb-1937]
The wind and blowing sand cut up the ant hill surface of their courts, and left two foot of sand around the fences of the courts [5]
Advertised their business in the Schedule of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Shows in 1938 and 1939: [13]
"Carnamah Electric Light and Power Station. Continuous Service. Installations at Perth Prices. Batteries Charged. [13]
Wireless Servicing. For Economy and Service use Electrical Appliances, Listed Prices on Application [13]
H. Parkin & Son, Proprietors; Blacksmiths, Wheelwrights and Motor Mechanics [13]
Don't Waste Money! Save Wheat! Use Parkin's Patent Bag Fastener" [13]
In 1939 their Electric Light and Power Station in Carnamah was driven by fuel oil and had a capacity of 108½ K.W. [0: image 03856]
Comprising four machines, the registered voltage output was 440/220 and was direct current generated on a three-wire system [0]
"Parkin & Son" were Financial Members of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society in 1941 [13]
In 1944 and 1945 were agents in Carnamah for the Shell Oil Company [60]
By 1947 they were agents for Malloch Bros. Ltd. of Perth - suppliers of Mechanical Equipment for all industries [13]
Items they sold through their agency with Malloch Bros included "merchandise for the improvement of country properties" [13]
such as Lister engines; Lister sheep shearing machines, milking machines and dairy boilers; Lister cream separators, [13]
Twin City tractors, Alston windmills and pumping combinations, handpumps, pipes and fittings, tanks and troughing, [13]
feed-mills; chaffcutters, broadcasters, mowers, saw bences and sheep races; Excelsior electric refrigeration, Charles Hope [13]
cold flame kerosene refrigerator, Aga cookers, electric lighting plants, fencing materials, tubular gates [13]
Telephone number Carnamah-6 [60]
In 1952 supplied electricity to 87 clients which consisted mainly of residents and business people of Carnamah town [53]
A few of their clients were farmers whose farmhouses were within a few miles of the town [53]
The Carnamah District Road Board paid them to light the street lights of Carnamah town [53]
In 1952 they generally charged a meter rent of 1/- and most people paid between £1 and £3 for one month's electricity [53]
Sold the power station and its business to SALEEBA's of Moora in 1953 [0: image 04712]
From The Midlands Advertiser newspaper, Friday 17 August 1925:
Carnamah Wheelwright
"When in need of anything in the wheelwright or blacksmith line, Messrs Hy Parkin and Son can efficiently supply your needs. Motor springing and repairs will be promptly executed and all work is guaranteed."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 23 April 1927:
Through the enterprise of Henry Parkin & Son, of Carnamah, the town will shortly be provided with an electric lighting system. In fact the plant has already been installed, but the voltage was too low for town lighting and a higher voltage plant will have to be fitted. The old system was a 32 volt one, but the new is to be a 220 volt, which is ample for the work required. All the residents of the town have agreed to have the light installed, and Carnamah will soon be able to boast that it is among the first of the Midland towns to provide itself with electric light."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 7 May 1927:
Parkin and Son - Carnamah
"Motorists and others will be interested to learn that Mr. Parkin, of Parkin and Son, Carnamah, has installed an engine pump for inflating tyres. With this excellent aid, Mr. Parkin has succeeded in abolishing the old laborious method of pumping tyres by hand or foot. Parkin and Sons are becoming widely known for their enterprise and their service to motorists is becoming renowned throughout the district, while their steam vulcaniser has been of great use on may occasions. Parkin and Son are also agents for Mallochs Power Lift Mould Board Plough, and district agents for Lister engines and lighting plants."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Henry Parkin & Son' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 25 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/henry-parkin-and-son [reference list] |
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