Building the W: summary of tenders to the end of March 1924

The table below provides a summary of the tenders received by the M&MTB up to March 1924 for equipment for the new W class tram. Further equipment would have been purchased during 1924 to 1926. Amounts do show some variance with those in the M&MTB document Summary of Materials purchased under special contracts 1919 to 1969 as the latter would be based on the final contract values after adjustments.

Sources

Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board, Summary of Materials purchased under special contracts 1919 to 1969

Public Record Office Victoria, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board Minutes, Volumes 1 to 4, November 1919 to September 1924, VPRS 7765

 

Tender award or approval date Item Successful tenderer Quantity Unit price Total price Notes
31/5/1923 Air brake equipment Australian General Electric     £9,124 Number of sets not given, most likely 60.
14/6/1923 Motors equipments, includes controllers Metropolitan Vickers
30 £883
  Spares also purchased.
Australian General Electric 30 £881
26/7/1923 Car bodies Holden Body Works of Adelaide 60 £1383    
16/8/1923 Car bodies James Moore & Sons of South Melbourne 30 £1429    
20/9/1923 Wheel centres Hadfields Australia 500 £3/18/3 £1,956  
20/9/1923 Axles Commonwealth Steel 250 £8/6/7 £2,082  
20/9/1923 Tyres Thomsons of Castlemaine 500 £3/3 £1,575  
4/10/1923 Car blinds R F Benson (agent for the Curtain Supply Co USA) 60 £45 £2,704 Original tender was for 60 sets; 120 sets actually ordered.
13/12/1923 Bogie trucks Perry Engineering Adelaide 60 £149 £8,940 Commencing January 1924 then at rate of 4 per week.
20/12/1923 Motors/controllers Australian General Electric 30 £882   Follow on from current order at 10-15 per week. Price includes duty.
Metropolitan Vickers 20 £883   Commence in 20 weeks, then 2 per week. Price includes duty.
English Electric 10 £855   Locally made. Commence in 10 months then 6-8 per week. Price includes duty.
20/12/1923 Air brake equipment Australian General Electric (compressors and air tanks) 60 £134 £8,052 Spares also purchased. Prices include duty.
Matthew Coates, agent for Westinghouse (brake valves, handles, drain cocks and safety valves, etc) 60 £20 £1,199
27/3/1924 Motors/controllers Australian General Electric 35 £889 £53,183 Revision of 20/12/1924 recommendation. Prices include duty.
Metropolitan Vickers 25 £883
27/3/1924 Chief Engineer advises of faulty Metropolitan Vickers controllers, seeks approval for GE K35JJ Australian General Electric     £2,263 £2,990 was to be deducted from the Metropolitan Vickers contract.