The 1936 Smith 12 ton excavator was owned by my father Meurig Evans and my uncle Edward John Evans who bought it from a coal mine nr. Wrexham at about 1950. It was bought in a worn out state as well as another one for spares. It was overhauled by them and then driven up the track to Dwr Oer area of the old Graig Ddu quarry which they then owned/worked. It has shifted thousands of tons of slate material. There were quite a few public works going on in the late 50's and early 60' such as the Trawsfynydd and Tanygrisiau power stations and the arenig/capel celyn reservoir etc. etc.
It was decided in 1980 to try and bring the 'navy' as it was known down from the mountain to the yard at Manod rd as it had been standing for a few years and was deteriorating.
My father and myself worked on it for a few days getting it going and freeing off siezed linkages, levers etc. And it was driven down by myself to the yard. My father drove it up in the 1950's and I drove it down in 1980.
It was used at the yard for doing a few jobs for a while. And was eventualy sold to the slate meuseum at Llanberis in 1986.
After it arrived at Llanberis they sent it to Camel Lairds to be re cabbed as there was some rusty sheets on the cab. You would not believe how much they spent on the cab when it could have been done cheaply by themselves by using 16gauge sheets. Easyly done as the panels are flat. The undercaridge is well worn and I think they would have benefited more by attending to that ussue at the time.
A couple of years ago I wrote to the manager asking if I could start the engine, as I had visited the meuseum and looking at the Smith brought back quite a lot of memories to me but sadly it looked lost and out of place. Being in Mcalpine colours and with no write up on it neither. Apparently the manager replied informing me I could start it. I shall have to get round to it this year.
Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.