James Crichton, master millwright, Turriff, died in Aberdeen in September 1952.
In March 1953 the contents of his works – Crichton’s Engineering Works, Turriff – were put up for sale. The notice for the sale in the Dundee courier, 3 March 1953
noted that it was an “Important two days’ sale of engineering, electric welding and woodworking plant and machinery, new threshing mills, consumable stores, home timber, motor vehicles, office furniture etc”. The advert for the sale also listed the contents of the business that were for sale. They provide an interesting insight into the tools used by an important millwright and engineer. The advert is quoted at length:
“(new 1951), Berry 8 ½ in centre motorised S.S. and S.C. gap bed lathe, 14ft bed (new 1950), Ormerod motorised shaping machine, 12 in stroke (in new condition), Holroyd electrically driven horizontal plain milling machine, electrically driven slotting machine, 7 in stroke, 3 motorised bench sensitive vertical drilling machines, 5 pillar vertical drilling machines, spindles from 1 5/8 in diameter, 5 motorised D.H. bench grinders, Flextol flexible shaft grinder, 36 in B.O.C. oxy-acetylene profile cutting machine, 2 Murex 12 K.V.A. welding transformers, Murex 9 k.w. welding motor generator, 2 motorised power hack sawing machines, 2 sets sheet bending rolls, light power hammer, Oliver 20 in x 9 in motorised surface planning and thicknessing machine, New Rex motorised hollow chisel and chain mortising machine, tenoning and scribing machine, 30 in band sawing machine, 3 motorised circular saw benches, vertical wood boring machine, Aerostyle electrically-driven paint spraying air compressor unit and equipment, 11 A.C. three-phase 50-period 440 volt motors, from 7 ½ to 1 h.p. with starters, 7 portable electric drills, portable electro shear, new milling cutters, drills, lathe tools and files, 1 in Coventry die head and dies, micrometers, hand shearing machines, chain blocks, jacks, screwing tackle, vices, sectional C.I. stoves, Armstrong-Siddeley hurricane coupe (1947 model), 5 ton Austin lorry, Fordson tractor, tractor trailer, timber pole waggon, timber bogie, office furniture, typewriters, time recorder, filing cabinets, new Crichton 42 in heavy model portable threshing, dressing, and finishing machine, new Crichton 54 in medium model barn type threshing, dressing and finishing machine, Crichton 54 in medium model portable threshing, dressing and finishing machine, with Hornsby trusser (reconditioned), 2 Hornsby and Massey Harris D.S. trussers, 150 lots new Crichton mill spares, Hornsby trusser spares, 2500ft new belting, from 6 in to 1 ½ in, 13 new endless mill and baler belts, 82 new 26 x 6 wheels, with tyres and tubes, 12 new wheels, 34 x 7 and 32 x 6, 28 tons steel sections, plates and sheets, 7 ½ tons bolts and nuts, 330 gross machine, wood and set screws, 200 new ball bearing P. blocks, from 2 ½ in to 1 in, 830 new ball bearings, 6 h.p. Petter oil engine, 6 new 1 ½ h.p Petter petrol engines, 21 new galvanised water tanks, 120, 75 and 50 gallons, 1000 sq yd fir lining, from 1 in to ½ in thick, 6000 sup ft ¾ in Planetree boarding, 1725 cub ft sawn ash, beech, oak, larch and fir, in planks, battens and posts, 1000 larch fencing stobs, 5ft long, 50 larch straining posts, 7 ft long &c at Engineering Works, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday, 17th and Wednesday 18th March 1953, beginning each day at eleven o’clock prompt. Shirlaw, Allan & Co., Auctioneers, Hamilton, have received instructions from Messrs Lyall & Wood, solicitors, Turriff, agents for the Executrix on the estate of the late Mr James Crichton, millwright and engineer, to sell, by auction, as above. On view Friday and Monday prior to sale. Catalogues from auctioneers, Hamilton, March 1953.”
When the sale took place, the business closed down. The Works Manager, William Finnie (who had been in the business for the last ten years), acquired the Station Works, Turriff, as well as permission to carry on business from these premises as a Millwright and Engineer under the firm name of “James Crichton”, and the right to manufacture and supply spares to “Crichton” Threshers. This new arrangement came into play on 30 March 1953 (Dundee courier, 12 March 1953).
