A rare collection of original blueprints and engineering diagrams from Croft Engineering Ltd in Thornbury, Bradford depicting the manufacturing designs for the WW2 British General Purpose HE 500 lb and 1000 lb aircraft bombs and the General Purpose HE 1000 lb MC aircraft bomb. Also included is a photograph album of the visit of the Princess Royal, Mary Countess of Harewood to the factory in 1942 together with associated ephemera.
Croft’s Engineering Ltd in Thornbury, Bradford turned its steel casting expertise to bomb making in the war years and this archive was collected by its Director, Maurice Goff. The archive includes:
Hand drawn to scale diagram titled ‘Sectional Arrangements for Moulds for 1000 lb M.C. Bomb’. 99 cm x 69.5 cm. Dated Jan 8th 1943. In good condition. Small clean 3 cm tear along vertical fold to bottom - does not compromise diagram.
Hand drawn and coloured to scale diagram titled ‘Arrangement of Mould for 500 lb Bomb’ and sub titled ‘Casting as Shewn Shaded Blue’ dated May 27th 1941. 94 cm x 64 cm. In good condition. Lightly creased to bottom edge. Small clean 3 cm tear along vertical fold to top middle does not compromise diagram.
Full size blueprint titled ‘500 lb HE Bomb Body Casting’. In good condition with a little creasing to left edge. 96 cm x 58 cm.
Extremely detailed annotated dimensional drawing on black paper of the body of a bomb. In good condition. Fold creases to 3 corners. Measuring 60 cm x 37 cm.
Printed to scale diagram titled ‘Body. Bomb, HE Aircraft, GP 500 lb, Mark IV or IV A’ dated 1939. In very good condition. Slight creasing to top right corner. Measuring 96 cm x 66 cm.
1 x drawing dated May 4th 1942 titled ‘Half full size 1000 lb GP Bomb – Body Casting’. 33.5 cm x 23.5 cm.
1 x drawing dated May 5th 1942 titled ‘Half full-size Body, Bomb HE Aircraft GP 1000 lb Mark II A’. In good condition showing a little factory wear. 33.5 cm x 23.5 cm.
1 x drawing dated May 5th 1942 titled ‘Half full-size General Arrangement Body Bomb HE Aircraft GP 1000 lb Mark II A’. In good condition showing moderate factory wear. 33.5 cm x 23.5 cm.
Black, leather effect, string bound photographic album in very good condition containing 8 full page b/w photographs of a visit to Croft’s factory/munitions works by the Princess Royal, Mary Countess of Harewood in Jan 1942. Includes group portraits of Croft’s Fire Watchers/Home Guard, female factory workers and nurses, a visitors’ book page pasted in containing the original signatures of those on the Royal visit topped by Mary, Gerald Lacalles, Hon Sybil Kenyon Stanley, Arthur Croft and those presented to HRH. To the rear of the album a handwritten letter from Sybil Kenyon Stanley, the Princess Royal’s lady in waiting, dated Harewood House Jan 20 1942 thanking Mr Croft for his time and efforts. 36 cm x 26 cm.
1 x mounted b/w photograph commemorating the Steel Foundry Trip 1933, Crofts Ltd Bradford Eng. One face has been scratched off to reveal paper below.
5 x hand ruled and coloured completed data sheets providing a fascinating glimpse into past processes pre computer and printer. Each sheet contains entries comparing output per working day against product dated between 1958 – 61. Paper yellowed showing factory wear, fraying to some edges. Measuring c. 37cm x 33 cm.
