Category Archives: Machinery

47p Masterfoods, Wodonga

The machine in the photo below is the Goetz 47p 12 Head Closer installed at Masterfoods  production line A at Wodonga in 1994. This machine also has a 52 valve air piston filler attached. By 2002, this machine had filled over 20 billion cans!

Click image for larger version

In 1991, Goetz installed to Uncle Ben’s production line G, an 8 header closer and 99 dia 47p maxi can, used for producing pet food. By 2002 it had produced 9 billion cans.

In 2005 Ken Scott designed and built, with Masterfoods workers, a new 36 air piston rod valve UF filler. Commencing production in 2006, this machine had the same setup as the Masterfoods A and G line 47p fillers.

Source: Ken Scott.

Below: The 47p manual weighed in at about 150 pages. Click image of larger view.
47p-Manual-Closer-Specs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thought on “47p Masterfoods, Wodonga”

  1. Tony Ruth
    I have a number of photos of 2 large Goetz C presses that I’d like to submit. How can I do so.
    One has GOETZ cast into the frame, the other has W.G GOETZ & Sons LTD Melbourne.

H.J. Heinz, Dandenong opening, Goetz advert

From ‘The Argus’, Monday November 7th, 1955. p.25, this advertisement featuring the Goetz Model 400R can making machine was included as part of a souvenir lift out celebrating the opening of the then new H.J. Heinz factory at Dandenong.

According to articles elsewhere, young Henry John Heinz commenced by growing, packing and selling his first product, horseradish, in his neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the USA in 1869. His product ‘lines’ soon extended to and beyond the famous ’57 varieties’, which became the company slogan in 1896.

Although Heinz products became available in Australia from around 1895, demand was such that an Australian factory had to be set up. Its Australian operations commenced in October 1935 in a converted former piano factory in Richmond, Victoria. Perhaps as a nod to H.J.’s original product, bottled horseradish was the first product off the line at Richmond. By 1939, there were 40 employees, but the move to Dandenong saw an expansion of the workforce to 350 employees.

Although still headquartered in Melbourne, Heinz closed the Dandenong factory in 2000.

20-P Automatic Can Closing Machine

20-P-flyer-thumbClick image above for larger version.
Or click the link to download as a PDF 20-P Goetz flyer

 

 

20-P-Manual-cover_thumbClick the link to download the 20-P manual as a PDF 20-P Manual-web

Below: When customers took delivery of a new machine, they were given a manila envelope containing the parts list and instructions. Click image for larger view.

Below: 20p machine made for Colby’s powered milk production. Photo courtesy Ken Scott. Click for larger version.

20P-Closer“Hi, I am in the photo of the 20_P Auto­matic Can Clos­ing Machine. The peo­ple in this photo are From
Left to Right (one either side of the machine) — Alis­tair McLen­nan, Jimmy Bird, Bill Dou­glas, Ken Scott
In front of machine — Peter Boylan”. Thanks for the info Peter.

 

 

 

peter boylan November 7, 2015 at 2:49 am

Hi, I am in the photo of the 20_P Automatic Can Closing Machine. The people in this photo are From
Left to Right (one either side of the machine) – Alistair McLennan, Jimmy Bird, Bill Douglas, Ken Scott
In front of machine – Peter Boylan

Thanks
Peter Boylan

Tony Marks December 26, 2015 at 3:39 am

I have just been reading about the history of WG Goetz and recognised a couple of very familular faces in the above picture. Having worked at Goetz for the best part of seven years in my late teens and early twenties I have many great memories of a great bunch of blokes and great trades people!

Gerry Zammit June 6, 2016 at 1:21 am

greetings just an interested reader, have a bit of a passion for Australian industrial history – is there anything left at all of this great company – did Mr Rotherham end up going to jail when he ruined it – I am deeply saddened if this great manufacturer has disappeared . Regards

Post author September 12, 2016 at 2:55 am
Hi Gerry. NO, nothing left of the company. According to the ASIC website “Mr Northam was sentenced today by Judge Anderson in the Melbourne County Court to six months jail, to be released immediately on his entering into a recognisance in the sum of $500 to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.” (Mr Charles Victor Northam, not Mr. Rotherham). Regards.