Bronze Age Gold from Wales

A standard 1936 Smith (Rodley) 12 face shovel excavator fitted with 1/3 cubic yard bucket, and fitted cables. Powered by a Lister Blackstone 3 cylinder 30hp diesel engine, with a handle start. Built at Rodley, Leeds, and sold new to George Cohen and sons of Leeds. It is currently finished yellow, though this is not original. This typed of excavator is know as a ‘cross levered’ machine: in other words, use of the right-hand control regulates the left.

The excavator worked for most of its life at Graig Du quarry, and is said to be the first diesel engined excavator to come to the Blaenau Ffestiniog are quarries. It is also reputed to have worked in London on clearance work during the Blitz, though this cannot be confirmed.