Model, scale 1:6, hydraulic wagon spoke bending machine

The sector-spoked wrought-iron wheel, commonly used for the rolling stock of the early railways, was patented by W. Losh in 1830, before which cast-iron centres were generally used. This machine, which was introduced about 1850 by W. Melling of Haigh Foundry, was for economically bending such spokes.

Bars rolled or drawn down by forging so as to leave greater thickness in the middle are bent roughly to shape whilst hot and clamped on a die block secured to the crosshead of a hydraulic ram; as the ram ascends, links pinned to it and hinged to links fixed on the framing close against the sides forming the completed outline. The wheel centre is completed by riveting or welding the adjacent spokes together, casting the nave round their inner ends in a suitable moulding box, and turning up the circumference.