wire mesh

welded wire mesh first appears in our research notes in April 1905 when Monash told Gummow that the Expanded Metal Co of New York had “active agencies in Victoria vigorously exploiting the use of expanded metal for floor plate construction”. At current prices JM did not fear competition but thought it would be perforated metal fair to him to exclude expanded metal from the classes of work on which he had to pay royalty.(Gummow agreed to this.) In February 1906 Gummow told JM that he had lost a job in Sydney for NMLA because the architect’s specification permitted alternatives to the Monier floors designed by GF&Co, and he had accepted a “cheaper” and “inferior” floor system with expanded metal. JM continued: “It will serve no useful purpose to commiserate with you on the shabby treatment of [by] the Architect in question. I strike some men of wire mesh the same class here occasionally, though it has not so far resulted in any damage to our interests here. I have adopted a rather militant policy in Melbourne, and whenever a favourable opportunity offered, have decried the unscientific character of expanded metal construction so far with excellent effect.” JM added he knew Col. Templeton, the company’s general manager, and Mr Stock their actuary. “They leave their architects very much alone but Stock is favourable to Monier.”