Page 8 - High Duty Alloys

Redditch Heritage High Duty Alloys

With the backing of John Siddeley Devereux set up a factory in Slough on January 5, 1928
under the name of High Duty Alloys. As aluminum steadily replaced wood in aircraft
construction during the 1930s, the manufacture of cast and forged components quickly
expanded. Through strict laboratory control and inspection of products at each stage of
manufacture, Devereux introduced high standards of quality in the research, development
and production of light alloys. In fact prior to this, forging had been a black art with no
technical supervision whatsoever.

Within a year, Devereux had acquired the world rights to a series of Rolls-Royce alloys
which swiftly evolved into the Hiduminium RR range. In due course the slogan
“Hiduminium makes the most of Aluminium" became known world-wide.

Several times during the 1930s Devereux visited Germany with Roy Fedden, a famous
designer of aero engines, and became aware quicker than most in the UK of that country's
expansion and preparation for war. Their factories were so much bigger and busier than
those in Britain, but convincing the Government of the day of these warning signs proved
difficult, Devereux being described by one Cabinet Minister as "a bloody scaremonger'',
At very much the eleventh hour the need for rearmament was finally acknowledged and
huge orders for aircraft quickly followed. Indeed, had Devereux not installed some
important new plant at Slough before the Redditch factory was ready then the aero engine
programme outlined for the UK would certainly not have been completed for another 9
months at least. No matter now many airframes you might build, if their engines are not
ready they will never fly. The production of pistons was key, and that is why Redditch
became so important during the Second World War.

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