APPARENTLY they disposed of all the steam driven machines back in 1948, which was a pity.

However, they do have one of the last remaining pendulum saws in the country.

Which is why antiques experts, as well as the trade, will be beating a path to the doors of Smith Bros. (Worcester) Ltd on Wednesday, May 21, when one of the city's oldest businesses calls it a day.

Everything will be going under the auctioneer's hammer, from tools that look as though they were used to rebuild London after the Great Fire to modern lengths of 2x4.

It will be a sad day, but inevitable in the present business climate.

"New regulations for machine tools and factories and a changing marketplace have made it impossible for us to carry on," said David Hawkins, who has been managing director at Smith Bros for the past six years.

Fifteen workers face redundancy, although it is hoped most will find re-employment, some with a new firm Smith Bros. (Joinery) Ltd, which may rise out of the ashes on another site.

The original Smith Bros began life at Leckhampton, Cheltenham, in 1841 as timber merchants, but opened a business in Worcester in 1927 when it bought The Climax Works, off Wyld's Lane, which had been a windmill factory.

Set in a valley opposite Perry Wood and with a railway line right next door, it was the ideal site for a timber operation.

The Hawkins family had bought Smiths back in the 1880s and, under their control, it developed into a major force in the trade. At one stage, the factory at Cheltenham employed more than 400 people, making it the largest joinery works in the country.

The Worcester business was always known for its involvement with the quality end of the market, specialising in conservation joinery and reproduction.

It also provided farmers and countryfolk with a wide range of products such as gates, hurdles, wattles and chicken houses.

Apparently, the firm developed the first deep litter housing for poultry.

"But all that's gone now," said David. "The market has changed completely."

He has always been known as a conservation expert, and among his many positions, he is the woodwork inspector for the Worcester Diocese, keeping an eye on all its churches and their timbers.

He was also one of the driving forces behind the Elgar Statue Appeal, which eventually saw an impressive figure of the composer Sir Edward, created by Bromyard sculptor Ken Potts, erected at the south end of Worcester's High Street.

It's no surprise then that Smith Bros has quite a few conservation items still in its Wyld's Lane factory.

"All the steam driven machines were sold in 1948, otherwise they would have been fantastic," said David. "But we do still have a very rare pendulum saw that dates back to 1860 and still works."

It will come up for sale along with circular saws, spindle moulders, cross cut saws and bandsaws, plus a whole range of other items of the joinery, carpentry and woodworking trade.

In all, there are 747 lots, from railway sleepers to lengths of oak and iroko, and the auctioneers are H. J. Pugh & Co. from Ledbury.

Sadly there won't be anything that works up a head of steam, but if David Dickinson drops by you never know.