This section of the blog records our family's sightings of manhole covers and similar items cast by PAM, a major ironworks in France.  The main ironworks is at Pont-à-Mousson that we visited when cruising through the town in 2022.

As well as manhole covers we are collecting other street items manufactured by PAM such as gully grids, utility access covers and tree protectors.  Castings made by PAM are recognisible by having one or more of the following imprinted on them:

• The words, 'PONT-A-MOUSSON'
• The company name, 'PAM'
• The company logo which is a bridge

Most of the contemporary PAM castings are marketed under a specific range and the range name, e.g. 'REXEL' is also stamped on the piece whereas older castings do not have a range name shown.  Castings conform to standards depending upon the usage and the standard can also be found stamped on the article.  The standards, the maximum weight carried and their uses are as follows:

A15	1,500 kg	Pedestrians only, e.g. parks and gardens.
B125	12.5 tons	Traffic-free pavements
C250	25 tons	Car parks, gullies, roadsides, pavements that may be driven or parked on
D400	40 tons	Roads
E600	60 tons	Major roads including motorways
F900	90 tons	Heavy traffic, e.g. airport runways

The following table categorises the castings we have seen.  To see the castings themselves and further information on each category then please click on the corresponding link (in pink) in the first column.

Range	Type	Standard	Distinguishing features
AKSESS	Manhole covers	B125	Range name plus size shown   Square covers
AQUAFLO	Gully gratings	B125	Range name shown   Flat and straight gratings
AQUAKERB	Kerb gratings	D400	Range name shown
AQUA-MAX	Gully gratings	D400	Range name shown   Flat and straight gratings
AT	Gully gratings	C250	Range name not shown   Wavy gratings
DEDRA	Gully gratings	D400	Range name shown   Flat and concave gratings
GATIC	Gully gratings	F900	Range name shown   Flat and straight gratings
G-TEX	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown
GRIP TOP	Manhole covers	D400	See INTER AX-2
INTER AX	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Square covers with diagonal split
INTER AX-2	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Square covers with diagonal split
MECALINEA	Gully gratings	C250	Range name not shown   Flat large gratings   Raised dots alternate on grating
OPT-EMAX	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Square covers with diagonal split   Rectangular covers with diagonal split   Rectangular covers with two diagonal splits
PAMREX	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Round covers
PARXESS	Manhole covers	C250	Range name plus size shown
PAVA (Gas)	Utility access		Range name and utility shown   Small covers
PAVA (Water)	Utility access		Range name and utility shown   Small covers
PAYSAGE	Manhole covers	C250	Range name plus size shown
RAPIDE	Slideout access	B125	Range name plus size shown   Service may be shown, e.g Traffic signals
REXEL	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Round covers
REXEL 2	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Round covers
REXESS	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Round covers
REXUS	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown
SELECTA	Gully gratings	C250	Range name shown
SQUADRA	Gully gratings	C250	Range name shown
T-MAX	Duct covers	C250  D400	Range name shown
TRI-GLIDE	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown   Square covers with diagonal split
VALIANT	Duct covers	B125	Range name shown
WARRIOR	Surface boxes		Range name shown   Hinged square or oblong   Corners cut to make irregular heptagons
WATERFALL	Manhole covers	D400	Range name shown
WATERSHED	Gully gratings	D400	Range name shown   Flat and straight gratings
WATERWAY	Gully gratings	D400	Range name shown   Square - split diagonally
Unbranded	Gully cover plates	B125	Square-round
Unbranded	Electricity		Square - split diagonally
Unbranded	Fire hydrant covers
Unbranded	Gully gratings	B125  C250  D400
Unbranded	Kerb inlets	C250  D400
Unbranded	Manhole covers	B125  C250  D400	Standard generally shown   Square, round, square-round, oblong
Unbranded	Sewer Access	Various	Type of utility shown
Unbranded	Telecommunications	Various	Square & oblong   Provider name often shown
Unbranded	Water Access		Small and round   Type of utility shown

 

PAM cast many other items too, such as pipework, but we've decided not to collect anything other than covers.  One day things may change, for example we noticed PAM styling on the base of a fire hydrant in Ligny-en-Barrois before realising PAM cast these items.