• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
    im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
    we are now using a backup solution

Tubes Limited

Astoness said:
totally agree with you bazz but it must also be remembered that without our members contributions this site would have folded a long time ago..as i have said its a joint effort we must all pull together to keep the site going...

lyn
Click to expand...
that day.
I also agree with you regarding the contributions, and you may recall, that for the first 5-6 years i regularly paid too. I ceased paying when i was disturbed at what i called, a waste of money. This was a number of years back when i couldn't make the trip down for the meeting, and i read on the site, that everyone that was to attend, would be getting a free drink that day. I thought we were struggling, at that time, for funds to keep the site going, and then to read that, i thought, no, we can't be that hard up if we are giving away free drinks. Hence i stopped giving my donation. It's a pity, because i do (and always have), loved this site, and really appreciate the hard work that yourself, and others, put in to keep it going. May it keep going for ever more.
 
BazzM said:
Have only just spotted the article about Table Tennis. I also played for Tubes for a year or 2. Great times. Justa quick question too Jeremy. Do you have any report about the Tubes Ltd 25th year sports events ? The reason i ask is because i won the One Mile Race that year, and i still have the flag/banner i was awarded.
Click to expand...
I'll try and get them all posted, what year was it? I'll try and post as the next one.
 
BazzM said:
that day.
I also agree with you regarding the contributions, and you may recall, that for the first 5-6 years i regularly paid too. I ceased paying when i was disturbed at what i called, a waste of money. This was a number of years back when i couldn't make the trip down for the meeting, and i read on the site, that everyone that was to attend, would be getting a free drink that day. I thought we were struggling, at that time, for funds to keep the site going, and then to read that, i thought, no, we can't be that hard up if we are giving away free drinks. Hence i stopped giving my donation. It's a pity, because i do (and always have), loved this site, and really appreciate the hard work that yourself, and others, put in to keep it going. May it keep going for ever more.
Click to expand...

bazz that free drink offer was many many years ago when we had plenty of donations coming in and i think jim offered the free drinks out of his own pocket as a way of saying thank you to members for their support...alas since then donations have slowly dwindled over recent years so anything we receive is welcome now as we are not that flush and i honestly think that most members do not realise just how much it costs to keep a forum of this size running and without the fear of being hacked again as we were in 2011 which resulted in losing all of our images..roughly 66000 of them...going off topic now so i will shut up :D ps bazz when i said we could not continue without members contributions i meant the posts they made not monitary contributions...sorry if i confused you

lyn
 
Last edited:
BazzM said:
I finally found the old photos i took in the forge dept on a visit in 2010 (dont believe the dates on them) A bit dark, but still ?
Click to expand...

smashing photos bazz thanks and also thanks to you jeremy for posting the magazines...lovely to see this thread up and running again :)

lyn
 
Just managed to find my old picture of the flag i mentioned Jeremy. So the year of the sports events was 1969/70. And i am really thrilled seeing these old copies of Tubes News. Many thanks again for posting.
 

Attachments

  • flag.jpg
    flag.jpg
    167.2 KB · Views: 12
Astoness said:
bazz that free drink offer was many many years ago when we had plenty of donations coming in and i think jim offered the free drinks out of his own pocket as a way of saying thank you to members for their support...alas since then donations have slowly dwindled over recent years so anything we receive is welcome now as we are not that flush and i honestly think that most members do not realise just how much it costs to keep a forum of this size running and without the fear of being hacked again as we were in 2011 which resulted in losing all of our images..roughly 66000 of them...going off topic now so i will shut up :D ps bazz when i said we could not continue without members contributions i meant the posts they made not monitary contributions...sorry if i confused you

lyn
Click to expand...
Lyn. Firstly, thank you for your response. I did not realise that all those years ago, Jim offered the free drinks from his own pocket. I just assumed it would come from the site funds, hence i felt agrieved. Secondly, i appreciate that you meant we could not continue without members contributions (chat, pictures etc), and not just money. I will now seriously consider sending my contribution again, so that this fantastic site continues. And please don't think of shutting up. YOU are the voice of BHF. Best regards, Barry.
 
BazzM said:
Lyn. Firstly, thank you for your response. I did not realise that all those years ago, Jim offered the free drinks from his own pocket. I just assumed it would come from the site funds, hence i felt agrieved. Secondly, i appreciate that you meant we could not continue without members contributions (chat, pictures etc), and not just money. I will now seriously consider sending my contribution again, so that this fantastic site continues. And please don't think of shutting up. YOU are the voice of BHF. Best regards, Barry.
Click to expand...

oh bless you barry thanks....who knows one day we may see you again at one of our meet ups but i do appreciate the distance you would need to travel:rolleyes:...really enjoyed meeting you the last time...take care

lyn
 
Astoness said:
oh bless you barry thanks....who knows one day we may see you again at one of our meet ups but i do appreciate the distance you would need to travel:rolleyes:...really enjoyed meeting you the last time...take care

lyn
Click to expand...
Lyn, the pleasure at our previous meet was all mine. And i still have, and play the cd you kindly gave me. You take care too.
 
TUBES NEWS - ISSUE 3 - 1971

Reading through these as I'm posting them I can see what a generous company Tubes were, very much a 'family' feeling to it, Christmas hampers for the pensioners and a party for the children, I vividly remember going to a couple...

3_1971_pge1.jpg3_1971_pge2.jpg3_1971_pge3.jpg3_1971_pge4.jpg
 
BazzM said:
Does anyone remember Tubes Ltd of Rocky Lane? When I left Loxton St school in 1964 my first job was in the Production Control office there. I left after nearly 7 years, then came back 10 months later and worked in the Forging Dept for another near 7 years, before moving to my present home in Scotland. My time living in Nechells and working in Aston where among the best days of my life. The times themselves, the atmosphere, the people, they were the best. There must be someone out there who recalls Tubes. I remember cycling from my then home in Chelmsley, to start work in the Forge at 6am. ( great times ) There were some great characters there in them days. When I worked in the offices I can recall myself and a lad called Fred Raybold, when as soon as dinner time came round, we would jump into his old Morris Minor and shoot off to Aston Park for a kick about, or up to Tubes snooker and games room ( my it was always freezing up there ). Fred and I where always being told off in the office for singing or whistling the hit tunes of the day. Happy days.
Click to expand...
I used to load my truck with tubes to be delivered all over the country that was in the 60s.
 
Jeremy 101
Thanks Jeremy for loading issue number 4 of Tubes news some historical reading When I scrolled down to page 3 there’s a photo of the DB Department with two guys working on the charger the man on the left was my dad Bob Collingwood and the other photo shows my first gaffer at Tubes Harry Allport and Tommy Prescott who was boxer Johnny Prescott uncle.Keep em coming Jeremy.
 
Jeremy_101 said:
TUBES NEWS - ISSUE 22 - FEBRUARY 1975View attachment 136309View attachment 136310View attachment 136311View attachment 136312
Click to expand...
Jeremy, you are a star. Seeing this edition of Tubes News is fantastic. Lots of info, and pictures of George Clarke. I was mates with George for many years. We used to spend some time at Boldmere Rd practising cricket, but my best memory is George's birthday parties, which always took place at his parents house. They were really great times, and he was/is a lovely guy. Would love to know if he is still around, or even a member here. Also in this edition is the photo of the company shop. I bought lots of stuff from there, such as toasters, kettles and even my first snooker cue. (I now have a cue that i got from Stephen Hendry, when i delivered a rental car to his house many years ago. He was very kind, polite etc. and after signing the cue, he then drove me most the way home, which was some trip here in Scotland.) So once again, MANY, MANY THANKS JEREMY, and please keep them coming. It really takes me back to my time in Rocky Lane.
 
From the Express and Star Archive June 1979, entitled TI Tubes, Aston, Birmingham

Unimate robot forging handler installed at TI Tubes can keep up with the pace of a furnace better tan previous 3 man team
5B2151CE-D5F4-4AA4-9191-316440026214.jpeg
 
Pedrocut said:
From the Express and Star Archive June 1979, entitled TI Tubes, Aston, Birmingham

Unimate robot forging handler installed at TI Tubes can keep up with the pace of a furnace better tan previous 3 man team
View attachment 136429
Click to expand...
Hi Pedrocut
I can’t remember the cost of the robot but it didn’t last to long because it wasn’t capable of controlling the length of heat which would under various working conditions change.
My opinion is it couldn’t work better or faster than a three man gang.
The robot spent its final days in Cheston Road gathering dust and eventually sold.
Number 5 Ajax was moved to the general warehouse to produce drill pipe Forging.
 
TUBES NEWS - ISSUE 2 - 1971

This is the earliest copy I have, alas, not sure what happened to issue 1, front page is showing it's age; enjoy.

1_1971_pge1.jpg1_1971_pge2.jpg1_1971_pge3.jpg1_1971_pge4.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 1_1971_pge1.jpg
    1_1971_pge1.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 10
  • 1_1971_pge3.jpg
    1_1971_pge3.jpg
    2 MB · Views: 9
  • 1_1971_pge4.jpg
    1_1971_pge4.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 8
BazzM said:
Jeremy, you are a star. Seeing this edition of Tubes News is fantastic. Lots of info, and pictures of George Clarke. I was mates with George for many years. We used to spend some time at Boldmere Rd practising cricket, but my best memory is George's birthday parties, which always took place at his parents house. They were really great times, and he was/is a lovely guy. Would love to know if he is still around, or even a member here. Also in this edition is the photo of the company shop. I bought lots of stuff from there, such as toasters, kettles and even my first snooker cue. (I now have a cue that i got from Stephen Hendry, when i delivered a rental car to his house many years ago. He was very kind, polite etc. and after signing the cue, he then drove me most the way home, which was some trip here in Scotland.) So once again, MANY, MANY THANKS JEREMY, and please keep them coming. It really takes me back to my time in Rocky Lane.
Click to expand...
Good oh, will get more posted.
 
Jeremy_101 said:
Good oh, will get more posted.
Click to expand...
Jeremy. Once again, thank you for bothering, and taking the time, to post these items. As though last weeks edition wasn't enough,( George Clarke pictures etc.), in this edition i see pictures of Tubes football team, and once again, i know a few of the team in the picture. I remember George Storer, George Kershaw & John Jeffries. I worked with John's brother Jim Jeffries in the forge dept shop-floor office with Bill Antrobus and others. Really great times, and such a pleasure to recall these times thanks to your posts. You really are a valued member of this site. Have a good day.
 
Thank Jeremy
For rekindling many memories of Rocky Lane with articles and photos from number 2 Tubes News and names like Jack Townsend,Fred Goldby George Kershaw,Dennis Bassington and Jhon Jeffries.
 
The article on page 2 about people who have retired I recall Billy Latham with 48 years service. The reason why I mention him is because in all them many years he was never late for work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top