I never knew this thread existed, good job I used the search
I remembered the other day that while working in Hockley we had a man come from time to time to put down rat poison around the building in little trays, some co workers seemed to look down on him, but I often had a quick chat if he was about.
This one day I was on the polishing lathe and this guy turned up and after he had spoken to one or two of my colleagues he seemed to have been directed towards me. He was holding a piece of brass about 5 inches by 2 inches and 1/4 inch thick and asked me if I would polish it up for him, he offered me some money but as I was polishing anyway and the gaffer was not about I told him I would do it for nothing.
It was very dull looking and seemed to have a kind of thickish layer of muck on it so I had to clean it by hand first, using emery paper lightly then polish it up. I spent some time giving it a good polish on the lathe and was pleased
with the finished result, it looked new and gleaming!!!
I called the guy over from where he was sitting and gave it to him, he was delighted. He mentioned it was an ornament when I asked what it was for and off he went.
I noticed my colleagues were smirking and looking over at me so I asked what was the matter.
They mentioned that the guy had asked a few of them first and they refused.
It seems they knew he had spoken before of the morgue in Summer Lane (which had a bad rat problem) was being either renovated or closing down,( around late 80's I think) and the brass fittings from the slabs were just left lying about.
I had just polished one of them!!!!!!!