Rupert if you go round the Jewellery Quarter today some of them machines are still in use.
I needed a die cut with a coat of arms on, so after doing a scale drawing took it the Jewellery Quarter
where a larger drawing was made onto a piece of plastic type material using a Pant o' Graph only a bit more sophisticated then the cutting machinery was used to finish the die before it was sent to be hardened when I asked how old the machinery was he said its been here ever since the building was built
and as it does the job why change it, but you could tell it was well maintained and looked after and to replace it would cost a fortune, but he did say that when he retired there was no one to carry the business on. I asked about hiring a youngster and getting a grant off the Goverment but he said the machine would be condemed and if I was to have the Health and Safety in here they would shut the place down,so when I go the place will go with me.......Sad aint it