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Cincinnati, Kingsbury Road.

Colin Heseltine said:
Hi folks.
My father John Heseltine worked at Cincinnati Tyburn Rd from1937 till he retired in early 1980's, following a spell in Iran working in Tabriz. He is still alive (just turned 99). I recognise a number of the names mentioned on here such as Harry Sparkes. I remember going to lots of events at the factory, one of the highlights was watching Blaster bates blow hole in the ceiling in the big canteen. Also went on lots of car rallies and went to lots of theatre productions.I am trying to prove to the Pension people that my father started at Cincinnati in 1937/8. Looking to see if I can get hold of a long service awards menu/program. IIRC they had gold tassels and gold print and gave peoples name, years of service etc. and from the date on program could work out when started.

Any help would be appreciated. Colin
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Hi Colin
I remember John Heseltine from my days at Cincinnati. I have a long service dinner presentation from 1977.
Listed inside are all the employees, and their lengths of service at the company. On the Service Roll of Honour,
your father is listed as " 40 years(Gold Emblem with Five Diamonds)". So doing the maths, he must have started in 1937.
Hope this helps.
 
chrisdavies said:
Hi Colin
I remember John Heseltine from my days at Cincinnati. I have a long service dinner presentation from 1977.
Listed inside are all the employees, and their lengths of service at the company. On the Service Roll of Honour,
your father is listed as " 40 years(Gold Emblem with Five Diamonds)". So doing the maths, he must have started in 1937.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Chris,
Good to know he is remembered. Is there any way of getting a good quality scanned copy of that document. That is the very thing I have been looking for. I can cover any cost.
Many Thanks,
Colin
 
Hi Colin
Not sure if you are allowed to let me have your home address on this forum as I am a fairly new member.
If I am allowed to have your address I will gladly send the document to you so that you can do what is necessary.
You could return it as and when you've finished with it. If I'm not allowed to have your address, not sure how to proceed?

Regards
Chris
 
Radiorails said:
This is for those interested in the company history.

Founded by Fred Holz during the 1870s as a small engineering shop in Cincinnati, by 1884 the forerunner of the Cincinnati Company had expanded sufficiently to have around twelve employees and become incorporated (on March 19th) as the Cincinnati Screw and Tap Co. Premises were on the third floor of a building at the southeast corner of Pearl and Plum Street and the main products, machine screws and threading taps, well established in the market place. In 1887, after a younger business acquaintance, Frederick A. Geier, had joined the company as a co-investor, a milling machine was added (designed by Holz) dedicated to shaping tap flutes. Sold into the rapidly expanding heart of the American machine-tool industry, in surrounding Ohio, the tap miller was an immediate success and quickly led to requests from other engineering concerns for the design and building of similar specialised items. In 1889 the firm was renamed, more appropriately, as the Cincinnati Milling Machine Co. , and, working from premises adjacent to Plum and Second Street, began expanded their range to include various sizes of tool and cutter grinders. In 1890 the first export order to Europe was completed, a portent of the vast expansion in sales of US machine tools to Europe was to take place over the following thirty years. In 1892 a larger plant was built on the outskirts of Ohio and then, to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality castings and other in-house needs, a new factory and foundry was established at Oakley, a suburb of Cincinnati, in 1907. Chosen because it lay alongside the Baltimore and Ohio railway, this new location gave the company access to a convenient transport system and allowed them to peruse an even more aggressive expansion program. Ranked by the number of wage earners working on machine tools (6,902) by 1942, and under the pressures of WW2, Cincinnati had become the largest in the world. By 1970, after some rationalisation, the company changed its name to Cincinnati Milacron and became heavily involved in plastic injection moulding machines. Eventually, when finally divested of the last remnants of machine-tool and grinding wheels businesses, it became Milacron Inc. - in which form it still exists today as a specialist in plastics machinery, mould technologies and industrial fluids. However, a separate branch of the company continued with machine tool building and, after various changes of ownership, today (2009) survives as Cincinnati Machine, part of the MAG Industrial Automation Systems grouping of companies.
In the decades bridging the 19th and 20th centuries technical developments in machine tools were rapid and continuous and, at the 1900 Paris World fair, Cincinnati won a gold medal for their positive, all-geared milling machine table feed-change mechanism. 1907 saw the first of the High Power machines (a branding used throughout the 20th century) - with an improved spindle drive, new feed mechanisms and logical, directional table-feed controls. This miller was also one of the first machine tools to be built using what was originally called the unit method - today called the modular approach - where, instead of machines being built individually, or in small batches, an effort was made to standardise parts across a model range of different sizes and even different types. The system also allowed machines to be built up to a particular specification, for example to have a belt, gear drive or variable-speed-drive and with tables of different sizes and travels. This proved to be a highly effective cost-saving measure and not only contributed to company profits but also attracted customers who could see the benefits of simpler maintenance and easier acquistion of spare-parts. Until the WW1 most horizontal milling machines had round overarms, a limitation that restricted their rigidity and hence metal-removal abilities. In 1917, to help overcome this limitation, Cincinnati introduced their first rectangular overarm models, the No. 4 and No. 5 High Power machines; these also incorporated several other useful aids to faster production and operator ease including knee ways of the square gibbed type, rapid power traverses and changes of table feed-rate obtainable conveniently from the front. In the years that followed anti-friction (taper-roller) bearings were introduced and, in 1927, the Hydromatic, the first milling machine to enjoy the benefits of a smooth-running and very powerful hydraulic table drive. In 1922 a buy-out of the Cincinnati Grinders Company gave access to centerless grinding-machine technology and by 1926 a separate organisation, Cincinnati Grinders Incorporated was been formed with initial efforts aimed at improvements to the existing designs and development of new centre grinders. By now, such was the demand that machines were not only being built in America but also, to meet European requirements, at a large factory at Tyburn, in Birmingham, England. In later years other European branches were opened including Cincinnati-Chomienne S.A., based in Ville-franch-sur-Saone (where a new factory was constructed in 1967) and, during the 1950s, Cincinnati-Nederland N.V. in Vlaardingen, Holland.
In 1929 a milestone was reached, the introduction of the first Dial Type miller. This famous model, which continued in various forms until the 1980s, was to become (with the smaller 2M1, 2ML and later versions) the mainstay of the factory's general-purpose line. From the start, the machine was fitted with two important features: dual front and rear controls and power selection of feeds and speeds.
Following the end of WW2, in 1945, the company line expanded to include machines for broaching, die sinking, the projection profile grinding of tiny parts, automatic three-dimensional milling, hardening and metal forming, etc. By the end of the 1940s the company had established separate divisions to handle (amongst other things) special work involving the manufacture of one-off commissions, very large machine tools, modifications and adaptations to the regular range and complete transfer machines with multi-station machining capacity for handling components through sequential stages of manufacture without human intervention. The company even made its own range of cutting fluids and grinding wheels.
In post war years two ram-head milling of interest to the both general and specialist workshops were offered: the versatile Toolmaster (a Bridgeport competiror) and the Contourmaster, a machine intended for die sinking and reproduction work but also useable for lighter, general purpose duties.
Cincinnati machine tools were always regarded as a safe buy and the company were able to offer not only machines attuned to local needs but also a proper spares and service organisation to back them up. In the writer's collection is correspondence between Cincinnati in Birmingham, England, and various local engineering firms. In this the most mundane of enquires is given the closest attention and technical enquires answered in detail, with useful references to how other firms had solved similar problems.
During most decades of the 20th century we find a range of Cincinnati milling machines built in three general classifications: die sinking and profiling, general purpose and production. Many models became well established and were developed steadily though three or more generations to become well-proven, reliable units available in sizes and sub-types to cover virtually every need of the production, repair or maintenance shop.
One of many interesting developments from the UK branch during the 1970s was the introduction (in 1971) of the 2MK, a machine designed from the outset to be manufactured using NC machine tools. This type widely exported, with Cincinnati agreeing a contract with Iran for 180 complete examples to be delivered to Machine Sazi Tabriz, a Government plant some 320 miles north-east of Tehran. Following this further batches were to be shipped as sub assemblies and individual parts for assembly at Sazi Tabriz until finally, after some 6 years and with help from the Birmingham factory, it was envisaged that the Iranians would be able to manufacture the machine themselves.
Click to expand...
My father, John Heseltine, went out to Machine Sazi Tabriz to represent Cincinnati and went on a 2 year contract. This was cut short when the Shah was deposed. My father had to abandon Tabriz and he and several others managed to escape out out via Turkey. I had the opportunity to go to Tabriz on holiday before this happened and had the chance to tour Iran with a young Cincinnati engineer and the Machine Sazi Iranian Manager. A fantastic experience.
Colin
 
chrisdavies said:
Hi Colin
Not sure if you are allowed to let me have your home address on this forum as I am a fairly new member.
If I am allowed to have your address I will gladly send the document to you so that you can do what is necessary.
You could return it as and when you've finished with it. If I'm not allowed to have your address, not sure how to proceed?

Regards
Chris
Click to expand...
Chris,
I am checking with the moderators how I can contact you. If there is no method I will reply to one of your posts with my email address and once you have seen it will edit post to remove it again.
Colin
 
Colin Heseltine said:
Morturn,
Is it possible to contact another member privately via these forums. Another member has a document he would like to post too me which answers my original question. I need to speak/email give to pass on my address.
Many Thanks,
Colin
Click to expand...

Colin, let me gat back to you, there was but I cannot find it at the moment.
 
Colin Heseltine said:
Chris,
I am checking with the moderators how I can contact you. If there is no method I will reply to one of your posts with my email address and once you have seen it will edit post to remove it again.
Colin
Click to expand...

Hi Colin, if you click the envelope at the top right of the screen then click “Start Conversation” then just type the name of the person you wish to send a message to.
 
Colin Heseltine said:
Chris,
I am checking with the moderators how I can contact you. If there is no method I will reply to one of your posts with my email address and once you have seen it will edit post to remove it again.
Colin
Click to expand...
Chris,
Hopefully you should have received a private email via this forum.
Let me know if it has worked.
Colin
 
chrisdavies said:
Hi Colin
Not sure if you are allowed to let me have your home address on this forum as I am a fairly new member.
If I am allowed to have your address I will gladly send the document to you so that you can do what is necessary.
You could return it as and when you've finished with it. If I'm not allowed to have your address, not sure how to proceed?

Regards
Chris
Click to expand...
Chris, send Colin a private message with your information.
 
My favorite Aunt Edie Willoughby worked in the canteen at Cincinnati in the 50's and early 60's. I think in the executive (might have that wrong). She lived in Minworth and loved her job at Cincinnati. Does anyone remember her?
 
Thanks Mort. I’ve had a long fascination for abandoned or derelict buildings.

Couldn’t be doing with that chequerboard floor though !! Viv.
 
Morturn said:
Some remarkably interesting photos of Cincinnati here:

https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/ma...ton-birmingham-march-2010-a.html#.X62WsFpxfIU
Click to expand...
Hi Morturn,
The photos bought back some memories from my time there in the 70's and early 80's. The old milling machine ( on the right of the two) was refurbished around 1978 by the apprentices in the training school. It was originally made around 1886 I think. The Training Officer Jim Langley got it from Hamworthy Engineering in Poole Dorset, where it was still being used as a drilling machine! He swapped it for a vertical head for a 1948 2MI milling machine that we still used in the training school.
 
Just to let people know. My father, John Heseltine, passed away on 25th February. He was 5 months short of his 100th. He spent all his working life at Cincinnati on Tyburn Road, starting in 1937 as an apprentice and retired early in 1981. He travelled all round the world on their behalf from 1957 onwards, troubleshooting machines. He went to places such as India, Russia, Israel, Mexico and finally finished with around 18 months in Tabriz in Northern Iran.

Colin
 
chrisdavies said:
Hi Lizziep
I worked for Cincinnati for 25 years,from 1957, both at Birmingham & Biggleswade. I became the first Heald Division
apprentice in about 1960. Spent my time then alternating between the shop floor and the drawing office.
I remember your dad very well. He was my boss in the d/o and helped me a lot during that time. Always
thought of him as an "old school gentleman". Recall he always wore a tweed suit in the office.
I moved to Biggleswade with Heald Machines Division in January 63- still here after 57 years!
Still have my badges for 20 & 25 years service, along with a certificate for 25 years.
Starting wage for an apprentice in 57 was £1.50/week, rising to £2.20 the next year. The xmas bonus
each year, plus the turkey were very welcome!
Click to expand...
Hi Lizziep

My dad worked at Cincinnati from the 1930s I think - his name was Gordon Johnson. I would love to know more about what happened to the factory in the Blitz - all he said was that he had to work at the factory training the women to use the machines (maybe to build Spitfires?). I gather that Tyburn was hit during the Blitz and I would love to know what my dad was doing then - he literally never told us, I think he did not want to talk about it, perhaps understandably! He died in 1979. Does anyone here remember him? And yes I remember the Christmas parties and the huge turkey we got every year. The parties were great, I may even have been to the same ones you did in the 1970s!
 
Hi All, I am hoping someone can help me. My father worked here from 1973- 2007 Michael Kenneth Barber, he has had his service badges stolen which was given to him when working for Cincinatti. Does anyone know how or where I can get them sent back out to him. I will pay whatever the cost, he is really upset and would love more than anything to get these replaced for him.

I would appreciate any advice or guidance you can give me, thanks so much

Kirsty- Michaels Daughter
 
Michael Barber said:
Hi All, I am hoping someone can help me. My father worked here from 1973- 2007 Michael Kenneth Barber, he has had his service badges stolen which was given to him when working for Cincinatti. Does anyone know how or where I can get them sent back out to him. I will pay whatever the cost, he is really upset and would love more than anything to get these replaced for him.

I would appreciate any advice or guidance you can give me, thanks so much

Kirsty- Michaels Daughter
Click to expand...
Welcome to The Forum! Hopefully someone can help you.
 
I contracted there in 96-97. Apart from the awful three weeks about shifts I have nothing but good things to say. Great people and the management looked after the workers.
 
Margaret-Ann said:
Hi Lizziep

My dad worked at Cincinnati from the 1930s I think - his name was Gordon Johnson. I would love to know more about what happened to the factory in the Blitz - all he said was that he had to work at the factory training the women to use the machines (maybe to build Spitfires?). I gather that Tyburn was hit during the Blitz and I would love to know what my dad was doing then - he literally never told us, I think he did not want to talk about it, perhaps understandably! He died in 1979. Does anyone here remember him? And yes I remember the Christmas parties and the huge turkey we got every year. The parties were great, I may even have been to the same ones you did in the 1970s!
Click to expand...
Hi my name is Mike, I was a young trainee design draughtsman at Edgar Allen Tools in Manchester. We had ordered a Cincinnati 220-8 centreless grinder in the mid 1970s and as part of the buying process I visited Kingsbury Road and was treated to a lunch in the glass walked restaurant. When we had the machine delivered we had issues with the grinding process as it was something that nobody had tackled before. After extensive trials Jack Wilkinson the Cincinnati service manager attended site with his “centreless grinding expert”, the man in question was Gordon Johnson who I got to know very well, he was very knowledgeable and soon had everything under control. This may have been your father, he was a lovely chap who made a lasting impression on me.
 
Manchester Mike said:
Hi my name is Mike, I was a young trainee design draughtsman at Edgar Allen Tools in Manchester. We had ordered a Cincinnati 220-8 centreless grinder in the mid 1970s and as part of the buying process I visited Kingsbury Road and was treated to a lunch in the glass walked restaurant. When we had the machine delivered we had issues with the grinding process as it was something that nobody had tackled before. After extensive trials Jack Wilkinson the Cincinnati service manager attended site with his “centreless grinding expert”, the man in question was Gordon Johnson who I got to know very well, he was very knowledgeable and soon had everything under control. This may have been your father, he was a lovely chap who made a lasting impression on me.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the Forum Mike.........You made a wonderful opening statement! The Forum is a really good place to be, enjoy!
 
Richard Dye said:
My favorite Aunt Edie Willoughby worked in the canteen at Cincinnati in the 50's and early 60's. I think in the executive (might have that wrong). She lived in Minworth and loved her job at Cincinnati. Does anyone remember her?
Click to expand...
I remember your Aunt I lived in Park Lane Minworth before I married and also worked at Cincinnati in early 60*s
 
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