Tubes Limited

[Richard Dye]

Hi Neiljarvo, I remember you as an apprentice although I don’t think we were ever teamed up.
You mentioned the wall collapsing - the road was Catherine Street, strange that you were working on the 6 - 2 shift as I came on for the 2 - 10 shift and remember looking in the trench and even picking up the discarded Polorode negatives - probably taken by Factory Inspectors ( forerunner of H&S ) and you could clearly see the bodies lying there…..
If my memory is correct, I think you left for a Compressor Service Engineers job ….perhaps Tilghman out of Manchester. ?
You will remember the compressors at Tubes were Bellis and Morcom a great Birmingham Company.

I was partnered with Tony Payton and Sammy Evans and of course other apprentice during the 5 years, I finished my 5 years just as the continental shift pattern was starting and was happy to sign up, earned good money, I was part of Alf Fosters team with Bob Collingwood and Chalky White as foreman supervisors ….even have a photo taken during our lunch break on a 10 - 6 shift, Bob Collingwood is in it as are all the shift fitters, me included …..Tony Payton’s clothes locker is in the background, embellished with the night clubs he would go to ….Rum Runner etc and groups he liked…Smoky Robinson etc
Happy days indeed……often wonder what everyone ( apprentices ) ended up doing and where they all are now.

My first posting after the apprentice workshop was the Pilger Mill ….wow my ears would ring each evening as I cycled home - no ear defenders back then.
I also remember in1963 when I started the working week was 42 hours, starting at 0730 , finishing at 1715 Mon, Tue, Wed and Thus, but 1700 on a Friday…. sometime during 65 it got reduced down to 40 hours and we finished at 1700 .
Day release initially at Aston Tech and then several years later at the new Polytechnic at Perry Barr

The threads indicate that Baz is unable to join in….great shame as he started all this and has been a great ambassador.

Hello Lad, what exactly is the “continental shift pattern”?

 

[Lad in the Lane]

Hi, the continental shift pattern was basically a continuous 24 shift pattern of 3x8hr shifts, 7 days a week.
Typically we would work 6 days on the 6 - 2 shift, get two days off and return for 6 more days on the 2 - 10 shift, ….2 days off and return for the 10 - 6 shift fitters….effectively we got Saturday and Sunday off every 6 weeks…..good pay though

 

[Punch]

Hi Lad in the Lane I left you a message which is the last one on page 13

 

[Lad in the Lane]

Hi Punch, good to hear from you…. Have sent a reply, but can’t find it on the forum
If it doesn’t turn up, I will re type and send again.
The Lad

 

[Punch]

Hi Punch, good to hear from you…. Have sent a reply, but can’t find it on the forum
If it doesn’t turn up, I will re type and send again.
The Lad

Thanks for getting back to me but I can’t see your reply so could you send it again.
I’ve always remembered T.I moto (We made it big by keeping it small).