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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: hireman on Monday 14 July 08 15:34 BST (UK)
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Hi there,
can anyone throw any light on this photo belonging to my neighbour, his father's in the photo, but where were they based in Nottingham and what would he have been working on?.
Regards
Ken
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If you google Manlove Alliott Nottingham you will find a number of hits including the Natioal Archives which leads you to documents held at Notts. Archives. It appears they made laundry machinery.
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Hi Hireman, The machine in your photo is a Rotary Dryer. The cylinder was rotated by an electric motor and dried any type of material. I served my apprenticeship at Manlove Alliott from 1949-1955 as a Draughtsman.
My first job when I returned from National Service in 1957 was to design a rotary dryer for Sanatogen at Loughborough.
The factory was Bloomsgrove Works on Ilkeston Road in Radford Nottingham. The office was on Norton Street.
During the war they manufactured guns and the assembly shop was known as the Gun Shop.
They made Laundry, Hospital, equipment and Palm Oil plants.
I left the company in 1959 and they moved to Scotland some time later.
Bob6
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Hi Bob6, We have a Manlove Alliott destructor of 1901 vintage here in Simon's Town, South Africa. It has been mothballed since 1957 but is in reasonable condition. We are keen to restore it to working order as part of a Museum activity but really need drawings and operating instructions. We haven't been able to trace Manlove Alliott in Scotland - has the company closed or merged/been taken over by another? Any info will be most appreciated.
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Sorry Ericksd. I would like to help but since the Manlove and Alliott Refuse Destructor was patented in 1859 and your model is 1901 I am afraid that it is a bit before my time.
Manlove's was taken over by the Melbray Group before the Nottingham factory closed around 1969. You may trace the firm in Scotland.
I have looked through all my drawings and memorabilia but there is no record of the Desructor.
Bob6
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Hello Bob6,
I too worked at Manlove and Alliott but after you left. My Father worked there starting as an indentured apprentice presumably in the late 40's?. I started an apprenticeship at the Bloomsgrove works in June 1967 but left in 1969 when I heard that they were closing. My dad continued as a service manager in a separate location further down Ilkeston road until that was also taken over by the facility transferred to Manlove Tullis in Scotland.
If you have any further info on M & A, I would be really interested in undertsanding, you may have known my Dad, James Henry?
Regards
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Hello Porridge, I am sorry to say that I did not know your father.
Manloves used to hold a reunion every year in the pub on Derby Road. I went to a few but seem to forget the date. If I hear of the next one I will let you know.
A reporter and photographer from The Nottingham Evening Post attended the meeting in May 2000. His report prompted a lot of letters to the Post, including mine. I have kept copies.
I also have a few photo's, sales leaflets and drawings which may be of interest.
Regards Bob6
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Hello Bob6,
Thank you for your reply. When I posted my inquiry I missed off his Surname: Horridge. He did used to attend the reunions before he passed away 21 years ago.
When I started my apprenticeship I worked in Ron Archers electricians section and although I spent a great deal of time attending Peoples College as part of my training, I did manage to do some maintenance activity in various parts of the factory as well as work with Dick Hunt, cabling 3 and 4 roll ironing machines.
The job that I wasn't too keen on was when the cranes in the foundry used to lose a a supply line due to a build up of dust etc on the live wires that ran in the support beam the full length of the foundry. We had to use the other crane to position a new wire and drag the length of the foundry, a very tricky job that could only be done at the weekends.
My objective was to work in Keith Oats electronics design group but with Manloves moving up North I managed to get on another training pr gramme working for International Computers Limited where I stayed for 33 years before taking early retirement in 2002.
I would very much like to have a look at the items you mention, what is the best way of contacting you or should we wait till you find out if another reunion occurs?
Regards
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Hi Porridge,
Yes I did know your father, Jimmy Horridge.
I will try to find the date and venue of the next reunion and we will get together with other ex Manloves Men. It is usually held in May.
I will bring along my cuttings and hope to meet ex colleagues I missed at recent meetings.
If you find the details first please let me know.
I look forward to meeting you.
Bob6
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Hello again Porridge,
I took another look at my Manlove's cuttings and the Evening Post report dated May 8 2000. shows a photo of Ron Archer.
Another cutting dated July 3 2000 shows your Dad with Harold Willis, Geoff Moore(he wrote the article) Ernie Taylor, George Varley and your Dad looking drunk!! He is being held up by George Varley.
These will interest you when we meet but I would think they may be available to see at the Nottingham Evening Post.
The 2000 reunion was held at the Rose and Crown on Derby Road. Hope it is still there!
Bob6
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Hello Bob6,
Wow, they are some names from the past!
I always remember Ron walking around or sitting in his office at the back of the maintenance electricians area, always wearing a white overhaul/jacket.
As a family we used to to know Harold, Geoff and Ernie very well and Eric slightly as I think they were all service engineers who like my dad used to go out installing/fixing machines on customers sites.
Harold always seemed to be laughing/smiling and I cannot remember him ever not being jovial.
I think Geoff was one of the younger engineers and I think lived at Clifton?
They are pictures I would certainly like to see. I will check out the Rose and Crown on Derby road and get back to you.
Porridge
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Hello again Porridge,
This morning I met a chap who worked in the Tin shop at Manlove's and lives near me. He informed me that the meetings are now held at Hyson Green Football Club. He has promised to let me know when and where the next reunion will take place. I will pass this on to you but it will not be until early May. Bob6.
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Hi Bob6,
Thats good news, I will await your response. Pity it is no sooner.
My Uncle Tommy Meakin used to work there as did My Dads best Friend Percy Gregory. I think Percy worked in the Gun shop, not sure where Uncle Tom worked.
I wonder what happened to Stan Hale?
I also rember my dad referring to a guy who worked in the pattern shop? (used to create the wood/sand moulds for the foundry) as Nos Mo King, named after the sign on the door.
Regards
Porridge
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Hi Porridge.
I remember the name Percy Gregory but I cannot put a face to it.
I believe Stan Hale set up a firm supplying work clothes with a good friend of mine Derek Thomson. Derek worked in Sales under Stan. Stan is on a group photo in my clippings. Someone sent the photo to the Evening Post asking for identification of people in the group.
I worked two years in the Gun shop from 1949 then went in the Drawing Office working with Herbert "Tanner" Allen who was a part time professional footballer with Forest and County. My section Leader was Harry Depledge, who became Chief Draughtsman and the Chief Draughtsman was Ted Appleton who became Technical Director.
After that I worked on all sections as a "Utility Man", did my National Service in the RAF 1955-1957 then left Manloves in 1960.
It is ironic that all this contact has come from me identifying the Rotary Dryer in the first instant, but I never received a reply from Hireman.
Bob6
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Hello Bob6,
Something my dad said after I left has been triggered by your comments and I now seem to recollect that Stan had some connection with a work clothing group. I remember Stan being very supportive, after my mum was taken ill, whilst dad was working at an exhibition at Olympia in London in the late 50's. We have a picture somewhere of a group in white overhauls setting up and operating a 4 roll ironing machine at the exhibition.
My other small recollections of Stan was of quite a dapper individual, well suited to sales and heading up a company. he came over as quite charasmatic.
With us having started this chain of dialogue I have had quite a few memories of both my days at Manloves as a child visiting in my dads car as well as a young apprentice. One sad memory in particular, whilst there as an apprentice electrician, was one of the older electricians/maintenance men being found deceased on one of the 'posh' toilets in the office area. Apparently he used to do this as part of his routine every day after getting to work early. This must have been a long time after you left, maybe in the late 60's.
One of the most vivid memeories I had was watching them pouring in the foundry, which to a young 17 year old lad seemed quite magical.
Uncle Percy (Gregory) was a fitter and my recollection of him at work was assembling Sterilisers in the gun shop?
One of the machines under development after I left that dad talked about often was an oil fired ironing machine which I suppose was as a result of the lack of steam supply in many new laundries and hospitals.
Another mememory, sorry if they are darting about a little, was of dad going to Carlshalton? where a laundry employee had been killed when a pulley wheel on top of an extractor came off during operation?
And a silly mememory that shapes my inclination towards certain numbers even today was my personnel clocking on number of 711.
Regards Porridge
p.s. was the Rose and Crown the pub just down from the Queens medical centre after leaving University on the way in to town on the left?
p.p.s Also Ironic is the fact that the QE2 finally docked at Dubai yesterday, 40 years to the day she first set sail with a Manloves equipped laundry, Jimmy and, I am sure, a number of his colleagues having been responsible for installing and setting it up. He used to bring back pictures and other items from the time he spent on board getting it set up. I bet it was all replaced a long time in the past, by the time it set sail on its last voyage.
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Hello again Porridge,
I do not recall Oil filled Ironers but I spent some time in the D.O. working with Harry Boam, he was the ironer design section leader.
About the extractor, we tested them by checking the r.p.m. To do this a hole was drilled and tapped in the brass capnut which held the basket down, and a rod with a pulley wheel fitted. A belt from the pulley to a rev. counter. Someone called out the time and I recorded the r.p.m.
One day as I was recording the speed, the rod and pulley wheel shot past my ear! The rod had stretched the thread in the brass capnut until it flew off missing me by inches!
Yes that is the Rose and Crown but the last meeting was held at Hyson Green Football Club.
Bob6
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Hello Horridge
Stand by for a potted history. I knew your father very well and many of his colleagues Ernie Taylor, Harold Willis,Frank Buller and so on. In the late 1960's I was General Manager of the Sterilizer and Autoclave Division having worked in many areas and very much involved with the move to Glasgow when the company was merged with D & J Tullis of Clydebank Glasgow. You mentioned Ron Archer and he and I use to fly up to Glasgow together during the move. Keth Oates worked for me at the time and he later became a very senior engineer within the NHS Directorship.
You have raised some very interesting questions all of which I can probably answer given the time.
Oil Heating of Laundry Machinery for instance was a late invention inthe 60's. Striving for ever higher temperatures with steam heating meant pushing up the steam pressure. Early machines worked at 100 psig and were later designed to operate at 150 psig. This meant designing pressure vessels to work at much higher pressures sometimes exceeding the pressure availble from the Laundry boiler . Pipework and heavier design meant generally higher costs. By using oil, heated at very high temeperatures in a special boiler and pumping this through say the beds of ironing machines much higher drying performance could be obtained from a machine taking up a smaller space. More later!
Regards
Datman
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Hello Datman,
Thank you for your response, very interesting. I remember once being in an area where Keith was doing some tests and I clearly remember some capacitors just tagged on to what was probably some veroboard, a last minute design alteration. My Dad wasnt that electrically/electronically minded and more mechanically motivated but I think he got on well with Keiths group and respected Keith a great deal.
Having said that I think Dad used to get on with quite a few of the people at M&A, able to joke and chat with just about anyone always ready to assist each other.
Although the move to Glasgow was after I left I can remember talk of a manager during the move, some one called Fraser? Jimmy used to work at an office at the bottom of Ilkeston road after the closure, I think it was leased from Pickfords?
I would be very interested in hearing any more informoation you have concerning M&A and of particular interest would be any details of what happened regarding the laundry on the QE2 which I can remember kept Dad busy at one stage.
Are you still in touch with anyone from M&A?
Regards
Porridge
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Hello Porridge,
The memories are coming back thick and fast.
Bill Fraser was the Works Director at the time of the move but did not move to Scotland.
The office on Ilkeston Road was purpose built on part of the old Factory Site. Stan Hale and I had offices as did the Service Engineers for England who were based there. Jack Ogle who was known as Chief Estimator was also based there, he was responsible for all the tenders and quotations that went out to customers all over the World.
The clash of the Titans i.e. Scottish Engineers and English Engineers not agreeing over designs and production finally brought about the closure of the merged companies as they failed to finalize designs of new machines and hold there respective places in the worldwide market place. The main laundry machines at the time were large Washer Extractors and Ironing Machines. Each company had agreements with different American companies to make machines under license which made matters very difficult when looking to sell machines worldwide.
The Sterilizer Company was eventually sold off to a company called Denton Hellyer in Andover
The story of QE2 makes good reading. The ship was built on the Clyde at the John Brown shipping company. D & J Tullis had a factory not 500 yards from the shipyard yet Manloves a main competitor at the time, still won the tender. Much of the machinery was installed during manufacture of the ship. On the maiden voyage Manlove service engineers had to sail with the ship to ensure everything went well. The Laundry machinery would probably have lasted for say 20 years and was probably replaced at some stage or another. Manloves installed Laundry Machinery on many cruise ships including the Canberra!
Stan Hale who was joint Managing Director with Arthur Gardner of the merged company Manlove Tullis Group Ltd never really worked well together. Stan and I both resigned in 1971 fed up with all the politics associated with the merger. It was incredable to deal with Unions on th Clyde at that time most very much aligned with the ship building industry. We could assemble Sterilizers at Nottingham with three Unions. We had thirteen to deal with in Scotland.
I do have some photographs of Sterilizers and many old leaflets which hopefully we could have a look at in May if there is a get together.
Incidentally on the photograph of the Rotary Dryer you can clearly see the machine number H22 which means the order was placed in 1922. The company was still making dryers in the 1960's mainly for British Sugar. When the sugar crystal was formed and had been through a centrifugal the sugar was finally dried by tilting the rotary drier sugar going in at the top and hot air being driven up from the bottom.
Keep the questions coming. I always wanted to write a book of the complete history of Manloves. I do know that the old Technical Director Ted Appleton started with one but then lost touch with him after the merger.
Regards
DATMAN
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Hello Datman,
This is getting even more interesting as you are making me aware of things that I never knew at the time I did my mini apprenticeship or as a result of chats with my dad.
I recently did a search of Tullis and discovered some interesting articles about the company. I must have led a sheltered time at M&A as I didn't even realise there was such a strong competitor as Tullis until news of the 'merger' was announced.
On one of my reviews with Charlie Cox, the personnel manager(?), I told him I was interested in applying for a position with ICL and was surprised at the time that he didn't try harder to make me stay to serve my apprenticeship but then discovered what was happening with Tullis and maybe he was in a way helping me to make my mind up especially as I would not have been asked to transfer.
Last year me and my wife visited Liverpool as it was the European capital of culture and worth a visit. When I was driving from Southport down to Liverpool I turned a corner and saw signs marked: Walton, which immediately brought back memories of when dad used to take me to Walton hospital when we sometimes worked there at the weekend and even now very strong images of a chief engineer at the hospital by the name of Maurice Catlin.
I am not sure if you ever knew Maurice but he was such a nice guy, he used to build his own working steam engine models, probably the reason him and dad got on so well. I remember he had a small sailing boat that he took us out in, on the river Dee(?) dad nearly got swept away when rowing us to the shore as the tide was going out so quickly.
Another image I have of Manloves was going in on a Saturday morning/lunch time with dad where a guy called Billy(?) would fill up his Manloves service van (with the COG/M&A logo on the side) with petrol and wash the van for him whilst he was checking things in the ervice department ready for his work the following week.
Strange how the memories come flowing even more when one or two images are 'unlocked' but I have very vivid images of a M&A Xmas 'do' at the Victoria hotel in Nottingham where I received an apprentice award for my year as a result of passing my college work at People College of further Education where I had attended as part of my training.
Wow, I imagine a few more dreams tonight!
Regards
Porridge
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Hello Porridge
Yes Tullis were a very fierce competitor. At the time when Stan Hale was Sales Manager he and Ken Stretch who was Sales manager at Tullis would compete over most projects throughout Europe. Stan as MD persuaded the group that owned Manloves to buy Tullis and the plan was to level the site at Nottingham and build a complete purpose built factory with full open plan. A marvelous model was produced By Building Design Group of a fantastic new factory. However the plan backfired, the Engineer who was to examine the merger of the two companies was a Glaswegian can you believe and he produced a plan to the Melbray Group for moving Manloves to Glasgow. A lot of money was involved as very large grants were available from the Scottish Development Agency and also within the Group was a company that was to develop the site at Manloves and make an industrial complex for rent.
Charlie Cox who you mentioned came to Manloves following another company purchase, the company made Dry Cleaning Machinery. The development of new products for expanding the Manlove range into new markets failed mainly because of lack of good designs. Charlie later became personnel manager and made a very good job of that position.
I remember Walton Hospital well they had a CSSD with Manlove Sterilizers and a Laundry.
Yes I remember the dinners at the Victoria Hotel. Les Newton was in Senior management at the time. He was originally a service engineer with a small company in Edinburgh that serviced Manlove equipment. He later became Manloves service engineer for the whole of Scotland and the North East and was eventually promoted to Sales Manager. He and Stan Hale fell out over a new entrant to the management team a Dr. Love and Les left and started his own company Southtrim Autoclaves Ltd. They later made excellent Sterilizers and Autoclaves.
Keith Oates designed the worlds first solid state control for Sterilizers. A nightmare for me as he wanted to change the design daily. Imagine trying to write service manuals and produce drawings when they never matched the particular machine. Such was the interest in the idea that the largest manufacturer of Sterilizers in the world a company called AMSCO actually American Sterilizer Co. tried to purchase a Manlove machine through an agent in Ireland to get hold of the design. Trevor Barson and I shipped them what was a Mk2 machine, air controlled unit which was the old design!! Today a simple computer you could buy of the shelf can be prorammed to operate fully a modern sterilizer. Southtrim actually did that in the end.
Hope the above keeps the grey cells working.
Best regards
DATMAN
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Hello Datman,
Thank you for your latest posting, it makes very interesting reading, it shows a side of Manloves that I was not at all familiar with.
A previous responder indicated that there is a Manloves reunion every year in May. Do you attend and do you know who organises them as I would like to attend the next one. Are you still in touch with any of the people you mention? people like Ron Archer, Keith Oates and any of the service engineers that my dad worked alongside?
At a family celebration a yearago a guy who was an apprentice at Manloves ahead of me, who moved to the Royal or dinace factory after the move to Glasgow was there, i am not sure if you would remember him, his name, I think, is Bob Thomson. he worked with my brother at ROF and still keeps in touch with him.
Another image that just washed over me was a guy who had an office in the centre of a large area used for building Ironing machines. It backed onto Ilkeston road in the top corner of the complex, adjacent to the stores area. This guy used to have a white coat on every time I saw him. I think his name was Ernie Brooks(?). A very strict supervisor I seem to recollect. I worked in that area for a short time working alongside a guy who used to wire up the machines, his name was Richard Hunt and a colleague was John Dixon, both electricians working for Ron Archer. I think John tended to go out with the service engineers helping to assemble the machines on customers premises.
I wonder what would have happened if Manloves had been redeveloped and the new factory complex had been build on the previous ground. Would it still be there now having 'diversified'?
Wow, yet another memory; one of having my breakfast/break in the canteen which I seem to recall was managed by a large busted lady, cant remember her name but quite a matron like figure to a mere 17 year old apprentice. Whilst on that subject I am now remembering a glass fronted office area just inside the complex on the right when returning from the canteen back towards the stores area with several secretaries/typists which we young guys would ogle every time we went past, one in particular but again I cannot remember her name.
I think Radford has gone down hill since the days of Manloves. I rarely go through that area but when I do I feel quite unsafe. I think the only area of the Manloves building still standing is the 'new build' areas that stand near what used to be a weighbridge immediately off Ilkeston road opposite the park area. I can remember this area being involved in setting up some machines that were attached to the back of an ironer that folded the sheets as they came off? I think there also used to be an Electricians workshop there as well.
When I occasionally dream of Manloves it is this general area that I seem to dream of the most but as i get older those dreams are few and far between. Its strange but although I went on to work for the last British computer Manufacturer ICL for 33 years until taken over by Fujitsu, it is still Manloves that I remember with fond memories the most. This may be because I heard and saw so much of Manloves as a child through conversations with my dad, Uncle Tom and Percy Gregory not to mention other 'characters' who dad socialised with.
Do you still visit the area at all and do you ever go past the old site?
Regards
Porridge
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Hello Porridge
The reunion was always to take place on the first Thursday of the month of May in the pub on Ilkeston Road. I have not attended any for some years and will try and find out if one is taking place this year.
Ernie Brooks was indeed the Foreman of the Ironing Machine shop as it was known. Machines were fully assembled and tested then partly dismantled and erected on site with an A frame gantry. In most situations a Laundry would finish work on a Friday, the old machine would be allowed to cool and then the engineers and John Dixon would work flatout Saturday and Sunday dismantling and removing the old and installing and erecting the new so that production with the new machine could start Monday. When I was living in the West Country I would attend and help over the weekend on most installations to ensure any problems arising on the Monday could be handled quickly.
John Dixon did not move to Glasgow. He set up his own business callled Metrofast in Long Eaton. His main business was to overhaul old machines and fit new Variable Speed drives to existing machines.
I do not visit the old site very much these days. I do know that to the left of the gate into the industrial estate stands a building that was erected by Manloves as the new Packing and Despatch department. The foreman was Len Squires. You have to cast your mind back to before container ships were built and export products were shipped in metal containers. Manloves shipped a large quantity of machinery abroad. Products had to be placed in purpose designed wooden crates to ensure they arrived at their destination safe and undamaged. We shipped a lot of Sterilizers to Canada as many of the states followed British Technology although electrical Control panels had to work at 24v not 240. It is amazing how the memories of Manloves stick in your mind. They were not the highest of payers in Nottingham but there was terrific atmosphere where one made friends for life.
Regards
DATMAN
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Hello again Datman,
Its strange how a number of new memories and names have surfaced since chatting to you recently online.
I remember other service engineers that worked alongside my dad..
Ernie Taylor, slightly older than my dad but someone who I think dabbled in both Electrical and mechanical engineering issues on customer sites or at least someone who I think was perhaps more technical than a 'normal' service engineer? or was it he specialised on kit I was not familiar with?
Geoff Moore, a younger engineer than my dad, who I think lived at Clifton?
Cliff Frost, similar age to my Dad with similar experience. He was coincidentally on jury service at the same time as me and we even served on the same jury at one point in my 2 week stint.
I also remember a short guy, Walt ???? who I think was an electrician who always wore a light brown set of overalls? There was also a guy who worked on a massive lathe/boring machine, not far from the drawing office. he had a 'flat' appearance to his face and Ialways remember him tending his machine, with metal chad/burrs coming off the tool on his machine from machineing cast iron rolls?
Another silly fact was my personel number: 711, which I still am attracted to if I see it occur in say a mobile number, sort of a lucky string of digits.
I am skipping about a bit but I also remember a fitter, like Percy Gregory, who used to live nearby at Abingdon Square in Aspley. His name was Ron Bray.
I still have a copy of my Manloves Apprenticeship document in its wallet on which Charlie Cox overtyped 'part apprenticeship' due to its early tremination as a result of me leaving to join ICL as a result of the move to Glasgow. I also put a brand new 10 shilling note in the wallet at the time I received it to add some extra interest.
I wonder if there are any Manloves machines anywhere in the world? Wouldnt it be great to see one, even if not working but in a museum? Just the logo/transfer that dad used to have on the side of his compny van would be nice to see again.
Porridge
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Hello Porridge.
Some more names from the past.
Ernie Taylor I new very well. We shared a common interest in photography. He had a beautiful Exacta Relex Camera with Zeiss Lenses and extension bushes he had made himself out of solid brass. He was more than just a service engineer. He worked on many projects in the development department and one machine I remember well was a unit called the Easiprep. It was a machine for feeding sheets into ironing machines at high speed. He was skilled in Electrics,Pneumatics and mechanics, probably one of the most skilled engineers at Manloves other than Vernon Sibert, who was chief service engineer and travelled the world.
Cliff Frost was a vey good friend. He was an installation engineer working mostly on Ironing Machines. I sold a lot of ironing machines over the years and spent many a week end talking with Cliff.
I am sure there are Manlove Ironers still working in the U.K. in Industrial and Hospital Laundries. The cast iron beds and rollers would last almost for ever with the drive units being replaced every so often by the likes of John Dixon.
A new Laundry was built quite a few years ago near Preston in a very large prison. All the equipment was oil heated, a total uniques set of designs and I did hear the Ernie Taylor became the Site Engineer. That was the last I heard of Ernie.
Regards
DATMAN
I remember Geoff Moore and yes he did live in Clifton. Cliff Frost was an installation
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Hello Datman,
Vernon Sibert! Yes I remember that name very well, did he have a Large jag or Wolsley car?
Are you in contact with any of the people whose names you mention?
I remember my dad returning from Ernie Taylors house(was it Lowdham or somewhere near there?) and he drove into a stationery lorry. he said it was due to a coughing fit but I think he was probably under the influence! he finsihed up in Hospital and looking back I am surprised that he didnt lose his job because I think he may have been banned from driving for a year?
I remember going to a garage to collect his tools from a Red Morris 1100 that was badly damaged. He was lucky to survive and at least it did stop him smoking (but not drinking!).
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Hello again Porridge, The Manlove's Reunion is to be held at the Hyson Green Football Club on Friday 1st May. I cannot make it!!!
I suggest we meet in Nottingham if that is OK with you.
I think the pub called The Bank, in Market Square near Friar Lane any day to suit you except Tuesday. Say about 11am.
If you are interested you could invite datman, I have been following your messages with him with interest, he seems to be a mine of information on Manloves.
Bob6
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Hi
I worked as an electrician at Manloves until the mid sixties whereupon I setup
Metrofast and continued to service, bought and reconditioned ironers up and until approximately 2003 some of the machines being over fifty years old. Some of the machines are certainly in operation today; we still get the occasional call for parts. Graham Poyser was my partner and occasionally Harold Willis worked with us.
I also went to the 1958 and 1962 exhibitions at Olympia with Jimmy Horridge, Ernie Taylor (Mabel), Harold Willis, Mick Warren (62 only) and Vernon Sibert. I have some photographs somewhere.
p.s porridge your father may of spoken of me; he always said I saved his life when he got a blockage in his leg whilst on site at Naburn Hospital.
When Manloves closed at Nottingham all the photographic records were taken to the Nottingham industrial museum at Wollaton Park. There where in large Albums dating from the late 1800s. When I made an appointment with the curator to review them, he could not find the later albums, these were the ones that contained the photographs of the steam tram for Dublin, the road roller the lighthouse and the winding engine for Wollaton pit along with all the ironing m/c and sterilizers photos and many more. The city council is to close the museum at the end of August and I wonder what will become of the photographs.
Regards
John
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:)Hello, just browsing Manlove Alliott, and wondered if anyone remembered my father, Frank White. He worked at Manloves from the early 1930s, we still have a copy of his completed indentures, and was there till the firm closed in April 1970. He travelled all over England, and Wales, also to Ireland fitting sterilisers, first building them and then travelling to fit them in. He fitted all the new laundry equipment in the Union Castle Liners in the 1960s, he trained many apprentices during their 5 year apprenticeship, and was more or less in charge of the training of Manloves Apprentices when they went to Peoples College in the mid to late 1960s. I still wear, with pride, the watch he was presented with in 1964, engraved for over 30 years service, and I have been told by a local jeweller it is of exceptional quality.
I have photos of dad at the Olympia exhibitions, and we certainly knew Jimmy Horridge. I remember the office, which was surrounded by glass, I worked there during the summer holidays in about 1962 for work experience, there was a very pretty young lady called Eileen worked there, and for a while I went out with a Terry Britton who worked in the Offices. After Manloves folded dad worked for a few years at an Adult Training Centre, before he died in 1976 at the age of 61.
Hope some of you remember him.
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hi regarding nos mo king in the pattern shop ,he was my foreman in 1964 i was an apprentice pattern maker,apart from me and nosmo there were Jack demero,Harry lindley,Steve Dable,also old Steve ?,these guys were highly skilled,in the foundry the foreman was Duggan,when i get my thinking cap on i will post more names and stories from manloves.
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Hello all,
I have recently been researching air detecting systems on steam sterilizers and through registered patents I came across reference to the company manlove alliott & co. I note that they filed a patent in the mid to late 60's and I wonder if any of you may have been involved in the development of this technology?
I have been testing sterilizers for some years now and have often wondered where the technology was developed and by whom.
I would love to here from anyone who may have been involved or has information regarding the technology and testing methodology.
King regards
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I was a friend of Graham's as we both served our time at Manloves. Is he still around? 'Bag' Willis must surely have passed on - what a lovely bloke.
I'd love the opportunity of a natter if Metrofast is still in business.
I can still file a key but useless on computers, so if you get this message, my email is(*)
Cheers Clive.
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I realise it's been a while since anyone posted in this thread but are there still people on this site interested in Manloves?
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Hello Jimmy's lad!
Just found your enquiry of yesterday - so hope this helps.
I served my time at Manloves from 1953-1959 as a fitter. Yes, I remember your dad well but didn't have a lot to do with him as I was only a lad at the time. Always smiling was little Jimmy and it was obvious he was well thought of at Manloves. I've read all the topics on this thread and remember most people mentioned.
Another Poster mentioned a 'flat faced' machinist who's machine was not far from the drawing office. This chap was Tommy Price who worked the large vertical borer and was a lovely man. His nickname was Gandie Price! Other questions I can answer:
Percy Gregory worked in the Gunshop across from me.
The Gunshop foreman was Charlie Johnson (he must have smoked 100 Players a day!) and the inspector was George Sharpe
Stan Hale or E Stanley Hale (his full title!) was the sales director and later formed Workwear Rental when he left Manloves.
Derek Thomson was a draughtsman and used to smuggle me into his car to go for a football kickabout on Wollaton Park during some lunchtimes with other draughtsman. Derek later became manager of the Co-op laundry on Daleside Road which has recently been demolished.
I served the last six months of my apprenticeship under Ernie Taylor (it was Epperstone he lived at as I lived in Burton Joyce) experimenting with new control panels he was developing for sterilizers. Ernie was a very clever and innovative engineer both electrical and mechanical. I have many more
memories of Manloves but not enough time right now to put them down, so hope this helps.
Kind regards
Clive Linley
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Many thanks for your comments and memories Clive. Now you've mentioned his nick name: Gandi Price, I remember him quite well.
Do you live in Nottingham? Will you be going to the reunion at Hyson Green, organised by Bob Thompson? A few years ago I managed to contact Ron Archer, the electricians supervisor, and took him to one of the reunions.
Percy Gregory and Dad were good friends, he used to come round to ours every Sunday evening, watch TV, smoke many fags and have a glass of lemonade, whilst dad had something a little stronger.
Did you know Ron Bray, another Manloves guy? He lived close by in Abingdon square, Aspley.
Some great memories of some interesting characters!
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Thanks for your reply Mr Orridge ( not being facetious) - great to keep the memories flowing.
I'm now in my 78th year and still have my Indentures. My Dad worked for a spell at Manloves under Stan Keyes in the plant office and when it became apparent I wasn't going to become anything at school, he got me a job at Manloves, which turned out the best thing my Dad ever did for me.
Of course I remember Ron Bray but can't put a face to his name. I live in Southwell and would be over the moon to attend a Manlove's reunion or meet you sometime for a natter over a pint if you live locally.
Thanks so much for replying
Clive
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Hi Clive,
I will find out when the next reunion is and let you know. I think Bob Thompson organises them, my brother Rob used to work with him when he moved from Manloves to the ROF and knows his contact details.
Did you ever work with my Uncle Tom Meakin, a welder at Manloves?
I did jury service over 20 years ago and coincidentally a fellow juror was Cliff Frost, one of Dads service engineer colleagues.
Take care
Pete Horridge
P.s. Where did you get your user name idea from? I used to help out with a group of trolley bus enthusiasts who wanted to set up a trolley bus museum at Plumtree.
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Hi Pete
Trolleybus39 ......... Well when I started at Manloves we commenced work at 7-30am and the first Trent bus from Burton Joyce was 7am meaning I couldn't get to work on time. Consequently I'd bike to the bottom of Carlton Hill, leave my bike in a bike store and catch the 39 trolley which dropped me off at Norton Street by about 7-20am. When we finished at 5-30pm on a Tues,Wed & Thurs I didn't get home until well turned 6-30pm so it was a long day!
I can't remember Mr Meakin and can only remember Alf Bulley as the Boiler shop manager. The racket passing through when they were riveting was horrendous.
The Gun shop personel were as follows, as I remember:
Arthur Rogers (I started under Arthur) on sterilizers
Martin Munton ( and Terry (?) )
Fred (?) by the office window ( No apprentice as only "semi skilled")
Ernie Gutteridge ( with Brian Bell)
Frank White ( with "Ginger")
Walt Walker (Graham Poyser)
Percy Gregory ( Can't remember his apprentice)
Jimmy Want ( Brian Turner)
Frank Streets (Woggy)
Stan Leatherland ( Dave (?) )
Charlie Ellis (Duncan Campbell)
Len Baxter (Semi Skilled)
Frank & "Deafy" were the crane drivers ( "Deafy" made his own side car for his Gold Star )
Tommy Wragg ("semi Skilled")
"Oily Joe" ( Driller) later followed by little Bill from the top shop
In the office : Charlie Johnson, George Sharpe and Jack Tyrell.
Finally Pete after losing two wives to the big C, I'm now seeing my very first girlfriend who I met when I was 17 and who I would wave to from outside the Gunshop's doors as she passed by on the bus each morning on her way to work. She lived then on Wigman Road and her elder sister was married to one of the Panther's players.
I really could write a book !! Whatever, Manloves was a wonderful all round engineering training and I'll never forget it. I spent the last 40 years of my working life in heavy plant sales, mostly crushing equipment for Quarries and other Mineral Extractive industries.
Yes Pete, I've been very fortunate so far and had a diverse and enjoyable life, seen the world, made a lot of cash at times, spent it and started again and I suppose have been a bit of a Bugger at times!
But there we are, it takes all sorts and I'd do it all again. I've got my old Jag, a nice little bungalow in Southwell, a young thinking smartly dressed lady friend who's only fault is she favours Forest instead of the 'Pies, but you can't have everything can you? ;D
Let me know when the 'Do' is.
ps Wouldn't mind volunteering for a bit of voluntary work at the Wollaton Hall steam museum and getting a boiler suit on again!
Cheers - Clive
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Evening all,
I realise it has been six years since this topic was active. However I found it with a Google search of “Abbott Engineers Nottingham” as that’s how it’s transcribed on my great grandfather’s 1921 census. I now realise this was mid-transcribed and have reported the error.
Just wondering if anybody can remember my great-grandfather (if the people on this post previous are even still members of this forum). He died before I was born and I only know he worked for Alliott’s in 1921 at the age of 20.
His name was Henry Tindall/Tindale Dunn and I think he was known to use either Henry or Tindall/Tindale as his name.
He may have not worked there for long in which case there is no chance anyone would remember him. But if he did work there for many years then there is a small chance.
Many thanks.
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Hello,
If Trolleybus39 sees this message, please be aware that there is get together to celebrate Ron Archers life after his sad demise during Covid.
Please message me for details
Pete Horridge