The contributor learned heavy engineering with an apprenticeship at Ransomes and Rapier in Ipswich and after national service became a pioneering work study man there, managing the process for projects such as a walking dragline excavator for the Canadian mining industry. He moved to Norfolk to work in the civil engineering industry in North Walsham, […]
Engineering
A man of many jobs. The sheet metal worker. (2016)
Eric had a long career in engineering mainly as a sheet metal worker. He says: I seem to have done many jobs, from repairing cars, to making parts for buses, making Army vehicles, precision sheet metal work, vehicle body work, refrigeration vehicle and aircraft repair, plus a little labour work. I was 14 years old […]
A partnership in Pattern Making (1945-1996)
Derek spent 51 years working as an engineer’s pattern maker, working for companies in Kingston and Norwich before setting up his own business, with his wife Pat. Customers included well known names such as Colman’s, Crane Fruehauf, Bressingham Steam Museum, Mackintosh Confectionery and Mountfield Lawnmowers. Examples of their work can be found around the country, […]
An eclectic working life. Engineering and electronic systems. (2016)
The formative years I left grammar school in 1959 with one A Level pass, not a very good one. I then went to the local civic college to try and improve on matters and singularly failed so in 1960 I was left looking for a job and I ended up working in a machine shop […]
An engineer – loving the sea (1946-2011)
Ken Brown recalls life around ships, engines and peas and beans, from Cornwall to Great Yarmouth and Australia and back. Leaving school for a life at sea In 1946 I left school at the age of fourteen. We’d moved to Cornwall in 1939, away from the front-line East Coast, to join my father who was […]
An Engineer’s driving ambition (from 1952 on)
Michael shares his start at work whilst still at school, his engineering apprenticeship and his love of driving. Michael left his hometown of Luton to pursue his career in Norfolk applying his engineering knowledge to vehicles and plastics, and continuing his passion for driving. Beginnings I lived in Luton and from 1952 to 1956 I […]
Building apprentice to company director. (2012)
"We had a fleet of traditional wooden barrows and the apprentices had theirs – because theirs would be covered in paint and putty etc. ." This is just the beginning of the story of a man who used his practical background as a basis for a long career as a site agent, civil engineer, building […]
Coachbuilding. Wood and metal to plastic. (1942 – 2008)
George talks to WISEArchive about wanting to enter coachbuilding since his youth. Recounting his experience of the various jobs associated with coachbuilding including taking apart new cars and rebuild them into coach form, the changing nature of the industry, sea defences, redundancy and new lease of working life working in commercial refrigeration. Early days I […]
Electrical engineering – the Coal Board to the Council (2012)
The author was born in Barnsley in the heart of the Yorkshire coalfield and his father and all my uncles but one worked in the mining industry. He worked for the National Coal Board at Grimethorpe as an Electrical Engineering Draughtsman and the first time he had to go underground "I thought the floor of […]
Electrician to x-ray engineer (1967-2016)
Mark started as an electrician, went into hospital electronics and eventually became a self-employed x-ray engineer. I went to Lakenham secondary modern, when the leaving age was fifteen. My memories of school are not particularly good. I didn’t like school and I didn’t fit in well, but for some strange reason I volunteered to stay […]