I was one of the last 15 apprentices taken on, starting on September 1st 1979. I served my 4 year apprenticeship all over the factory, ending up in marking out in B5 press shop. Loved every minute and I am not ashamed to say that as a 21 year old, I cried when I left for the last time. Great memories
I went to Garringtons, Darlaston, at the age of 12 in September 1977 and sat in the car park in Dads' car . Dad was visiting the factory as a sales rep for Birlett Cutmaster and I went with him to work that day as I had discovered my Mum had left home for good the day before. I was too upset to face school.and was feeling pretty glum. When Dad returned to the car, he walked me over the road to peer through the windows, that still exist in a fashion, to show me the drop hammers crashing down on the hot metals. I think the car park and office buildings are next to what is now a community centre . its heartbreaking to see that these industries are no longer viable in the UK, the place where it all started. Take nothing for granted folks!
Regularly visited there in the 1980's as a rep for Universal Grinding wheel. This was the era when the UK made stuff . One Maggie Thatcher later it had all gone.
I worked in the Bromsgrove factory in the 70s.First on the presses in B5 then the ring rolls in the bottom hammer shop until returning to B5 as a "superspare".I expected to work there all my life and would have done happily.It was hard hot fast heavy work for hours on end but i would still be laughing as i went off to sleep at some of the characters.Im now approaching 70 but whenever im working around the house and garden i can go on and on without a break and thats what Garringtons installed in me.Some of the best blokes i have ever met worked there and the money was great,so what was there not to like.
Both my brother Paul and myself worked at Garringtongs in B5 and J100, such a shame when it closed down, I have a lot of good memories the place and the men that I had the pleasure to work with.
Nice but sad video, thanks for sharing it - Is that Lasco 'hammer press' now at Doncasters in Sheffield? They have one just like it, and there cant be that many in the UK !
I live up Catherine close bromsgrove and even though it's gone some times I swear I can still hear it the loud thunk chunk noise always wanted to work there but it closed just after I left school so sad miss real industry like that instead I ended up at Doncaster droitwich
I was one of the last 15 apprentices taken on, starting on September 1st 1979. I served my 4 year apprenticeship all over the factory, ending up in marking out in B5 press shop. Loved every minute and I am not ashamed to say that as a 21 year old, I cried when I left for the last time. Great memories
I went to Garringtons, Darlaston, at the age of 12 in September 1977 and sat in the car park in Dads' car . Dad was visiting the factory as a sales rep for Birlett Cutmaster and I went with him to work that day as I had discovered my Mum had left home for good the day before. I was too upset to face school.and was feeling pretty glum. When Dad returned to the car, he walked me over the road to peer through the windows, that still exist in a fashion, to show me the drop hammers crashing down on the hot metals. I think the car park and office buildings are next to what is now a community centre . its heartbreaking to see that these industries are no longer viable in the UK, the place where it all started. Take nothing for granted folks!
The Garrinton mon in the checked shirt is my hard working dad doing his skills. So proud of ya dad
Regularly visited there in the 1980's as a rep for Universal Grinding wheel. This was the era when the UK made stuff . One Maggie Thatcher later it had all gone.
I worked in the Bromsgrove factory in the 70s.First on the presses in B5 then the ring rolls in the bottom hammer shop until returning to B5 as a "superspare".I expected to work there all my life and would have done happily.It was hard hot fast heavy work for hours on end but i would still be laughing as i went off to sleep at some of the characters.Im now approaching 70 but whenever im working around the house and garden i can go on and on without a break and thats what Garringtons installed in me.Some of the best blokes i have ever met worked there and the money was great,so what was there not to like.
Both my brother Paul and myself worked at Garringtongs in B5 and J100, such a shame when it closed down, I have a lot of good memories the place and the men that I had the pleasure to work with.
Old memories could hear the hammers miles away hard and dirty job people wouldn't do it today heavy work 💪
very sad, my dad worked there for donkeys years from age 15 as a stampers helper then a stamper till he died in the early 90s
Nice 1 must have worked hard your dad heavy dirty work and hot nobody would work in it today hats off to him 👍
Nice but sad video, thanks for sharing it - Is that Lasco 'hammer press' now at Doncasters in Sheffield? They have one just like it, and there cant be that many in the UK !
I live up Catherine close bromsgrove and even though it's gone some times I swear I can still hear it the loud thunk chunk noise always wanted to work there but it closed just after I left school so sad miss real industry like that instead I ended up at Doncaster droitwich
used to live by allsaints chuch and could hear the hammers from there
@3:35 looks like Land Rover Defender radius arms.
Yes very sad I've been in the industry for 38 year in sheffield not many forges left now
pity all went on strike for more pay till the factory closed and left a dole queue for their sons
Same bad wages for the job hot dirty people wouldn't do this today hard heavy work