Rushden Research Group: Standard Rotary Machine Co Ltd

From notes by Mr H Packwood

The Standard Rotary Machine Co Ltd

The factory in College Street

To get the skilled labour required it was decided to advertise in a trade union journal.

A manager who was also a draughtsman was chosen Mr Pickard, and he engaged the workers.

The following men were engaged as I remember:

from Birmingham:

Local men engaged:

Mr. J. Blunt
Mr. Arthur Summers
Mr. W. M. Fletcher
Mr. F. Bird
Mr H Griffiths
Mr H Oxley O.B.E.
Mr C Miles
Mr W Percival

from Lincoln:
Mr George Wingrove
Mr. Rodgers

Bob Pearson
C. Sharpe
A. Loasby
?. Coleman
F. Bailey
Charles Pearson
H. S. Wright
A. Berrill
O. Garley
C. James
R.Eagles
W.Wadsworth
A.Tompkins

When the skilled workers arrived in Rushden they brought with them all the tools, lathes, milling machines and they also brought their own Trade Union, the A.E.U., together with the Birmingham District Rate which was 2/- higher than the Northampton Rate.

When the 1914 war broke out the work was all for munitions.

At the end of the war short time was being worked, Gimson Engineering took over the company, the workers still working short time. Eventually the Gimson Co. was taken over by British United Shoe Machinery Co. and the Standard Rotary factory was closed.

Work was offered to the employees at Leicester, C. Pearson and R. Eagles taking the offer.

Rushden Echo, 3rd June 1927, transcribed by Kay Collins

Gimson Factory to OpenWork will soon begin, it is hoped, at the premises formerly the Gimson Shoe Machinery Company’s works, College-street, in the manufacture of boots and shoes, a company having been formed with Mr Ralph Tarry as managing director. Mr Tarry has been associated with the Tecnic Boot Co.

1906 Balance Sheet

1914

1916

return to the 1914 index