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A Totectors delivery van
The message is "with neatly concealed steel toe caps".
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A pair of 1974 'Totector' boots with hobnails
(courtesy of Rushden Museum)
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One of the tests
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 18th July 1952, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Can stand weight of 7-ton bus - Police Wear Them
This evening, thousands of listeners to the Midland Home Service will hear the story of a Rushden invention that may play a big part in reducing industrial injuries to the feet. They will hear of a lightweight steel toe cap which can be cleverly concealed in footwear, and which will withstand a dead weight of three tons.
Foot injuries which occur in every type of work from rayon making to glass blowing have been a serious menace but are now on the decline owing to a safety measure evolved at Rushden by Wilkins and Denton, Ltd.
The safety device is a steel toecap, called “Totectors” which is fitted underneath the leather cap. Of special tempered metal, it weighs two ounces half an ounce less than a trilby hat yet it is capable of withstanding 150 foot pounds, or a dead weight of three tons.
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Mr George Denton, managing director of Wilkins & Denton Ltd., cuts the string which releases a crate weighing 419lbs. on to the foot of grooving machinist Frank Knight. The crashing load merely scratched some of the polish off the “Totector” shoe, and Mr Knight, after unlacing the shoe, easily drew out his foot, which was uninjured.
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“Totectors” are being fitted in both men’s and women’s footwear.
London policemen are wearing the steel-capped boots and the firm have had an inquiry which may lead to Naval gun crews having this type of footwear at next year’s Royal Tournament.
This evening at 7 30 on the Midland Home Service the story of “Totectors” and a series of tests witnessed by a B.B.C. reporter at Rushden on Wednesday, will feature in the programme “What Goes On.”
Exhibition experiments were carried out before film cameras on Tuesday and the scenes will be included in a Pathe Pictorial.
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Business in Northamptonshire, September 1979, transcribed by Kay Collins
Totectors' Expansion
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Alan Hutchins (left) and Eric Booth
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ALAN HUTCHINS (left), Managing Director of Totectors, Ltd., the UK's largest manufacturer of safety footwear, and Eric Booth, Managing Director of Robert Marriott, the Rushden-based building contractors, signing a contract for the first phase of a £½ million expansion programme for the construction of a new warehouse extension and loading bays to Totectors' existing warehouse and main office block in Duck Street, Rushden
The initial building contract, which is in the region of £250,000, will provide, in addition to the extension, a warehouse conveyor system for dispatch, loading bays, and associated external works, as well as an internal lift, sprinklers, electrics and heating.
Totectors, who are members of the GKN group of companies, regard quality and service as the two most important aspects of their business, and this contract represents the first step in extensive expansion plans.
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