Alfred Herbert Ltd

What on earth is that monstrosity Robin? Had a look through your gorgeous other pics. Don`t know how you do it, it makes Cov look almost sparkling clean Middle of page 2 there were white statues that reminded me of steel turnings (Machined waste) They used to be called "Herbert`s Worm Turnings" or in local dialect "Hairbairts Wairm Turnings" Post copied from topic Earlsdon Village (was Coventry Village) on 29th Sep 2015 9:44 am

I wondered if "Herbert`s Worm Turnings" was remembered by the panel.

When informing a relative as to where I was going to work on leaving school my father said 'To Herbert's the worm turners' (Alfred Herberts Ltd). I was there for six years and never did realise what the term meant. I did learn about the Lathes, Drilling, Grinders and I presume Turning machines, amongst others.

Thanks Dreamtime. You really are a member of the "dream team". Now you`ve answered that I`d be interested to know a little more about the "curly" images shown on Robin`s Pics, I suppose they could also represent wood shavings - long strips that curl when planed - but to me the first thing that came to mind was Herbert`s. Incidentally my uncle Fred Tomlinson worked as a Toolmaker at Herberts, probably 1930s to 1960s

Good job I photographed the label then because I'd have helluva job finding them again. You wouldn't think that I worked at the place for over a year in the 1970s - though it has grown a bit since then.

Robin I have now spotted that your pics have numbers, the one with the "curly statues" was P1030861. Is it possible you could post it on here to see if anybody else thinks it is meant as reminder of "Herbert`s Worm Turnings"

Hello there, Ada Morgan was my Aunty. My mum is Ada's big sister. I, my father and my Uncle Ray Morgan all worked at AH. My father transferred to Australia with AH and only ever worked for one company from leaving school at 14 until retiring. My Uncle Ray immigrated to Canada initially and then managed to get a work permit into the USA. I was gifted an apprenticeship at AH by Colonel Clarke on a visit to Australia. In 1965 my dad sent me by ship from Adelaide to London and my Aunt Ada met me at Victoria street Station. I arrived at Tilbury docks in February 1965 and I have never felt so cold in all my life. I somehow managed to get through the training period and my dad signed my papers to be indentured for 5 years. Looking back I didn't appreciate what an honour it was to be a AH apprentice. It was a passport in the machine tool trade throughout the world. On my return to Australia in 1971 even though I didn't do my training justice I found the name Alfred Herbert was a guarantee to work. Thank you Alfred Herbert's I will be forever in debt to you.

Hello & welcome to you, Covvicdavis Thank you for your post.

Hi Covvicdavis, I worked in the same office as Ada (Red Lane), what a dear lady she was and helped me with my 'scrawny' shorthand on many occasions. Would have been late 50's, early 60's. Very happy days for me. I always understood Herberts had a very high reputation for their apprenticeship scheme.

Thank you Dreamtime, my Aunt Ada was certainly one of a kind. I remember walking down Radford Road one day and just before the old bingo hall there were 2 lads thrashing about at each other. Well she walloped them each with her umbrella and told them they needed to learn some manners and promptly sent them on their way. You could not do that today, you would be calling for an ambulance.

Hi Dreamtime, just another funny thing talking about Perth. My wife and I used to work at the Wallace pub, Radford, at weekends before we married and a chap started behind the public bar with us. He had returned from Perth, WA, where he worked for Alfred Herbert, Perth office. I think his name was John Haines, about 1969. He had worked in the Adelaide office also and his eldest son was at the same High School as me. The world started getting smaller I think.

My dad and my godfather were also in the Home Guard at AH, Ray Davis and Ralph Corse. They used to talk about a funny incident, one night while on duty they dug a crater in the bowling green and the bowlers thought it was caused by a bomb. They also recited a saying, it was called the Run Duck and Cover Brigade.

Hi Covvicdavis, The world is certainly getting smaller, and your posts are getting more interesting by the day, thank you. Not sure if I qualify as a 'sandgroper' yet as I am not a true Aussie. All have a good day there in 'the old city'.

Hi Phil thankyou for your photos of Herbert's especially the workshop. Can you tell me if there are any other sites or forums that have photos of the workshops or any sporting teams photos. I played in AH cricket teams midweek and Saturdays. When I was in the drawing office in Equipment A we won the interdepartmental football competition. I was a late inclusion to fill in goal as the keeper was injured in the semi-final. I shared your video of the workshop and several of the fellas that served their time with me have asked if there are any other shots. I have a couple of clippings from the old Herbert Magazine that used to be produced when we were doing our apprenticeship. We used to get asked to act as guides for visiting tour parties and have a couple of photos of them and of the midweek cricket team. Time warp during 1965 to 1971. Any help would be appreciated - thanks.

Thanks so much for replying Josie, I only saw this just now. I was close to 'Gramp', but I only ever heard him referred to as Walt. My grandparents' Holbrooks living room was also a fug of smoke! He was originally from Pompey, but was very proud of all things Coventry (sadly he died in '84 before our FA Cup victory). With AH he was sent to the US and Germany before WW2, and after he retired he worked part time for a machine tools co' in Leicester - he always said he got sick & tired of listening to gran & her friends' talk of who had just died! When they used to go on cruises, he would leave the 'old people' and go to where the young people (I guess 40's!) were. He was never an 'old' man. My dad, Patrick, was also involved in the much maligned Ring Road, I'll have to put the other side on this site.