Courtaulds

The building to the left of the picture housed three coal burning Babcock and Wilcox boilers, they were huge, reaching from floor level up through three floor levels. They produced high pressure superheated steam that was fed into rollers to quickly dry the filaments being manufactured. Steam was also produced to drive turbines that in turn drove three 6600 volt generators. The exact mega watts I am unable to recall. When I started there I was employed as a spin fitter to repair breakdowns on the spinning machine. Later I worked in the Viscose Research to help build prototype machines to manufacture Spanzelle, an elastomeric fibre. It never really took off at that time but I believe that Du Pont eventually eventually managed to do it. While I was there Courtaulds made the first carbon fibres. They also had success with artificial meat made from soya bean. Their big failure was with artificial cigarettes made with cellulose instead of tobacco, they were called Planet Fine and they were disgusting. I was a smoker then, I tried one but was unable to finish it.. Interesting times but sadly all gone now. The old Courtaulds Engineering Dept opposite main works looks a very sad sight now. Les

I have vivid memories of the other Courtaulds site in Old Church Road which also backed on to Coventry Canal. In the 50s and early 60s I often had to go to the gas works with an old pram to buy a sack of coke. I would access the towpath at the side of The Royal pub and there was always an acrid cloud of acetate or some such chemical in the atmosphere. I would often need to run into clear air in order to breathe properly. It's amazing what kinds of very dangerous stuff that was simply released to atmosphere or into the cut which, in those days, was just about biologically dead. The gas works always had a queue of people with various forms of transport - prams, bikes, trolleys - buying coke because it was much cheaper than coal. A man with a large narrow tined fork would scoop the coke into your sack and take your two bob.

Ah yes. I remember that chore of collecting the coke very well but I was doing it in the 40s.. Dad made us a trolley, the wheels were four bearing races stolen from an aircraft factory. Axles made of wood with a couple of planks nailed across to support the sacks of coke. A piece of string was fitted to tow it with and off we would go on Saturday mornings to collect the coke. My brother and I would pull the trolley while my sister rode, on the way back sister kept the sacks upright walking behind. As I mentioned in an earlier thread I worked in both Courtaulds. While I was employed at PIC I was given the contract of installing extrusion machines at Little Heath works. After installation, it dawned on the management that I then knew more about the machines than their own staff so I was offered permanent employment on that site...Les.

Going to get the coke was the worst chore I ever got when I was a kid, sometimes we would go to Gas Street but mostly to Foleshill, and living in Leicester Causeway both were far enough for us. No matter what the weather was doing we had to go. The chap on the scoop would give us a bit extra I think he felt sorry for us but that meant more to pull back home and the worst thing that could happen was to have trouble with the trolley, wheels would come off on a regular basis because we made the trolleys ourselves with bent over nails holding the axles in, bits of wire holding the wheels on you can understand why we had bother with it. In the winter our hands were so cold you could not feel them and the worst thing to do when you finally got home is to warm them by the fire the hot-aches was very painful the old lady would hold our hands under the cold tap and rub them that took the pain away. PS this should have been on the Gaswork topic never mind.

I've just found this photo I took in 1997 (I think) showing the Courtaulds chimney before it was shortened.

mn757 - is that the same chimney as in Midlands Reds postcard in the second post of this thread?

Hi NeilsYard, No, it was the smaller one on Kingfield Road, I remember watching the workmen removing the bricks one by one.

Hi all That chimney in the picture with the outcrop flue lining is a gas boiler chimney, hence the lining. The 365' chimney had its base next to Pridmore Rd, whereas the gas boiler chimney is next to Kingfield Rd. Hope that helps.

A nice clear one of 1928

Courtaulds

Philip. Did you know Ted Mackey?? Les

Hi LesMac You may have to push me a bit harder with that name. I knew a Mr. Mackey, but not the Ted bit.

Hi Philip. Ted, my brother, was works AEU convenor at Courtaulds Engineering Ltd through most of the 1950s. I had a similar position at Courtaulds Main Works through the late 50s and early 60s. Ted's primary job was tool room machinist. Les

Hi LesMac, Yes yes & yes. I started at Courtaulds in 65. Mr. H. Skinner took over from him along with Mr. Aldred. The secretary was Mabel Hewitt. The name Ray Morton rings a bell somewhere too.

Thanks for reply Philip. Les