Alfred Herbert Ltd

Hi Dreamtime Our "light machine shop" had a row of about 7 or 8, 3ft 6in Archdales, they were pretty versatile when using block fixtures with removable drill bushes. Cannot find a Herbert radial drill anywhere

I used to work at Herberts in the Secondhand and Reconditioning Dept. for Mr Willison + W Coker and dealt with Archdale machinery amongst others. I daresay there are a few members who would remember those names (but going back to the 60's).

During the 50's and early 60's Archdale machines was owned by Staveley. Herberts were a sales agent for all Archdale machines, but were replaced by Asquith.

In answer to Mick's question: No, Alfred Herbert at Edgwick precedes the earlier map (1932) by at least 6 years. Around 1926 the company decided to concentrate production at an extended factory at Edgwick. They transferred plant from the company's main machining facility at the Butts. Post copied from topic Highfield Street on 6th Mar 2021 5:54 pm

Excuse my ignorance but when did Alfred Herbert Ltd, Red Lane, come into being?

Hi Tony, Just seen your post from few years ago regarding company called IDS Ltd. With Archie Ross and Ray Wilkes mentioned. I can give you a few more details as follows:- Sadly, both have passed, Ray Wilkes in 1998 aged 66, and Archie in 2005 aged 68. Myself (Jim Murray) and Archie Ross started that company in 1974 called IDS Ltd. We then bought out Herberts Plastics Division from Herberts for £20,000. We then hired Ray Wilkes as he was being made redundant from Herberts. We built company up over next 10 years and even designed and built our own new microprocessor Moulding machines. Exhibited at Interplas as last remaining manufacturer of moulding machines in UK at time. However in 1984 I had disagreement with Archie and left to form another company (Airogate Ltd) Thus leaving Archie to run IDS in 1984 on his own, with Ray Wilkes still as an employee. Both Archie and myself had worked previously at Alfred Herberts together. Will try and find more details and pictures etc and post on site. I used to be a service engineer at Herberts along with IDS have been to Starcotes many times to fix Moulding Machinery. Will see if I can find my contacts at Starcotes from old address books as I have probably met you before. Best Regards Jim

Jim, email me, I would love to chat. Starcote was owned by Blazer USA, they then purchased Raydyot (Cradley Heath, West Midlands) where I worked for a year or so replacing the metal stamping with Plastic Moulding machines, mostly Herbert's and the 1 Brown and Gold colored IDS 200 I think I was. I then helped my Father relocate Starcote into Raydyot then I was transfered to Blazer Mexico, I have been in the USA ever since, now VP of Product Development with 80+ (Arburg) molding machines making Covid-19 Testing products (Primarily PCR plates which perform the DNA tests, business is crazy right now.

Hi Dreamtime, Was this based at Red Lane as I used to work on the Electrical Reconditioning Dept in late 60s. My chargehand was Harry Chandley, the Union Leader Bob Payne also worked on my dept. I later moved to the Plastics Division also at Red Lane before being moved to Lutterworth. Regards, Jim

Hi Murrjam, Yes I was at Red Lane, as a junior in the Postal Dept, first under Mrs Stringer (50's but left in 1961). Ann Goosey was over the girls. I did the shorthand and typing training at Edgewick every morning then had to walk to Red Lane every lunch time. Continued working for the Secondhand Dept/Reconditioning Dept. Mostly worked for Bernard Shaw as well as Mr Willison. I think Anne Wade was in that dept too. It looks as if you worked there after I had left. All the best.

Hi Tricia, Think you worked there at same time as me, Lutterworth also. Have found an old picture of some of guys from Electrical Recon Dept where I was an apprentice at time (circa 1967). Unfortunately my pic is missing as an old girlfriend had it to put in a locket? Hoping someone on here may have original with me in it. Few of the names come to mind at moment, All from electrical Reconditioning Dept, Red Lane. Jock Stein (scotty) Bob Payne (union leader) Sid Hindmarsh Harry Gee Des Ward Colin Webster Peter Stokes Peter Parker, I think Dave Morgan Harry Chandley Elect Recon Chargehand Other names I remember from Red Lane, Plastics Dept (C Shop) as follows: Peter Fife (Manager) Derek Jull (Plastics Demonstrator) Alan Parkes (Plastics Demonstrator) Howard Robinson (Robbo) (Plastics Service Engineer) Ted Owen (Plastics Service Engineer) Mick McDowell (Macca) (Plastics Service Engineer) Wilf Norman (Plastics Director) Denis Griffiths (Plastics Sales) Other people at Red Lane: Stan Warbank Chargehand Ron Fenton Manager Ray Wilkes Draughtsman Archie Ross Elect Design Dave Stevens? Elect Recon Tony Murray Elect Recon (my brother) Bernard Shaw Manager Brain seized up now. Regards, Jim

Murrjam, Bernard Shaw (Red Lane) was a very nice man to work for, he used to leave me Fox's Glacier Mints in between the correspondence I had to deal with. I had no idea he was made Manager as I left in 61. Both the Norman brothers were there then (directors). I believe Miss Pearsall married one of them.

Have not read all the previous posts but I did work at Alfred Herberts, Edgwick in the late 60's/early 70's. Can't remember the exact dates without referring to my diaries, which aren't accessible at the moment. I joined them as a trainee computer programmer. The interview process was an aptitude test which took place in a large hall. About 50 or more candidates took part. Somehow I came in the top few and they hired four of us. We all went on a 2-week training course at UNIVAC in Acton, London. Then we were unleashed to write COBOL programs, all on punched cards in those days. After about 18 months, when they started layoffs, I left as I saw no future there. I got a programmer job at Dunlop in Erdington, Birmingham. I think Herberts closed not too long afterwards

Did you do any tape programming for the Marwin Max-e-Mill? I was on that machine for a few years from about '72.

Hi murrjam, I recognised a few names from the list; but one name in particular brought a smile to my face and that was Dennis Griffiths the Plastics Rep. He had a really good singing voice and liked to serenade us girls in Corres.

Tricia, who was it that was always whistling in the Small Tools Dept?