Coventry Gauge & Tool / TI Matrix etc.

I have come across this interesting recording of Sir Stanley Harley talking about his father Sir Harry Harley who started working at Alfred Herbert and founded the Coventry Gauge and Tool

Hi Annewiggy, Thank you, I enjoyed listening.

This is the Gauge and Tool Special Police Unit. I am told that they were stationed in Arden Street, Earlsdon. Harry Harley is seated in the middle. My Dad is 3rd from the right looking at the picture.

"Her father had been "trained for service" and because of this was a softly spoken man who used his words respectfully. At one point he got a job with the Coventry Gauge & Tool Company on Warwick Street, Earlsdon. When the owner Harry Harley discovered his background, he asked him to become a servant at his house - 3 Styvechale Avenue - where they already had a maid. He would 'clock in' to work at the factory and then cycle to Styvechale Avenue to take charge of the house. Barbara recalls that he would take carpets from the house into the garden to clean them, something that really impressed the Harley's. Something that didn't impress Barbara's father was the wages and he eventually left this job to go and work at the Rudge." Extract from my article about Barbara Boyle in the History Articles section: Miss Bashford: A Teacher's Tale Fascinating to hear the recording and see the photograph Annewiggy

Another concidence Anne! My mum was born in Berkeley Road North, 1942

My mum was born in 1919 a couple of streets away in Kirby Road and attended Centaur Road School I wonder if she's in the photo ?

This is another picture from my mum's collection. It says Gauge and Tool, Home Guard, Lewis Machine Gun Section, 3rd May 1941.

This is such fascinating find for me. Harry Harley was my great grandfather and Stanley my grandfather. I heard the recording you posted by Stanley which was the first time I've heard him speak in nearly 40 years, and to hear him talk about his father and the Gauge was fascinating. The recording finishes abruptly and I would love to get more of it. Do you know where it came from originally?

Hello & welcome to our forum, Julesharley

Hi. I am not sure if anyone can help, but I am looking at my family tree and am aware that two of my relations worked for the Gauge and Tool Company. Mr Arthur Smith was a miller, whilst his daughter Audrey Gillian Smith was a typist in 1958. I would really love to hear from anyone who has any information. Arthur also had a son named John. Many thanks Kim

Hi. I wonder if you ever heard of a Harry Barker, my great uncle, who may have been the manager the Gauge and Tool Company in about 1941? I found this quote on Wiki 'Harry Joshua Barker, Manager of the Admiralty Section of the Coventry Gauge & Tool Co Officer of the Order of the British Empire' Cheers Motherbird

No longer living in England, I was hoping to find workmates from CG & Tool / Matrix Machine Tools / TI Matrix from mid 60's to 80's.

Welcome to the forum Precisionengineer. I am sure you will come across a few members who have memories of the Gauge and Tool. Before your time but my parents actually met while working there. My step grandfather Eric Wilson worked there for many years but it may have been early 60's when he transferred to a factory the Gauge and Tool had in Poole, Dorset.

Dad worked at Matrix around this time on NC maintenance - Cyril Knight - he's still around (he retired early 90's I think) but won't step near a computer unless mum's swearing at it