Return to 1960-1964

Vision 008

Having been asked to contribute a short article
for the current issue of VISION, my obvious
choice as a comparative ‘new boy’ is to
try and convey to you just what the Personnel
Department tries to do.
In the first instance, as you all know, the
Personnel Office is the alpha omega of the
factory – i.e. the place to start and the place
to finish!! There is, however, much more to it
than this. The Personnel Office of any factory
is a direct link between the Management and
workers and their representatives, and should
be the means of conveying to all parties
points and procedures appertaining to the many
problems which occur from time to time.
Transfer of employees to work more suited to
their abilities causes many a headache. It is
quite a common failing for individuals to
think that the transfer from one department to
another can be achieved at the drop of a hat,
without considering the implications involved.
Nonetheless, Management do encourage this procedure
and I would like to emphasise the fact
that we, as a Department, are only too pleased
to do what we can for employees who feel that
their qualifications could be used to greater
aivantage.
Our great problem today is the ever increasing
need for skilled men. I feel the introduction
of the new Craft Apprenticeship Scheme will in
the future help to some degree to provide a
steady stream of skilled operatives to the
shop floors.
‘afety in the Works is another responsibility
! this Department and cannot be too strongly
phasized, particularly at this time when
lee is so restricted. This position will, we
,e, improve on the completion of our new
lding.
lesser degree (but important, nevertheour
office embraces the activities of
and Social Club, the Committee of
1. fine job of work.
hope that the above will give you
4116. .1.tion of a few, but by no means all,
of personnel problems confronting industry
Nig today.
Sal iC WS1XA–4
Personnel Officer
ii
ALL MOD CONS- AND A FEW
ANCIENT ONES AS WELL
I i IN doubtful whether mans readers can
claim to have such a unique and interesting
home as Mr. E. J. Lee. the Library’s
Deputy General Manager. whose Elizabethan
house at Henley-on-Thames is
illustrated here.
One of a small row, entrance to which
is gained through the small archway, the
house was built in the sixteenth century
to provide accommodation for servants
of the nobilit then living at nearby
Phyllis Court. Now protected under the
Ancient Buildings and Monuments Act,
the houses are a centre of attraction for
visitors to Henley.
D.I.Y. Experts
.\ %wilderl’ul interior of low ceilings,
oak beams, inglenooks and odd corners
has been transformed into a fascinating
home by Mr. and Mrs. Lee, who must
rank as R.P.I.’s premier do-it-yourself
experts. An old cupboard hides sink and
draining board, etc., in the kitchen. An
alcove under the old-fashioned stairs
opens to disclose a cocktail cabinet, and
every room bears evidence of modern
touches skilfully blended to harmonise
with the old.
Some of the original beams were so
tough that it was impossible to knock
nails into them. On the other hand, says
Mr. Lee, some of the brickwork just
powdered away.
Mr. Lee’s part of the cottages is that
to the left of the archway. We make no
comment on the fact that he has a
brewery on his right and a ‘pub’ on the
left! In any case they have both been
there a long time too.
…….. COVER PICTURE
Three lovely models-two shapely
girls and a shapely Sportster Vhaving
a gorgeous time in the South
of France! If you can tear yourself
away from this picture, read about
our entry into the Zoom Age on
pages 8 and 9. We hope it will be of
interest to those of you who do not
get an early opportunity of seeing
to our new camera models.
(P.R. Office photograph)
White Rose Wedding
WIT111 \ a week of the event, home movie
enthusiasts were able to purchase a
permanent record of the marriage of the
Duke of Kent and Miss Katharine
Worsley. The film was released in 8 mm.
and 16 mm. by the G.B. Film Library
through photographic dealers.
Called ‘White Rose Wedding’, it is
available in Movie-pzk (full length) and
Movie-pakette (edited) versions, both in
colour and in black and \One. Also
available is a two-reel 16 mm. full
length colour and sound version. In the
full length versions the day’s events are
very comprehensively covered, while the
edited versions include all the notable
highlights.
DEALERS’ DEN
mov,,. May 29, saw the openik
the industrial Photo -tine Fair
Olympia. Widely advertise(‘
photographic press, it attracted
public and dealers to its door, ay
Aware of the fact that visi per
would appreciate somewhe a as the
after the rigours or ..Akin- as being
exhibition, we establisher zonscious
Howell ‘Dealers’ Den’ i-
London’s Berners Hotel
Howell stockist dealers
by our Sales team —
was displayed.
A feature of
appreciated by s the
secretarial/informati, provided
for them. A fully trained secretary was
in attendance to arrange hotel and
theatre bookings, advise on travelling
arrangements and offer a comprehensive
‘this-is-London’ information service.
Commented a visiting dealer: ‘What
a pity your Dealers’ Den isn’t open all
the year round-I’d willingly become a
life member!’
3
Pictured at the dinner are I ‘r 13 right, %Ir. F. It ichstead. Mr. W. A. Gaylard, .Jr. T. A. ‘ISLaISw.
and Air. H. R. .4. de .lunge.
THE L.S.A. DINE OUT
THE Eighth Annual Dinner of the
Mitcheldean Long Service Association,
which took place at the Chase
Hotel, Ross-on-Wye, was by all accounts
a thoroughly successful occasion.
After the Loyal Toast, proposed by
Chairman Mr. F. Edwards, Mr. T. A.
Law, Managing Director, Rank Precision
Industries, proposed a toast to the
Long Service Association. He gave a
brief outline of the activities of other
sections of the Rank Organisation and
spoke of the progress it was hoped
would be made at Mitcheldean.
In the course of his reply, Mr. F.
Wickstead, Chief Executive, mentioned
that a pension scheme for long service
hourly workers would shortly be
announced.
Mr. Edwards toasted the guests of the
evening (they included Mr. H. J.
Peterson (formerly resident engineer at
ivlitcheldean, now at Bell & Howell,
Cylicagol, Mr. H. R. A. de Jonge (a
director- of Rank Precision Industries)
and r frost. the London,
Le” _eeds and Perivale Long
Service Associations), and Mr. J.
Hambre’y (Works Manager, Woodger
Road) – responded.
nere were two presentations of
awards for 25 years’ service-to Mr.
W. A. Gaylard (Polishing & Plating)
and Mr. W. G. Smith (Carpenter). In
addition to wallets from the Mitcheldean
Association and scrolls and silver
cigarette boxes from the Rank Organisation
25 Year Club, they each received
from the latter a further gift-Mr.
Smith a cheque and Mr. Gaylard a
man’s travelling case equipped with
electric razor, hair brushes, etc.
After the dinner, there was a showing
by Mr. W. Brown of the film ‘The
4
League of Gentlemen’, loaned by the
G.B. Film Library at Perivale.
Some time ago it was decided to
design new badges for L.S.A. members
and these were issued at the dinner.
The badge, in the shape of the Rank
screen symbol, is practically the same
for all sections of the Association, the
only difference being in the colour of the
bar, bearing the letters ‘L.S.A.’, which
runs from the top left to the bottom
right-hand corner across a black gong
striker. The M itcheldean colour is green.
Perivale purple, Woodger Road blue
and Leeds red.
For men members there is a silvergilt
tie pin or buttonhole badge, while
for the ladies the badge takes the form
of a gold brooch.
A week before the dinner, the
Mitcheldean Association held their
Annual General Meeting, which was
attended by 40 members.
The following now comprise the Committee:
Messrs. W. E. Blaich, R. H.
Camp, J. Currie, B. C. Smith and L.
Tuffley, and Miss S. Powell.
The Chairman thanked retiring members
for their support, Miss K. Matthews
receiving special mention.
COMMONWEALTH TRAINING WEEK
R \\K Precision Industries played us
part in the arrangements for Commonwealth
Technical Training Week in the
Forest of Dean from May 29-June 4.
A Career and Training Exhibition,
staged at the Forest of Dean Mining
and Technical College, was officially
opened by our Chief Executive, Mr.
F. Wickstead, and arrangements were
made for parents of Grammar and
Secondary School children to visit the
factory at Mitcheldean during the Week.
9
JAPAN
ITS WAYS AND ITS
WORKERS
By Home Sales Manager
Jack Duffell
1 \
`,11-1E. of the obvious Western hultience
in all major cities, it is soon
apparent to the most casual observer
that the Japanese civilization and way
of life is based on entirely different
principles from those to which we are
accustomed.
On arrival, one is struck by what
appears to be the wonderful ‘politeness’
of the people. I am told, however, that
this is not politeness as we understand
it. It is purely a mechanical procedure
which is learned from earliest babyhood
and should not be regarded as a true
expression of the personal feelings of the
people concerned.
This code of social manners stems
from the rigid enforcement of uniform
behaviour on a national basis, which
until relatively recently was the basis of
the Japanese social system. Japan’s
Mr. S. Shionoya. who Is Managing Director of
Takemura-Teisho Co., the Taylor-Hobson agents
in Japan, dining with Mr. C. Turner-Hughes,
Chief Executive, Taylor-Hobson.
A street in Kyato–the old capital Japan.
history is jbrimming with bloodcurdling
stories of the fate of people
who behaved in other than the expected
manner.
One of these stories quotes a certain
farmer who went over the head of his
local lord % ith a complaint of crippling
taxes to Japan’s military dictator. For
this breach of etiquette this poor devil
was forced to watch his three small sons
beheaded. He and his wife were then
crucified.
Subsequently his complaint proved to
be justified and the local lord was
removed from office.
It is not so very long ago that it was
legal for the privileged military personnel
to kill, without hesitation, any
peasant who failed to show them proper
respect. This class was known as the
Samurai and they are quoted as being
the most arrogant and status-conscious
men that have ever lived.
Emphasis on Manners
These sordid stories are particularly
interesting as they provide the background
for the modern idea of acceptable
social standards. It is true to say
that, in schools and homes, every effort
is still being made to impress upon
children the belief that form and
manners are more important than ideas
and accomplishments.
I have given you this brief background
not only because it is interesting,
but also so that you may appreciate the
inevitable problems that confront the
inexperienced visitor to Japan; and
5
On his return home from Japan, Mr. Duffel!
visited the United States. He took this photograph
of typical American architecture dwarfing a
railway station in Chicago.
understand my reluctance to express
personal opinions after a brief two
weeks with these fascinating people.
Everywhere I went, I was most warmly
received and I met many people for
whom I developed the greatest respect
and affection. It would be presumptuous,
however, for me to claim any
degree of real understanding.
Factory workers’ wages vary from
company to company, but the average
labourer’s monthly salary is about £23.
The average staff employee receives £27
monthly while women in both classes
earn about £13. It is the universal
practice in Japan to pay a semi-annual
bonus to all employees and this is not
included in these figures.
Numerous Holidays
It is usual for work to commence at
8 a.m. and to continue until 4 p.m. with
an hour for lunch. At most factories,
overtime, which is desired and expected
by the workers, is limited to a maximum
of 50 hours each month. Sunday is the
only non-working day of the week, but
many holidays are given during the year.
For instance, there are five national
holidays and a week’s vacation during
the New Year period, while May Day
and a religious festival day at the
company’s shrine are also holidays for
the entire plant. Supervisory staff
6
receive an additional 20 days annually
and labourers are granted 15 days’
holiday each year.
Paid holidays are also given for
marriage, childbirth, deaths of family
members, anniversaries of the death of
wives, husbands, children or parents,
and a severe illness of close relatives.
Time is also allowed off for the performance
of public duties.
One Company for Life
The recruitment of personnel at all
levels is effected at school-leaving age,
and this is virtually the only way in
which anyone ever joins a company.
Once appointed to a company, I understand
that no one will even consider
the possibility of leaving.
The company, on the other hand, is
bound by a moral obligation to retain
his services. Should his ability prove
inadequate, he is gradually moved down
the ladder of responsibility until his
incompetence is rendered harmless.
I took the opportunity of discussing
the extraordinary relationship between
employer and employee and, surprisingly
enough, no one seems the least concerned
either by the apparently inefficient
use of available talent, or by the
complete immobility of labour which
one would have thought would exercise
a restrictive influence on the entire
national economy.
In Warsaw (the one in Indiana), Mr. Duffell is
pictured with Mr. George Lenke, a senior
executive of the Da-Lite Screen Corporation.
4
tl
And how do you take pictures,
Mr. Slater ? ‘
R. OFFICE
‘ Oh just press a button and
it comes out the other end.’
A”” frankly, if it couldn’t be done
that way, I couldn’t take pictures.
In fact, it wasn’t until I knew it could be
done that way that I could take pictures,
and that was about three years ago when
I was on tour with a play in Leeds in the
summer. (That proves I’m not very
bright-what actor who was very bright
would be on tour in the summer in
Leeds?)
It was three years ago when I heard
of the Bell & Howell Magic Eye job and
promptly bought one for my wife for my
birthday. (In our family we buy other
people presents on our birthdays-on
the same principle that some people pay
their doctors only while they’re well,
suppose.)
This had a joyous advantage, for while
I was working around the provinces that
summer, my wife was able to put a
holiday record on film of all that she
and the kids got up to by the sea in Italy
and Kent, and so our Family Film
Library began.
Now we can relive pleasant memories
of the last three summers while the fog
wisps round the windows at Totteridge
-and you don’t need anti-freeze in a
Bell & Howell projector either.
But, given anything like a thimble of
light to raise the lid of that Magic Eye
at any time of the year. you can capture
a time or a place or an event to show all
the year round for years to come: Cadet
R. M. Slater, R.N.R., on parade at
Pangbourne; Master Simon falling flat
on his face in the mud at school as a
HOME MOVIES
BY AUTOMATION
football cannons square off his posterior;
Dad completing half-a-ton for
the Stage Cricket Club (well, it could
happen!) and Mum prinking k t h pride
around the multi-colour glory of her
mid-summer garden.
Yes, we’ve got it all. All as it looked,
all as it moved and all as we remember
it. We’ve even tried a little synopsis with
shots to be picked up to fit it whenever
we find them-and if we ever get a
cutting machine, and any of us ever
learns to work it, we’ll find out if the
idea came off.
But for the time being we’re still very
happy, ‘pressing a button and seeing it
come out the other end’.
Editor’s Note: The author (stage and
T.V. actor John Slater) has since
acquired one of our newer cine cameras
-now he can ‘go into slow motion’ by
merely pressing that button a little bit
harder!
The Algerian uprising was in full swing during the
opening of our new French Company’s offices and
showrooms in Paris. Mr. F. Wickstead and
Mr. G. E. A. Pena: attended-after flight delays
due to the closing of French airports. Pictured
below are (I. to r.): M. Hochstetter (sales rep.).
M. Fred Mayer (Sales Manager): Mr. B. 0.
Butler (General Manager): Mlle. Genie (Mr.
Butler’s secretary): M. Pseaume (service technician):
and Al. Masse (sales rep.).
7
The Sportster V. our
new 8mm. :oom
camera – rapidly
becoming a
best seller.
Tl 1.M) Y, May 16.1961, is a date worth
recording. On the morning of that
day, in the windows of photographic
shops all over the country, a new camera
appeared. Its name-the Bell & Howell
Sportster V.
Without doubt most of these cameras
did not stay on display in the windows
for very long for, at the time of writing,
demand outstrips production and the
‘outstanding order’ list gives cause to
believe that with this camera me have a
real winner.
What is so special about this camera
that makes it so popular? Sheer good
value for money would be the honest
answer. For just over £100 the purchaser
buys a quality-built product offering
features found on no other 8 mm. cine
camera offered on the market at a
comparable price.
Breakthrough in Design
Let’s take a look at these features for
a moment.
First, there’s the zoom lens. This is a
major breakthrough in design and construction.
The development of this lens
involved over half a million trigonometrical
calculations. Electronic brains
computed the information in 25 days-a
problem that would have taken a mathematician
over 17 years!
What is a zoom lens? The best way
8
WE ZOOM INTO THE PICTURE
WITH TWO NEW MODELS
to answer this is to suggest that you take
the earliest opportunity to watch an outside
broadcast on television. Without
doubt you will, sooner or later, see the
camera apparently glide from a wideangle
view into dramatic close-up, pinpointing
the goal being scored, the
batsman reaching the wicket or the face
of the person being interviewed.
This zoom creates a remarkable effect
on the screen, yet is very simple to
achieve. While filming, a lever on the
lens mount is moved in either a clockwise
or anticlockwise direction and the
lens does the rest!
Furthermore, as the lens zooms, so
does the viewfinder. The customer can
see exactly what he is taking-zoom
action and all!
What else commends this camera?
B & H Exclusive
The slow motion filming device is a
very popular feature, as the well-tried
Sportster IV has already amply proved.
This feature is a Bell & Howell
‘exclusive’. Normally, a change of filming
speed on cine cameras can only be
effected by stopping the camera between
shots and adjusting a speed control dial.
On the Sportsters, the user merely presses
the starting button a little harder and the
motor automatically runs at a faster
speed to give the desired slow-motion
effect. Moreover, the Electric Eye (you
know all about that!) maintains full
exposure control and adjusts itself automatically
to the new camera speed.
The Sportster V `extras’ have proved
immensely popular with the photographic
dealers from the outset. Bell &
Howell 8 mm. vine cameras have always
been sold complete with leather case.
It
Usually this is of the ‘ever-ready’ type
which allows the camera to be used
without the need to remove it from the
case except for film changing.
The Sportster V. however, is sold
complete with a specially designed compartment
case-and a pistol grip. This
case allows the user to carry his camera
with the pistol grip screwed in position
ready for filming. In a way it is rather
like a gun holster with the pistol grip
positioned ready for quick ‘shooting’.
When filming is over, the grip can be
unscrewed from the camera and stowed
The Autoset I I !-
latest addition to a
famous range of
cameras-also
features a zoom lens.
P. a. 0111C1
Soprano Amy Shuara (Royal Opera, Covent
Garda). owner of a Sportster camera. is a keen
vine enthusiast,
away in the case (with spare film) as one
compact, neat unit.
Why pistol grip? A very important
‘extra’ for zoom cameras. You will
readily appreciate that a pistol grip
enables the camera to be held quite
steady with just one hand while the
other operates the zoom lens lever.
A zoom lens is also a feature of
another new Bell & Howell 8 mm. vine
camera.
The New Autoset
This, the Autoset III, is basically
similar in style to the existing Autoset
range (Autosct II and Autoset Turret).
However, unlike the Sportster V zoom
lens (which has a device on the lens
mounting to enable the user to focus on
his main subject),. the Autoset III is a
fixed-focus lens.
‘Extras’ included in the price are
pistol grip and compartment caseagain
specially designed to accommodate
camera with pistol grip attached and
ready for instant action.
For those of you who like to be able
to talk authoritatively about the Company’s
products, here are the retail prices
of our two new cameras:
AUTOSET Ill £74 19s. 4d.
SPORTSTER V £105 Its. Id.
(And, remember, both these prices
include case and pistol grip.)
9
4tz>t” 5 V. ‘ *54;1/3,
ki?easilsIt+
New Chairman-The A.G.M. of the
Social and Sports Club was held in the
canteen of the Library on Wednesday,
May 10; Mr. Jack Latreille was elected
Chairman. Over 100 members attended
to hear a review of the year’s activities,
and in his report Mr. Leslie Francis. the
retiring Chairman, paid tribute to the
hard work put in by the Committee and
in particular by Mr. Derek Moore. the
Secretary.
Brighton Gets Clubbed-The first club
outing, to Brighton, took place on
Saturday, May 13. Three coachloads of
members and friends made the journey,
with Exam., as always, well to the fore
in the organisation of fun and games.
Brighton, used as it must be to the influx
of visitors on pleasure bent, is slowly
recovering!
Spring in the Air-As we go to press. we
hear of two weddings which \\ ill be
taking place, too late, unfortunately, to
report in this issue. On Monday May
22, Mr. ‘Bill’ Rymer, assistant to Mr.
Hall, Technical Manager, will be getting
‘spliced’. and on June 16 Miss Pat
Flynn, of Booking Department, will
also be ‘taking the plunge’.
Up in the Air-Mrs. Lowe, with Miss
Ann Livesey and Miss Vivian Cooper,
flew to Rotterdam for a weekend visit
recently under the auspices of the Air
Charter Club which Mr. Barker, of
Rank-XeroX. organises. By all accounts
it was quite an eventful visit. First of all,
there was a last minute change of airport
from Gatwick to Southend; then
one of the planes became unserviceable,
and the party finally arrived in Rotterdam
at a very late hour. As Mrs. Lowe
said, ‘We had good weather all the time,
which was just as well, since we saw
10
nearly as much of Rotterdam by night
as we did by day’.
Twenty-One-The Exam. Department
gave a twenty-first birthday part. in the
canteen to three of the Department w ho
have reached their majorities-Margaret
Harris, Janet Laye and Deirdre Cranham.
‘Perivale Piece’ joins in the congratulations
which were showered on
them at the party on Monday, May 15.
Ladies Win a Darts Cup-The Ladies
Darts team recently won the North
Acton Darts League Ladies Knock-out
Competition, beating A.E.1. in the final
by a narrow margin. Captained by Mrs.
Fleming (who took the place of Mrs.
Dean when she left after the semi-final),
the team, Mrs. Flynn, Mrs. Ward and
Miss Wilson, received their trophies at
the League’s Annual Dance.
Has Anyone Checked the Books? –
With great regret, we have to report the
forthcoming departure of Mrs. Mason,
Library Cashier. Mrs. Mason, or Doris,
as everyone knows her, has been with us
for nearly seven years, first as assistant
to Mrs. Crow, and then as Cashier when
Mrs. Crow left to move to Gloucester.
Her cheerful personality will be missed.
It even made the payment of bills, club
dues, etc., a pleasure. In her place we
are pleased to welcome Mrs. Montgomery.
Other recent departures are Mr. Dave
Collins, Despatch Department, and
Miss Margaret Sinclair, Telephone
Operator.
New Viewpoint
To help with press advertising and publicity, new
photographs of Library activities have recently
been taken, and sonic are quite dramatic. This
shot of Mrs. Everett. Exam. Department, has
already been featured in several advertisements.
4
AFrER admiring the work done in our
house by a decorator, my wife decided
that a small bedroom could not be
beyond my scope, and so materials were
bought.
There were some fairly big cracks in
the ceiling; these! filled up with a plastic
filler that I already had. The filler was
a dark grey colour-and after two coats
of Ceilingite, it was still dark grey!
I decided to paper the ceiling, a job I
had never tried before. I measured of
the ceiling and found one roll would just
cover it. I cut four eight-foot lengths,
leaving a short piece, mixed the paste
and was ready to start: no brush, no
knowledge, no mate, no enthusiasm and
very little hope!
My wife decided to do some ironing
in preference to acting as my help. She
has a rooted objection to walking on a
plank (may be handed down by a forefather
from the days of Captain Kidd).
However, nothing daunted, I liberally
pasted the first sheet (downstairs).
folded it. carried it upstairs. and tried to
make it stick to the ceiling with a duster.
Soon the paste had transferred from the
paper to the ceiling, and dried. It was
like trying to stick a gumless stamp on
a letter.
1 took it down again, made the paste
stronger (it was now stiff enough for the
paste brush to stand up in), pasted the
paper again, took it upstairs and went
through the same routine. The darned
stuff would not even begin to stick.
Downstairs again with the same sheet,
now somewhat crumpled and a bit
ragged here and there, and minus my
cheerful smile. I sloshed the paste on
paper, took the paste upstairs and
sloshed paste on the ceiling, took up the
paper and performed again. This time
it started to stay up. and it was now just
a case of unfolding as I went. One half
would, the other half wouldn’t. This
started a neat tear in the middle!
Downstairs again to lay it flat and unpeel
the edges. It was now looking like
an extra wet Scottie, only not so strong.
Up again to try it opened right outand
that’s when the Gremlins got busy!
GENE LARK (Cutter Grinding)
tells how his paper work got on
top of him. His dilemma is pictured
by RAY WRIGHT (Design
Drawing Office).
I was walking the plank. trying to
smooth the stuff on to the ceiling, treading
on what dangled in front of me,
then what had stayed up came down
behind me, and my fingers went through
the paper.
Paste was in my ears, eyes, nose and
mouth (it tastes horrible); paper was
everywhere except in my coat pocketand
that was because the coat was
downstairs.
With a snarl and a wild howl I rolled
it all up in a ball, went downstairs in
four bounds and flung it in the dustbin.
The wife looked, sniffed, and went on
ironing. The dog looked, grinned, and
slid under the TV set.
I sat, silent. I had used up every
invective I’ve learned in over 50 years,
English and foreign.
If anyone would like three eight-foot
lengths of ceiling paper, I will exchange
for a slosh of whitewash!
11
SHORT
TAKES
MOSCOW MISSION
NIITCHLI_DEAN’S Export Manager. Mr.
Derek Hopes, and his companion from
Division I (Taylor-Hobson. \lr. Eric
Wrinch, were given a rousing send-off
from Mortimer House as they left by car
on May 11 on the first stage of their overland
trip to the Russian capital for the
British Trade Fair (May 19-June 4).
Mr. Hopes speaks fluent Russian and
has made the Russian commentary parts
of the soundtrack of the film ‘Putting
Things in Motion’ which he screened
on our stand in Moscow. You will
remember that this film features quite a
number of Mitcheldean, Library and
other Divisional staff, so although you
may never have seen any Russians in
Moscow, they will have seen you, albeit
on film.
We won’t say any more now about
our representation at this Fair (the
largest this country has ever mounted
overseas), as Mr. Hopes will be telling
the whole story in our next issue.
CANINE CHARACTERS
HAVE 011 ever thought (but never mentioned
it, of course) that your colleague’s
expression was not unlike that of his
own good-natured labrador’? Or have
you ever felt that that girl in the next
section, with her silky hair and lustrous
brown eyes, was just the teeniest bit like
her pet spaniel? Then tell them (only do
be tactful about it) about the class for
‘Dog most like its owner’ in the Exemption
Dog Show being held on Saturday.
August 5, on the Court Field, Mitcheldean.
There are many other novelty classes
for all dogs, whether thoroughbred or
not: ‘Dog with the funniest expression’;
‘Dog with most beautiful head’: ‘Dog in
best condition’-and a cup and extra
cash priic for ‘Best dog bred in Mitcheldean’.
Sister Townroe. who is organising
the show, tells me that the judge will
be Mr. J. Willmore of Cheltenham, and
the entries secretary on the field is Mr.
L. Clark. Townsend, Mitcheldean.
The show is being held in conjunction
with M itcheldean Organisations Carnival
and our Sports & Social Club have a
representative on the Carnival Committee-
Mr. W. A. Gaylard (Polishing
& Plating).
JAILER WAS HIS PAL
THERE’S quite a story attached to the
picture below of those who took a
XeroX training course at Mitcheldean
recently. Third from left is Mr. Jun
Yasuda, who runs the Fugi Photo Film
Company of Tokyo. Fifteen years ago,
when a prisoner of the British at
Tanjong Bailey, outside Singapore, he
became friendly with a Sergeant
Enright, under whose direction the
group of prisoners worked. Their
friendship came to a halt when both he
and the sergeant were injured in an
accident and they did not meet again.
While in this country, Mr. Yasuda
was enabled, with the aid of the Fees
Office, House of Commons. an article
in the Evening Chronicle, and the good
offices of Mr. Frank Edwards, to be
re-united with his war-time friend in
Manchester.
Mr. Jun Yasuda (see ‘Jailer was his Pal” above) is third from left in this picture. Others are (left to right)
Mr. L. Hart (Mitcheldean), Mr. R. E. Thomas (U.K.). Mr. A. Durre tt (R.P.1., Belgium), Mr. A.
Leisi (Swiss), Mr. B. Le Mooch (French). Mr. N. A. Nader (Lebanon). Mr F. Oakev (Mitcheldean) and
Mr. T. Yamashiata (Japanese student, London University, interpreter to Mr. Yasuda).
C. BROOKS
V
MEC- -30111110.11
WWI IL
4
Putting YOU
in the Picture
MITCHELDEAN
The appointment of Mr. E. N. Mason as
General Manager of the factory was
announced on May 15. Mr. B. C. Smith.
in his capacity as Commercial Manager.
is now responsible for: Programme
Control, Inventory Control, Budgetary
Control, Purchase (Commercial), Contract
Liaison, Sales Liaison, Packaging
Liaison. Mr. R. E. Baker, as Production
Manager, is responsible for: All Manufacturing
Shops, Production Control,
Purchase (Production), Stores, Goods
Inwards, Tool Manufacture, Sub-Contract
Tools & Production, Plant Maintenance,
Personnel and Employer Relations,
Security, Welfare and First Aid.
Mr. P. M. Gregory remains in charge of
Production Engineering, Mr. D. R.
Elliott in charge of Quality Control and
Mr. D. F. Griffiths in charge of Work
Study. Mr. F. W. Court, formerly
Works Superintendent, who has, since
May 1. been working full time on Control
and Planning, is extending his
activities to include Office Organisation
and Methods. All the above are directly
responsible to Mr. E. N. Mason. The
alterations outlined above do not affect
the Sales, Accounting or Design
Engineering functions.
Mr. R. T. (Valding.
who recently
took over as
Manager of
XeroX
Department.
C. BROOKS
C. BROOKS
,%/r. I. . %lawn, General Manager or the Mitcheldean
ftwtory.
Following upon Mr. Court’s new
appointment, a number of changes have
had to be made. Mr. S. Scott has been
appointed Superintendent of Assembly
and Finishing Department and Mr. H.
Saunders Superintendent of Piece Part
Manufacturing, both reporting directly
to Mr. R. E. Baker. Mr. Scott’s former
post as Supervisor of Assembly Shop
has been taken over by Mr. M. Pask,
while Mr. A. E. Walton has succeeded
Mr. Saunders as Supervisor of Machine
Shop. The Press and Sheet Metal Shop
is now the responsibility of Mr. R. H.
Arnold, while Mr. A. Swordy is in
charge of Auto Shop.
Mr. R. Evans, formerly in T.E.D., has
now taken over the recently formed
Sub-Contracts Section.
Mr. C. W. Bird (formerly in XeroX) has
now taken up his appointment in Design
Office, directly responsible to Mr. A. S.
Pratt. Technical Chief.
We are very glad to welcome Mr. F. C.
Collins back after his long absence. He
is now acting as Personal Assistant to
Commercial Manager Mr. B. C. Smith,
as well as undertaking certain other
special assignments for works management.
For the present his office is that
formerly occupied by Mr. F. W. Court.
Mr. G. Howell rejoined the firm as
We regret to have to record the death
on April 27 of Mr. H. R. Pochon;
lie had been with the Company since
late 1947. Members of the Mitcheldean
Long Service Association acted
as hearers at the funeral.
13
C. SPOOKS
Mr. John Davis. Deputy Chairman and Managing
Director of the Rank Organisation. recently paid
a visit to Mitche !dean. With him are (far left)
‘Jr. S. Scott. now Superintendent of Assembly and
Finishing Department. and Mr. F. Wickstead.
project engineer in May after having
completed his National Service.
Mr. F. Amos has returned to the Company
after his illness and is now working
in Quality Control Department.
Mrs. J. Jackson has left Home Sales to
prepare for a ‘happy event’: her place as
Vistem operator on Mr. E. Worsell’s
section has been taken by Miss M.
England. Another newcomer. to be with
us for a few months, is Miss E. Fisher
(sister to Miss K. Fisher, Mr. E. Cann’s
secretary), who is working as Vistem
operator on Mr. C. Powell’s section.
Mr. K. Aston has joined Export-Sales
Department as a junior clerk.
Miss G. Price has transferred from
Central Progress to Home Sales; her
place has been taken by Miss M.
Wilkins. Miss E. Cinderby has transferred
from Print Room to Central
Progress.
Mr. and Mrs. B. Moger (XeroX Drawing
Office and Export Sales respectively)
have now left the Company.
Mrs. J. M. Roberts has replaced Miss J.
Worse!l in the Comps. section of
Accounts Department.
Miss Cynthia Probert has joined Purchase
Department as a shorthand typist.
Miss M. Brooks (Production Control)
has transferred to Mail Room and Miss
P. Halifax has taken her place. Mr. R.
Walker has transferred from Production
Control to Purchase Office.
Miss D. Walding has joined her sister.
Mrs. P. Flynn, in Hollerith Department:
they are daughters of Mr. R. T. Walding,
Manager of XeroX Department.
14
Mrs. L. Little has transferred from Case
Shop to Assembly.
Mr. L. Goode has transferred from Heat
Treatment to Plating Shop.
Mrs. M. H. Jarvis. formerly of Export
Sales, is now in charge of the Bell &
Howell office in place of Miss M.
Phillips.
Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings
Miss R. Jordan celebrated her 2Ist
birthday on May 2. She works in
Accounts Department.
Mr. T. Protheroe (Assembly) will be 21
on July 28.
Miss E. Baldwin (Mail Room) and Mr.
J. Shields (Service Repair) celebrated
their engagement on April 29.
Miss J. Kibble (Kitting Area) became
engaged on June 3 to Mr. D. Reed. who
works in the Dean Forest Mercury office
in Cinderford.
Miss J. Cumberbatch (Case Shop) was
married on May 28 to Mr. H. Waite at
Longhope Church.
New Arrivals
Mr. A. Cr)er (Cashier’s Office) had a
new entry to make in the books on
March 27-the birth of an 8 lb. 10 oz.
son, Kevin.
Mrs. J. Teague. formerly in Assembly,
now has a little boy, Mark, who arrived
on April 4 weighing 8 lb.
Mr. R. Evans was presented with a 7 lb.
4 oz. boy. Phillip Lindsay, on April 21 by
his wife Janice. who used to work in
Design Drawing Office.
Mr. R. Reed (T.E.D.) became father of
a 7 lb. 3 oz. baby girl, Dawn, on May 7.
MORTIMER HOUSE
Mr. \V. S. Watson joined the Audio-
Visual Department on May 1 as A-V
Consultant for Southern England. He
comes to us from British Films Ltd.,
where he was sales manager, but was
with the old G.B. Equipments Ltd.
(which became part of Rank Precision
Industries) from 1947-1949.
Miss V. A. Hardy joined the Company
P
on May 1 as assistant to Mr. Derek
V. Dutton. Public Relations Officer.
Vivienne has wide interests, including
the theatre, music, languages and literature.
She is also a creative cook! As a
girl she spent live years at school in
Egypt. then came to college in England.
and Switzerland.
Miss J. Levett, a member of the Audio-
Visual Department at Mortimer House
for two years, will marry Mr. D. Davies
on July 1 in London.
FAT IN THE FIRE
The re-fofming of Mitcheldean’s Works
Fire Brigade has been well justified.
On May 18 a gas fish fryer in the
canteen overheated, fat splashed on the
fire and in no time the roof was ablaze.
Within five minutes of being called out,
the Works Fire Team, under their Chief
Officer Mr. R. Taylor. were on the spot.
getting the fire under control, before the
arrival of the Cinderford firemen.
Service I The
We hear that Mr. G. S. Hemingway. our
Divisional Accountant, recently paid a
visit to our new subsidiary company in
Paris. Wonder if they’ve had a tea urn
installed now?
DAFT DEFINITIONS
Chemical Warfare-The eternal conflict
between blondes and brunettes.
Golf-A game in which a ball one and a
half inches in diameter is placed on a
ball 8,000 miles in diameter, the object
being to hit the small ball but not the
large.
Ocean-Huge body of water surrounded
entirely by rumours of everlasting peace.
Parasite-One who goes through a
revolving door on another’s push.
Poverty-A state of mind sometimes
induced by a neighbour’s new car.
Typewriter-A machine used by a
stenographer and which can’t spell
either.
Upper Crust-A bunch of crumbs stuck
together with their own dough.
Virus-A Latin word used by doctors to
mean ‘Your guess is as good as mine’.
WE’VE HAD VISITORS FROM …
America
Mr. D. Anderson, Rank-XeroX Liaison
Officer at Haloid -XeroX, Rochester,
N.Y.. and Mr. H. J. Peterson from Bell
ee. Howell. Chicago.
Germany
Dr. Herring, head of Herring Verlag of
Munich. publishers of the majority of
periodicals on photography and cinephotography
in Germany, accompanied
by Herr von Gfug, one of his editors.
Holland
Mr. K. Bos of Animex, our sole agents
in Holland.
Russia
Mr. V. Radionov, Economy Gazette
correspondent.
Dr. Herring. head of Hearing Verlag (centre), with
(right) Herr van Gigot, were conducted on their tour
of the factory by Mr. John Ash. Territorial Execu-
Ike. Expert Department. C. SPOOKS
HOME MARKET
Furnished Red-sitting-roam available %kith
use of kitchen and bathroom. Cinderford
area. Single business person preferred.
Enquiries to Box No. 12.
Dunlop Tyre, 560 16, unused, maker’s
wrapping. £4 10s. Enquiries to Box
No. 13.
Three-berth Caravan at Newton Point.
Porthcawl, available for letting at moderate
terms. Apply to Mr. R. Wright.
Design Drawing Office.
For Sale.-Oval, carved oak gatelegged
table, O. Apply Mr. R. Wright.
Design Drawing Office.
Replies to Box Nos. should be addressed-
The Editor. VISION. Fair View, Plump Hill.
3fitcheldean. Gloucestershire.
Printed by The Victor James Press Limited. Coulsdon. Surrey
15
121111 r 14 ‘Lain ij !icor 1
The G.B. Film Library
at Perivale. Middlesex
Rank Precision Industries Ltd.
offices at 37 4! Mortimer Street,
London, W./
The Bell & Howell shop
in Hanover Square, London
The main building of
Rank Precision Industries Ltd.
at Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire
furl mom or!”
4f§il

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