Vision 104

November 74 No. 104
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
Pounds into Pounds
No matter how you look at it,
someone gains. If the weightwatchers
who nobly turn up for a
check-up in Medical Centre have
lost weight, they feel better.
If they’ve gained weight, they pay
a fine and someone else benefits.
For the money is being used to buy
materials for a raffle prize, and
Medical hope to collect £200 which
will be donated to the Gloucestershire
Cobalt Unit’s extension fund.
Being weighed in the balance is
Helen Cruickshank (Spares Packing)
while Nurse Norah Miles checks the
figures and Nurse Barbara Meek
stands by to collect the cash or
administer treatment for shock I
Cheerfully awaiting their turn are
two other members of the diet club —
Doreen Duberley (Central Records)
and Lance Barre (Tool Room).
THE DATA LOGGER
ANEW
APPROACH
TO INSPECTION
The growing complexity of Rank
Xerox copiers and duplicators
necessitates newer and ever more
accurate assembly methods.
Technical advances, particularly
in the field of electronics, are helping
the operator to achieve satisfactory
and rapid results, and at the same
time changing the face of the
assembly floor.
4000 machine production saw the
virtual disappearance of the clock
or dial gauge for checking
assemblies, and its replacement by
linear transducers and column
gauges.
Despite their rather alarming names,
these devices can be explained in
simple language. A linear transducer
is a probe which, when attached to
an assembly, measures its size and
flashes the answer to a large,
easy-to-read meter known as a
column gauge.
All the meters can be grouped
together in one composite gauge so
the assembly operator no longer
needs to run around the fixture
reading various dial gauges.
When the Xerox 3100 machine was
being planned at Mitcheldean, the
Gauge Engineering (now Quality
Engineering) section of FED realised
that traditional methods of inspection
would be strained by the high
volume production.
The use of transducers and column
gauges suggested a possible
solution : an electrical signal is
available from the back of each
column proportional to the reading;
if a way could be found for QC to
monitor the actual setting readings
Top: Watched by Tony Day of PED
Electronics, mechanical inspector Jimmy
James ‘asks’ the computer in the Data
Logger for information via the teletype,
using a special mnemonic code. Each of
the sections in the cabinet bays represents
an assembly fixture.
L e f t : QC foreman Terry Ward and (right)
inspector Roger Treherne master an SCL
(set, check and log) fixture to ensure that
all the readings on the column gauge
(centre) are at a true zero before starting
an assembly build. Contributing to the
‘spaghetti junction’ look are the connecting
leads to the linear transducers, or probes,
attached to the assembly which measure its
size and signal the information to the
column gauge.
Examining the ‘mastering’ information produced by the high-speed line printer
are Geoff Darke and Ted Price (right), recently appointed Manager and Assistant
Manager, Quality Control (Assembly), respectively. On the right is the processor: the
magnetic tape records the column gauge readings every time a correct assembly is built
and checked by the Data Logger.
by picking up these signals, then
they wouldn’t need to have a
duplicate fixture for inspection
purposes.
A way was found, in the form of a
Data Logger — an ‘electronics box’
which monitors the assembly
readings and prints out results for
QC.
A Data Logger capable of monitoring
100 readings was purchased and
tried out on the 4000 shop floor on
one of the assembly fixtures. The
results were very pleasing and most
of the expected problems turned out
to have easy answers.
Subsequently, of course, the 3100 was
transferred to Venray and the Data
Logger was out of a job. It was not
wasted, however, as you will see.
Using the information obtained from
the 3100 Data Logger trials,
thoughts were turned to the
production and inspection of a
forthcoming product. Here the
problems were different from those
of 3100 but, with up to 35 complex
assembly fixtures. Data Logging still
seemed to offer advantages.
The assembly fixtures were all to
be fitted with transducers and
column gauges, so a small
modification was added to make it
easier to monitor the readings.
Some thought had to be given to
the Data Logger as well. The 3100
Logger could only handle 100
readings and was relatively slow.
If all the operators at the six
assembly stations connected to the
Logger happened to ask for their
readings to be checked at the same
time, then the last in the queue had
to wait up to 50 seconds.
At that rate, one of the operators
working on the new product would
have to wait almost three minutes !
After talks between all the
departments concerned, a
specification for a more ambitious
Data Logger was drawn up. It was
decided to use a mini-computer as
the heart of the system as this
would give a very high reading rate
(400 readings in seven seconds)
and would also allow QC to
calculate statistics.
The Logger was then ordered on
one of our normal test equipment
suppliers and was delivered, after
many last-minute modifications,
nine months later.
Now installed on the 9900 floor in
Building 40, it is nearing completion
and will be in use before Christmas.
Connecting it to each of the 35
assembly stations has used nearly
12,000 metres of special cable in an
overhead trunking system.
The actual electronics are very
complex and almost defy description ;
it is easier to understand the Logger
from the way it is used on the shop
floor.
The assembly operator will build his
assembly in the normal manner and
will finish with his column gauges
all showing in-limit readings.
Instead of passing the completed
assembly to Inspection for checking,
however, he will insert a punched
card into a small electronics box
and push the button. The Logger
then reads the column gauge settings
and checks them against the limits
as per drawing.
If the assembly is correct, the Logger
stores the readings away and signals
to the operator that he can remove
the assembly from the fixture. At
the same time the punched card has
a mark stamped on it to show that
the assembly has been ‘inspected’.
At the end of the main line, QC
collect five punched cards for each
machine, and they then have an
inspection record of all 35
assemblies.
If the assembly is incorrect for any
reason, the Logger tells the operator,
prints out the information for QC
and stores the details in its ‘fail’
memory. Once the assembly has
been corrected and re-logged, the
Logger gives the OK and puts the
record straight for QC purposes.
All assembly fixtures have to go
through a regular process of
‘mastering’ to check that they have
not become twisted or distorted, or
that the column gauges have not
‘drifted’. This involves setting the
fixture against a part with known
dimensions.
The Logger helps in this process by
telling the operator when mastering
is due, and by checking the settings
when mastering is complete.
The statistics referred to earlier are
compiled by the Logger as a form
of early warning system. By averaging
the readings of each column gauge
and comparing the result with the
nominal (standard), any tendency
to build assemblies over or under
size can be forecast and corrected.
This tendency may be due to
components or fixtures — or even
the operator developing a bias from
‘what your right arm’s for’!
To sum up, the Logger does offer
distinct advantages. The operator
receives an immediate and troublefree
answer on his assembly build.
QC inspectors get the statistics they
need and can concentrate on quality
checks. PED lose the problems of
maintaining the QC fixtures
compatible with the assembly
fixtures, and gain flexibility in limit
setting.
Above all, the Logger helps us to
get our product on to the market
ahead of the competition.
And the 3100 Logger that started
it all?
Well, that has gone to one of our
sub-contractors’&nd will be logging
the results of their efforts.
By J I M HAY
A s s i s t a n t Manager
E l e c t r o n i c s ( P E D)
3
FISHING MARATHON
Two anglers fishing non-stop for
24 hours netted around £100 for
the benefit of physically handicapped
youngsters.
As reported in our September issue,
members of the Old Ferrie Inne
Angling Club for the Physically
Handicapped have been raising cash
in various ways to pay for outings,
and Mike Young (Tool Tryout) and
Jim Pearce (OA) of the N/C complex
in the Machine Shop decided to do
a bit of fund-raising themselves
during a week’s holiday.
VISION was there to start them off
at midday on September 25 at
Lightmoor Pool — one of the Forest
of Dean Angling Club waters
overlooked by the old Lightmoor
Colliery.
Mike’s wife had cooked them a stew
and what with that and a drop of
the hard stuff, they reckoned on
being able to keep out the cold.
JOIN THE
BADGER SET
Shy and retiring though they may be,
badgers have been getting
conspicuous treatment recently,
having had an Act of Parliament for
their protection passed early this
year, and the smallest underpass in
the world built specially to enable
them to cross a motorway in safety.
But Barrie Lewis, one of the buyers
in Purchase Department, was
interested in badgers long before
this. A natural history and ornithology
enthusiast, he first found a badger
sett in the Staunton area, near
Monmouth. He read up about these
fascinating creatures, watched them,
made notes about them and
photographed them.
Says Barrie: ‘The biggest sett I know
near Brockweir has about 30 odd
holes but normally you find about
12. It’s easy to observe them if you
keep quiet and down wind of them.
I’ve watched them playing ‘King of
the Castle’, and jumping over each
other, just like kittens. They’re
omnivorous — and rather fond of
nibbling blackberries!
‘In spring and autumn they have a
real turnout and you can see them
pulling fresh bracken and other
“furnishings” back to their holes.’
Last May Barrie, together with other
like-minded people, formed the
Gwent Badger Group of which he is
secretary.
Its aims are to study the distribution
of badgers in the area and to give
them as much protection as possible.
They are raising money to buy some
Some friends from the Machine
Shop called during the evening to
cheer them on; the club bailiff turned
up around half-time to check the
weight of the catch in the keep-net,
and we went along at noon the
next day to witness the final weigh —
a total of 71b 15oz 8drms.
‘Not a big catch, but about average
for this year,’ said Mike, who
confirmed they’d both stayed awake
all night, fishing from the shelter of
their tent and nudging each other if
either looked like dropping off.
‘Now for a good sleep,’ they said as
they collected their gear and made
for home. Jim excelled himself —
he slept for close on 20 hours. Had
he been sponsored, it would have
brought in quite a haul I
As it was, the proceeds, which included
some generous donations, proved it
had been a worth-while effort, and
Mike and Jim would like to say thank
you to all those who helped.
A badger gets a free meal, and Barrie and
tiis wife take a fascinating photograph.
badger-occupied territory so as to
establish reserves where these
peaceful creatures, which deserve
protection if only because of the
number of harmful insects they eat,
can be observed.
Barrie’s sister Barbara, who also
works in Purchase, and his father
Ted Lewis in Development
Laboratory share his interest in badger
life. So did his brother Philip, lately
of Information Systems, until he left
recently to work his way through
Spain, Canada and the USA.
Says Barrie; ‘The Group has had
press and radio publicity and has
aroused a good deal of interest.
Recently we took Major Harding
Rolls (related to the famous motoring
pioneer) and his family on a badger
watching expedition.
‘We’re now making an 8mm colour
film about badgers, and we’ve
arranged a winter programme for our
65 or so members. If anyone would
like to know more, they can ring me
on ext. 485.’
The end of the marathon — Mike lifts the
keep-net for the weigh-in while Jim tries
for a last one. The fish, we might add,
swam rapidly away afterwards, refusing to
be photographed.
XEROX ZEBRA
Last spring Rank Xerox, Denmark, adopted
two zebras in Copenhagen Zoo, becoming
the 25th company to participate in the
zoo’s’finance an animal’scheme. On
June 17 one of the zebras produced an
exact copy: named Xerox, the foal is very
popular with visitors, particularly children.
Now the other zebra is ‘expecting’ and. if
all goes well, the second foal will be called
Rank. Copenhagen Zoo, one of the largest
in Europe, attracts many visitors,
particularly from Germany and Scandinavia.
Aim of the fund raising is to enable the zoo
to do away with traditional methods of
captivity and keep animals in more open
conditions — which is more humane, and
more interesting for visitors. This means
carrying out extensive rebuilding to provide
moats and other protective barriers.
The Company plan to hold special events
in the zoo from time to time, such as a
birthday party for Xerox next June. Last
August employees and their families were
invited to a party to meet the latest
additions to the Rank Xerox family.
4
t i a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e m e e –
n e e t i n g p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting place meeting p l a c e meeting plac4
t i a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meie!
When Louie Lewis first joined us
in 1948, she worked for the late
Bill Stearn, ‘nursing’ cameras and
projectors through a reconditioning
course.
‘They called it hospitalisation in
those days,’ she told us.
She left in 1951 and rejoined us
20 years later to work in the Paint
Shop, subsequently transferring to
Production Control (Parts
Manufacture).
As clerical assistant in Arthur Turner’s
sub-contract section, she receives
job issues and raises the necessary
order documentation — a task which
takes her out and about the Plant
every day.
Louie, whose husband Doug works
in the Supply Centre, is a leading
lady when it comes to skittles. She
is captain of one of the ladies’ teams
in the interdepartmental tournament
(they’re known as ‘Lou’s Lot’) and
from time to time organises skittles
matches within her own department.
During the war she served in the
ATS; today she still serves — as
entertainment secretary to the British
Legion Club at Lydbrook.
‘I’m always on the look-out for
talent — at a reasonable price,’ she
told us.
Another JP has joined the ranks of
those already working at Mitcheldean.
Design engineer Arthur Soiiars, who
lives in Ruardean with his wife and
daughter, was recently appointed to
serve on the Newnham Bench.
When we spoke to him he had two
more ‘observation sittings’ to
complete and was expecting to take
up his adjudication duties very shortly.
His service with the Company totals
some 18 years, during which time he
has worked on the assembly floor, in
the Model Shop and, more recently,
in Engineering Drawing Office.
Formerly a playing member and
secretary of Ruardean Rugby
Football Club and a Mitcheldean
cricketer, his sporting efforts today
are concentrated on improving his
golf handicap. He’s belonged to the
RAOB for 21 years, and is currently
secretary of the Forest of Dean
Province.
‘I’m also a past secretary of the
Ruardean Demonstration Committee,’
he said, ‘and I still help out.’
A JP — helping with demos?
Arthur reassured us. Every June
Ruardean holds a Brass Band and
Male Voice Choir contest and the
Demonstration Committee exist to
organise this event. ‘When it comes
to music, brass bands are my choice,’
he said, ‘though I hardly know one
end of a trumpet from the other.’
Incidentally, those who know
Arthur’s sister Sheila Weyman, who
worked on the switchboard for 17
years and left recently for health
reasons, will be glad to know she is
making steady improvement.
Back in pre-Xerox days, when we
wanted any snippets of news from
the Machine Shop down in the
Maltings area, we used to get in
touch with June Malliband. June
in those days was inspector on the
capstan section working with Kate
Matthews and Hilary Marfell.
She came to us straight from school
in 1948 when her mother was
working here. Today she’s still to
be found in the Machine Shop —
doing 100 per cent inspection — but
for some years her name has been
June Lewis. After joining us, she
met and married Eddie, now Tool &
Consumable Stores supervisor.
Her father and sister also worked at
the Plant at one time, and today she
has a brother, Reg, in Supply Centre
warehouse. (Louie, on the left, is no
relation, by the way I)
June and Eddie live locally. She
enjoys reading and knitting but
doesn’t have much time for any
absorbing hobbies; Eddie belongs
to the British Legion and plays a
useful part in community work. He’s
on the Mitcheldean Community
Association committee and helps
run bingo on Tuesdays to raise funds
for the projected community centre.
With June’s assistance, he makes up
the bingo books, arranges prizes,
sees that the change is OK and
generally ensures that it all goes
clickety-click!
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5
FIRST GLASS ONLY’ALL THE WAY
New and improved f a c i l i t i e s help ensure that our bought out
supplies keep on the right quality track
Dr Beeching solved his problem —
too few passengers on too many
lines — by axing the railways.
Brian Weyman, Manager, Bought
Out Supplies Quality Assurance
(BOSQA), had rather a different
problem with the track system in
Building 32, and the facilities
available.
It was a question of accommodating
an increasing number of ‘passengers’,
some much larger than they used to
be, and some requiring rather special
‘treatment’ at the various inspection
stations.
After much discussion as to what
the best methods of throughput
would be, it was finally broken down
to a rearrangement of the tracks.
And so, over the past 18 months,
the main lines running into the
department from Goods Inwards
have been lengthened, rolled into
one, or rearranged as short feed-in
tracks.
For example, electrical components
are getting larger and heavier these
days. The answer here has been to
relocate the section adjacent to
Goods Inwards area to minimise
handling.
There are now separate compartments
for general items, transformers,
motors, power supplies, etc, which
come in on short feed-in tracks and
have their own facility with regard
to documentation.
General view of the mechanical section.
The two outer tracks feed in batches of
work for inspection, the centre track, which
removes the inspected goods, is being
partly motorised to keep things moving.
Changes in technology, new machine
designs, increasing complexity of
standards — all these have had to
be considered in revising the layout.
To ensure we meet standards, a
section where all testing equipment
is calibrated on a regular basis has
been set up in PED.
Another newly set-up section is a
high voltage flash-test area, enclosed
to meet safety requirements.
The most outstanding new facility
in the electrical section is
undoubtedly the ATE (Automatic
Test Equipment) room, a minicomputer
department housing some
colourful and hygienic-looking
hardware.
This equipment is for testing the
printed circuit boards which
mastermind the operation of the
4000 and other Rank Xerox models
in the pipeline.
It might seem odd that such large
and complex equipment is needed
for such small units, but these little
logic packages incorporate integrated
circuits, semi-conductors, thyristors
transistors, diodes, photo-couplers
and other mysteries of miniaturisation
which provide the direct current
supplies, switch on and off different
parts of our machines and control
the fuser.
Why do we need several types of
automatic test gear?
At work in the bulk inspection area are
(I to r) Derek Hatton. Graham Meek,
Howard Foxwell and Mike Ebert.
Partly because of the quantity of
PCBs involved, but more especially
because of the different types of
board now being used. Originally
there were eight; now there are
30 different types altogether which
have increased in complexity as they
have in number.
The multi-desk unit, specially built
for our requirements, was featured
in VISION a couple of years back
and has been operational for some
time.
More recent are two units known as
Membrains. They don’t contain a
mini-computer like the multi-desk
and they can be forgetful — if you
switch them off, they lose their
memory.
But it only takes a couple of
minutes to put it back, because the
units work from a magnetic tape
cassette (one cassette can hold all
the test programmes for the 4000).
The third type of equipment, a
General Radio type 1792D, arrived
only last summer and is the most
powerful of the lot.
This has been brought in to check
the most complex boards where
something like 20,000 tests per
board are needed — a job it can
cope with in a couple of minutes.
It is designed to check measurements
as well as logic.
The ‘General Radio’ has a computer
and also a disc system which
holds all the programmes; some
programmes are still being written
(it can take three weeks per board).
Because it is so complex, the disc
itself holds up to 21 million bits or
1 -4 million words (a bit of info for
the computer types I).
Another specialised area is the new
optical test room.
Until fairly recently we relied mainly
on Rank Optics, Leeds, for the
supply of lenses and their verification.
Now, with international sourcing
concepts, other suppliers are involved
and so it was decided to equip
Mitcheldean with optical testing
facilities.
The focal point of this area, which
requires a filtered, dried, highpressure
air supply, is the
Ealing-Beck Eros IV OTP equipment.
Continued on page 8
Below left: Rate Cherry, electrical
section foreman, watches as John Davis
tests a printed circuit board inserted in a jig
on the Membrain automatic test equipment.
The teleprinter in the foreground provides a
print-out; a reading can also be obtained
from a screen. Below centre: Mike Bennett
and Roger Mason carry out torque, speed
and other tests on motors. Below right:
Mike Rumsey investigates cause of failure in
a power supply unit, prior to returning it to
the vendors for report. The test fixture is
also used to check that incoming units are
to specification. Watching is chargehand
Hubert Burton.
Brian Weyman {centre). BOSQA Manager, and John Williams, Assistant Manager, Plant
Facilities, take a look at the track situation. Secretary Sandra Smith stands by to take notes :
Below: The Eros IV OTF equipment in the optical test room is used to evaluate lenses.
Briefly, a signal is passed through the lens system under test and an image analyser measures
to what extent the lens has degraded the signal. On the left is inspector Terry Annis; on the
right, optics specialist Ron Watkins of Quality Engineering who has been setting up procedures.
The SQA ‘flying squad’ meet for their regular monthly discussion. Seated clockwise round
the table are : Bernard Cheadle (based at Plessey’s, Swindon), Ray Partridge, Laurie
Rawlings, Frank Coy, Assistant Manager, Supplier Quality Assurance, Ralph James (based
at Wilmot Breeden), secretary Audrey Carr, and Ray Mabbett. In the background: Alison
Hobbs updates vendor record cards.
‘FIRST CLASS ONI_Y’
ALL THE WAY
Continued from page 7
The Goods Inwards office has been moved
into the Goods Receiving area, making room
for an enlarged Gauge B Records office
through which all mechanical items pass on
their way to inspection. Here Jack Horrobin
gives prior attention to ‘crash’ items which
are put in red tins for easy identification and
sent on an express track, bypassing other
mechanical items. Jack adds the necessary
gauges while John Rudge brings the relevant
history folders.
Above: Bruce Toomer checks the radial
measurements of a cam. He gets a print-out
of the results from the equipment on the
left, as well as a reading off the visual
display unit. This fine measurement area
also includes a ‘Shadomaster’ which
detects surface irregularities in doctor
blades. Below: Tommy Knight, mechanical
section foreman, with Cliff Miles who is
using the new Mercury Ferranti table
co-ordinate equipment to measure a
pressing. The result is shown on the digital
display unit on the right.
8
Over to Ron Watkins, optics specialist
from Quality Engineering, who
explains: The OTF (Optical Transfer
Function) tests carried out in this
room evaluate production lenses, in
terms of efficiency, over their entire
operational range, and provide a
more objective verification of final
use application than earlier methods.’
(He also spoke of MTF (Modulation
Transfer Function) and PTF (Phase
Transfer Function) but we never even
passed our OTF levels I).
Other equipment in the optics test
room is used for environmental and
transmittance tests on lenses.
Mirrors are checked here for flatness,
using an interferometer, and for
reflectivity and the adherence of the
mirror coating is also checked.
What about the mechanical side?
Said Brian Weyman : ‘We are
handling something in the region of
1,700 batches of work per week
covering ‘W’ items (hardware such
as screws, nuts and bolts),
complicated machined and raw
castings (there’s now special lifting
equipment for the bigger variety),
rubber components, plastics, springs
and proprietary items.’
To save bogging the track down, a
bulk area, islanded in Goods
Inwards, has been created to deal
with the more bulky components, etc.
Other new facilities include a small
office for cam and gear measuring
equipment and an additional
co-ordinate machine (table model).
The removal of the last remaining
Production Stores from Building 32
to Building 41 has released space
for a useful innovation — a re-work
area where vendors can rectify minor
faults on the spot, saving us, and
them, extra trouble and expense.
Talking of vendors, BOSQA covers
not only Goods Inwards Inspection
but also an important function known
as Supplier Quality Assurance — an
aspect of OA which has been
expanding over the past ten months.
A flying squad, headed by Frank Coy,
Assistant Manager, SQA, cover specific
areas of the country, and some
Continental sources, visiting suppliers
to help sort out problems, advise on
quality procedures, make
recommendations and generally help
them to produce good parts for
Rank Xerox.
Technical people who visit us,
suppliers’ representatives among them,
have said how impressed they are
with the rearranged layout, facilities
and system of operation in BOSQA.
Geared up to control effectively the
quality of incoming supplies, the
department can play its vital part in
ensuring that quality is built into our
own products.
Lunchtime Trips?
Like a change from the usual game
of cards? Why not try a lunchtime
trip — by film ?
On November 27 you could go to
Alaska —the Great Land’, 49th
State of the USA; on December 4 it
could be ‘Scotland’ portrayed from
prehistory to present day; on
December 18 take a look at the
‘Bridges in Holland’. Departure is from
Training Department; watch the
noticeboards for take-off times.
we le. Dmm-smm
Last September the Industrial
Engineering Disaster Squad took to
the water (and we don’t mean gave
up the drink).
The task — to splash, paddle or
wallow from the Hole in the Wall( ?)
downstream to Ross Rowing Club.
The distance — 5-6 straight nautical
miles. The time allowed — 1 i hours
± 17% Relaxation Allowance.
Sixteen adult males in various stages
of dis-dress (suit yourself), necks
girt with large orange ‘horse collars’
standing in the middle of a field
flailing the air with paddles, must
have provided an amusing sight for
the local residents and a rather
good-looking goat, at the PGL
Holiday Centre near Ross.
The instructors were long-suffering
and eventually, with surreptitious
grins, consigned us to the watery
deep.
Terry Phillips provided the first bit of
excitement, broadside on to a log
in midstream, his canoe slowly filling
with water. Eric Tose, laughing like
a drain, slipped backwards down the
rapids and quickly submerged, much
to his amazement and mortification.
The rest of the party confidently
{read paralysed with fear) splashed
and wallowed downstream in two
groups, shepherded by two
overworked instructors.
River legs were slowly won but the
art of navigation eluded everyone
and even those who regularly go
for an oar by the river (coarse joke)
paddled about ten miles that night.
Question: Who from Purchase sank
the Sports and Social Club chairman
with a deft flick of his paddle?
(His wife, Jane, said he was still
laughing next morning.)
Question: Why did Tony Haynes
deserve the ducking? Ask Mike
Brown in PED.
A quorum was formed when Mike
Stevenson fooled everyone and fell
over. Nothing alarming or exciting —
he just sort of fell over. Still, he has
to be in everything.
The disembarkation at Ross Rowing
Club was not accomplished without
much buffeting of ears by canoes,
half full of water, being swung
about by their grateful land-bound
porters.
After showering and changing we
re-formed in the bar where the
refreshments and company were
excellent and the tall tales and
singing lasted well into the night.
Thanks must be expressed to (in
alphabetical order):
Alker, Pete — for organising.
Fishermen, The — for teaching us
several new words.
Instructors, The — for tolerating us.
Rowing Club, Ross — for the
excellent facilities.
Thunderthighs, Tina — for merely
being there.
Big E’
Forthcoming Event
November 31 —Annual Dover-Calais
Sponsored Walk. Anyone interested please
contact your committee member.
Footnote (chuckle, chuckle)
Who spent the evening minus socks and
y fronts looking rather like a debauched
Turkish Pasha ?
LETTER
Engineering Records wished a long
and happy retirement to two
long-serving staff at the end of
September — making something of
an ‘Engineering Record’.
Winnie Knight, who had completed
nearly 185 years with us, started
on the B & H assembly line and
subsequently worked on the 914.
Then, about five years ago, she
changed over to clerical work.
Her husband, Tommy (Machine
Shop supervisor), has been on the
sick list for some time as a result of
a broken leg. ‘My retirement has
come at a useful moment,’ said
Winnie. ‘Tommy is due to have
a reverse operation so I shall be at
home to help him convalesce.’
The couple have four grandchildren,
two the children of Tommy junior
(Goods Inwards Inspection) and two
belonging to daughter Brenda who
once worked at Mitcheldean.
Although not due to retire until next
February, Ray Davies took advantage
of the early retirement option to
leave ‘before the winter sets in’.
His diamond-studded tie-clip
revealed the fact that he had been
with us a long time — nearly 35 years.
He started at Woodger Road, London,
in 1940 as a centre lathe turner, came
to Mitcheldean in 1943 and worked
in the Machine Shop until 1946.
He switched to assembly work and
was chargehand for about 15 years.
‘I saw the end of B & H operations,’
he recalled, ‘and then came into
Engineering in 1965.’
One of the founder members of the
Sports & Social Club, he was ‘on
and off the committee’ until about
three years ago. He has regularly
helped with the children’s Christmas
entertainment.
‘Some of those we entertained are
now married men working here,’
said Ray. ‘My own daughter used to
come to the parties and now my
grandchildren do.’ (Ray’s son-in-law
Larry Williams works in 4000 Dept.)
A good deal of Ray’s leisure time
has been devoted in recent years to
the Mitcheldean Community
Association. He was its chairman
for two years and was chairman of
the carnival committee before that.
Ray relinquished this work for health
reasons — Bob Young of the
Drawing Office is now chairman of
the Community Association — but
he doesn’t expect to be at a loss to
fill his time. ‘I’ve stacks of things to
do,’ he said, marching off smartly
with neatly furled umbrella.
Ray Davies and Winnie Knight with some
of their colleagues. Cheques from the LSA
were presented by president Bernard Smith,
and Nigel Percival, Manager, Technical
Services, handed over the department’s
gifts — a Valor heater and some ‘extras’
(to Winnie) and a barometer and cheque
(to Ray).
J Ingram
9
SP@RTS & SOCIAL CLUB
A ‘Break’ at Billiards
When last we reported them, the
Billiards and Snooker Section were
licking their wounds after a narrow
escape from relegation to Division II
in the 1973/74 snooker season.
But Rank Xerox players have more
than made up for this with their
recent performance in the 1974
Billiards League — the first such to
be held in the Forest of Dean for
18 years. Our team reached the
final and were strongly backed to
win the Edgar Reissner Cup, bought
by the League to perpetuate the
memory of their late president.
But, on the final night, the YMCA ‘B’
team proved too good for RX players
Bob Howells, Barry Barton and
Bob Smith, and ran out easy winners
by three games to nil.
Bob, who is chairman of the League,
says that entries for the 1974/75
snooker season, already commenced,
have been received from 24 teams;
two divisions of 1 2 teams have been
formed and competition promises to
be even closer than last season.
Skittles Round Again
October 22 saw the start of yet
another Inter-departmental Skittles
Tournament. A total of over 90
entries have been received by
organiser Sadie Pritchard who is as
mystified as we are by the identity
of some of the entries. Names like
720 Programme Meeters and
Purchase Everards are obvious;
Terror Pins (clever, that!) and The
Sparks we can make a guess at;
Hard Core and Angry Brigade sound
distinctly menacing.
The ladies are getting more skittleminded
; Sadie tells us that there are
eight ladies’ teams — twice as many
as last time.
The Inter-departmental Darts is
being handled once again by John
Hart and will not start until later
this year or the beginning of 1975.
Children’s Parties
The children’s parties take place
in the Social Centre on January 4
(for 5, 6 and 7-year-olds) and January
18 (for 8, 9 and 10-year-olds).
Applicants please post the enclosed
form by December 6.
Trial Shot
A Rank Xerox Shooting Club is
being formed. Anyone interested in
joining is asked to aim for Denis
Jaynes (ext. 318), Mike Bird (653),
Hubert Burton (728), Geoff Lewis
(398), Pete Watson (926), John
Weaver (960), Graham Riddiford
(988), Ken Meek (983) or Personnel
Department (169).
Competing for Kicks
Female footballers at the Plant
recently played in a six-a-side
Hereford & Ross AFC competition
for ladies and came third out of
seven.
‘It was a scratch team,’ said Daisy
Barnard of Electrical Subs, ‘and
they’d never played together before
as there was no time for practice.’
Congratulations, girls I
More players are wanted — ring
Daisy on ext. 330 if you’d like to
play, even if it’s only for kicks.
Variety Programme
Because of other commitments (they
did a performance at Abenhall
Church Harvest Supper on
October 12), the Variety Club held
a disco/dance instead of their
planned show on November 9 in
the Social Centre, in conjunction
with the British Legion Poppy Appeal.
As we went to press preparations to
take a show to Welwyn by coach on
November 16 were going ahead and
we hope to let you have a front
seat report on this later.
The club have — to some extent —
lost their chairman I Ken
Farmborough left us at the end of
October but couldn’t bring himself
to leave the c/ub. As an associate
member, he will be turning up from
time to time to attend rehearsals,
shows, etc.
His understudy, Denise Cooper, is
taking over his part as chairman,
while Sadie Pritchard is the new
vice-chairman, so the committee has
a strongly female lead at present.
All in First Division
Ross & District Skittle League
commenced in October, with both
Rank Xerox ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams in
Division I (‘B’ team as a result of
winning Division II last season,
thereby gaining promotion).
A’ team elected John George as
captain for the current season with
Dennis Cook as vice-captain; ‘B’
elected Ralph Smith as their captain,
Des Haines being vice-captain.
Des was also re-elected chairman
at the annual general meeting of
the Skittle Club held on September 27
while Richard Cooke was re-elected
treasurer. Dennis Cook, having filled
the post of secretary for 11 years,
asked not to be nominated again,
and Jan Sologub was elected in his
place.
B’ team, incidentally, did well last
summer too, winning Division II of
the Forest of Dean Skittle League
and automatically gaining promotion
to Division I for the 1975 summer
season.
Chessmen Get Moving
Arrangements are already being
made for the next Wickstead Shield
(interdepartmental) and Portman
Trophy (individual) competitions.
Entries for these must be handed in
by November 25 at the latest to
either chairman John Ireland
(ext. 731) or secretary John Johnson
(ext. 579) from whom rules of the
competitions can be obtained.
10
Retirements
Best wishes to the following who retired in
October: Rene Phelps (Electrical
Sub-assembly); George Bennett (cleaner),
and Frank Marsh (Internal Transport).
Stamps for Standish
Nurse Lillian Howell thanks all the kind
people who responded to her appeal for
used postage stamps of all types and says
‘More, please’. These will be passed on to
a grateful member of Standish Hospital
staff who collects them for a nursing cause.
Nurse Lillian went off to the USA earlier
this month to visit her son Mike, a design
engineer doing a tour of duty with Xerox
Corporation, and his wife Lynne. But, she
says, stamps can be handed in at Medical
Centre to await her return.
Birth
David Arthur, a son for Martin Jones (PED)
and his wife Cathy, on October 12.
Dennis J a m es
We report with regret the death of Dennis
James (Supply Centre) on October 23.
Dennis, who was 59 years old, had been
with us nearly three years.
Weddings
Margaret Gibbs (Supply Centre) to Paul
Drinkwater at St Michael’s & All Angels
Church, Mitcheldean, on August 24.
Jean Bennett (Canteen) to Stanley Love
at Flaxley Church on September 21.
Wendy Eckley (Electrical Subs.) to Terry
Zimmermann (4000 Assembly) at St
Michael’s a All Angels Church,
Mitcheldean, on September 28.
Doug Wynn (ADF, RX Lydney) to Rene
at Lydney on September 28.
Carol Witts (secretary to Graham Linley,
Manager, RX Lydney Plant) to Bert Barnes
at St James’ Church, Bream, on October 5.
Julia Phipps (Supply Centre) to Steve Smith
atWhitecroft Methodist Chapel on October 19.
Wed in J a p an
Stuart Harrold, who has been ‘our man in
Japan’ since May 1972 has become the first
RX resident to get married during a tour of
duty abroad. He and Mitsuko Watanabe were
wed in Tokyo on October 11 prior to departure
for England. By the time this issue appears,
Stuart should be back at Mitcheldean.
Dean Forest Studios
Paul and Margaret Drinkwater
J. Ingram
Terry and Wendy Zimmermann
Bert and Carol Witts
Sisters-in-arms with a cableform background
are {left to right) Rene Phelps, Lilian
Roberts, Betty Hart and Vera Hawkins, in
order of seniority. The quartet was reduced
to a trio when Rene retired at the end of
October after nearly 13 years with us. She
worked on the cableforms and despite her
commitments {she has a severely disabled
husband) she could always be counted on
to help in organising any departmental
activity, whether it was a ladies’ football
team or the annual Christmas party. ‘She’s
the most cheerful of us all,’ says Betty who
has been with the Company nine years and
also works on cableforms, in the prototype
section of Electrical Sub-Assembly. The
only one who has never worked on
cableforms is Lilian of Plating Department
who will have completed 21 years with us
next February. Youngest is Vera — she’s
done a total of 17 years’ service and is
currently part of the Engineering Records
team. So the sisters’ service adds up to
some ’60 glorious years’!
Stanley and Jean Love
J. Ingram
Herbert James with parting gifts, which
included a transistor radio, on his
retirement last September. Pictured with
J. Ingram
him are some of the givers in Purchase
Department where he worked for Hi years.
Bernard Smith made the presentation.
Geoff and Pam Wood, whose wedding
was reported in our last issue
Entertainment
‘Magnum Disco’ for dinners, dances,
parties, etc. Music for all ages, light and
film show. M. Cook, 4000 elec. run ext.
192, or 9 Flaxley Street, Cinderford.
11
A Unique Occasion
The annual dinner of the Forest of Dean
Trades Council on September 27 at the
Paddocks Hotel, Symonds Yat, was a
unique occasion, said their secretary Len
Harper, and the reasons were all to be
found at the top table. It was the first time
that the council had had as its guests : a
TUC general secretary currently in office
(Len Murray, guest of honour): a Labour
candidate (John Watkinson, now MP for
West Gloucestershire); a retiring MP
(Charles Loughlin); and a representative of
management (Derek Portman, our
Manufacturing Group Director). Our
picture of part of the top table shows
(from the left): Mrs Loughlin, Joe Burke
(Trades Council president), Len Murray,
Mrs Harper, Derek Portman, Mrs Watkinson
and Charles Loughlin. During the evening
Gladys Griffiths (who works in 4000
Department) presented Mr Murray with a
gift from the Trades Council
Here’s our list of departmental Christmas dinner/dances (most departments had sold all
their tickets at the time we went to press):
Date
Nov.
30
Dec.
6
10
13
13
14
19
20
20
21
23
Department
RX Cinderford
Goods Inwards InspectionI
Goods Receiving I Despatch
Sorter Assembly
Personnel
Information Systems
Supply Centre
Finishing
Design Engineering
Works Engineering
Small Batch
Finance & Administration,
Purchase B Personnel
PED
Place
Mitcheldean Social Centre
Paddocks Hotel, Symonds Yat
Social Centre
Abbey Mill, Tewkesbury
Wye Hotel,
Weston-under-Penyard
Chase Hotel. Ross-on-Wye
Organisers
Peggy Bur ley,
Hilary Watts
Alison Hobbs,
Sandra Smith.
Don Cinderey,
Reg Matthews
Margaret Jenkins,
Eileen Newman,
Mary Rickards,
Dave Adams
Jennifer Thomson
Fred Bach
Sue Gale,
Gerald Cooke
Social Centre Ethel Constant,
Roma Meredith
(Auto Plating)
Manor House Hotel, Longhope Ken Butt
Paddocks Hotel, Symonds Yat Terry Martin
Social Centre Roy Chamberlain,
Bob Harris,
Gordon Howells,
John Scrivens
Chase Hotel, Ross-on-Wye
Paddocks HoteL Symonds Yat
Margaret Watkins
(Purchase),
Kathleen Allen
(Personnel), Mike
Keen (Admin.),
Arthur Matthews
(Finance)
Harold Cecil, John
Hart, Royston Meek,
Keith Morgan
Details of New Year parties will appear In the December issue.
ANY NEWS FOR V I S I O N?
If you have, then please —
let your departmental correspondent know, or leave It at any Gate House for collection by me,
or post it to me at Tree Tops, Plump Hill, Mitcheldean,
or ring me — it’s Drybrook 542415.
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
12
HOME MARKET
W h e n s e n d i n g i n i t e m s p l e a s e g i v e y o ur
e x t e n s i o n n u m b e r and/or d e p a r t m e n t t o e n s u re
i n c l u s i o n .
For Sale
Tansad pram, dark green, in very good
condition, detachable body and folding
chassis. Complete with shopping tray,
£15 o.n.o. B. v. Morris, Personnel,
ext. 736 or Ross 3991.
Rogers Ravensbrook stereo amplifier
17 WPC, £30. No offers. R. Colwell,
ext. 987.
Two-bedroom, modernised terraced
cottage, Cinderford, small garden, car
space, all main services, £5,650. R. Wright,
ext. 870.
Wedding dress, full length, size 12 to 14,
and veil, £15 o.n.o. Ext. 359 or Drybrook
542696 after 6 pm.
1964 Ford Corsair, MOT, taxed until
December, good tyres, new exhaust,
dynamo and starter ring. Bargain £65.
Graham Yemm, Fairlee, Hungerberry,
Lydbrook; tel. Lydbrook 330.
Metrosound ST60 hi-fi amplifier, 30W per
channel. Also matching stereo tuner. Both
new and unused and guaranteed. Sell
together or separately; amplifier £50,
tuner £30. E. L. Sage, ext. 277.
Oak drawleaf extending dining-table, £8-50.
Also pair boy’s size 12 football boots,
almost new, £1, Ext. 840.
Felt toys made to order, eg teddy bears,
animals, etc. Further details, Mrs Leigh
Dancy, ext. 921.
1958 Hillman Minx, taxed and tested, good
tyres, £25 o.n.o. J . Watkins, RX Cinderford,
ext. 09-13.
Two radio head-rests, unused. New price,
£12 50 each; offers over £7 50 each.
J . Goode, ext. 630.
Two 1964 Vauxhall Victors, suitable for
spares, offers. B. Whittington, RX
Cinderford, ext. 09-13.
Three-bedroom detached house, central
heating, garage, Hygena-fitted kitchen,
large lounge, separate dining-room.
Reduced to £9,250 o.n.o. for quick sale.
M. Cheshire, ext. 218.
High pram plus shopping tray and canopy,
£5. Mrs J . Williams, Drybrook 542095.
1970 1300cc Ford crossflow engine with
carb and manifold, £35 o.n.o. Copper
Fortic cylinder, one year old, £10; also
some metric copper tubing and fittings.
K. B. Wilding, PED, Lydney, ext. 20, or
3a Stanford Road, Lydney.
Combined door/window frame, size
6ft lOin., 4ft window, door and glass
included. Mrs D. Lewis, 4000 Assembly,
or Lydbrook 642 after 5.30 pm.
English springer spaniel puppies, liver and
white, field trial bred ; ext. 374.
Volvo 122S, 1962, dark grey, 4-door saloon,
very reliable, very fast. Best offer over £100
secures. H. M. Smith, ext 992 or Ross-on-
Wye 3573 evenings and weekends.
Wanted
Good homes for house-trained kittens,
both sexes. Sam Foster, ext. 119 or 353.
Babysitting work—transport required.
Drybrook 542159 (after 6 pm).
All-night fire for open fireplace.
M. P. Anstey, ext. 0123.
Good homes for kittens. Ext. 104.
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.