This post begins a series of articles (with the words “Factory Life:” in the title) where I’ll scribe some words about my experiences working in a factory in the 1980’s.
During the 1980’s, I worked in the machine shop of a factory that made showers, valves and industrial metering equipment. I had several jobs there over a period of 14 years, including Machine Setter, Production Engineer and Quality Control Inspector. I mostly worked in a machine shop, where metal components were made.
This stuff actually happened. And it happened over thirty years ago. The world was a totally different place then and today’s standards and sensibilities didn’t exist or apply. Bear that in mind.
I’m mad, I am.
This was the phrase that the Machine Shop Manager used to say, usually just after he’d pranced around a bit after performing a spectacular feat of toolset engineering.
It is safe to say that the Machine Shop Manager was indeed a strange man. He was built like a brick shithouse and had the biggest hands I’d ever set eyes on. He always wore the same clothes, shirt and tie, suit trousers and safety shoes. As he was the Manager, he also wore a white smock (warehouse coat, if you like). He used to talk mainly through his nose.
Although he was the Manager, he’d been heavily involved with setting (preparing for production) a certain type of machine tool that was used in the factory – and he’d never really let go of that, despite it being many years earlier. As these machine tools were sometimes problematic to get the settings correct, he would monitor the situation and wouldn’t hesitate to get stuck in to fix it.
And fix it he invariably would. Along with several nudges in the ribs, winks and a little dance at the end when it was sorted. Then he would proclaim “I’m mad, I am” whilst elbowing you in the ribs.