The Careers Room

I was most impressed by the quality and self-assurance of all the many apprentices we met, and they spoke very highly of the thorough training and individual attention they were receiving. Each apprentice has, of course, to spend a certain time in each of the shops, and this means that not only does he learn something about the handling of machines, but he also meets many craftsmen and tradesmen and learns to see their point of view. Relations between the men on the machines and the apprentices were very cordial, and as we were taken round, many of the apprentices were greeted as old friends by men with wham they had worked for only a few weeks. This, despite the fact that the men knew that the apprentices would in many cases soon be in junior managerial positions.

The welfare of the apprentices is very carefully studied, and they are encouraged to play a full part in the many cultural, social and sporting societies which exist within the company. First year apprentices have the opportunity to lodge in a well-appointed hostel on the outskirts of Derby, at a weekly rate less than that paid for most "digs", and they are assisted in finding suitable accommodation when they move out. Wage rates in general are very good for apprentices, but what matters more is that they receive their training in a friendly atmosphere, with prospects of fairly rapid advance to positions of responsibility once their training is completed.

As I have mentioned in previous Careers Room notes, it is possible to obtain some idea of industrial conditions by attending one of the Short Works Courses arranged by the Public Schools' Appointments Bureau. The following extracts from the accounts of four of these courses which were recently attended by boys from this School will give some idea of the scope of these courses. K.G.C.

SHORT WORKS COURSES

1.—TOOTAL BROADHURST LEE CO., LTD.

We arrived at Tootals at 9 o'clock on the first morning and viewed our programme with interest, especially the four "tea-breaks" : the whole factory is put in momentary paralysis whilst the employees boost their sagging morale and efficiency rates with the beverage (we did not complain, however !). We had talks, film-strips and visits to various departments; e.g., accountancy, with fabulous "Hollerith" tabulators in it, and the showrooms of the Home Trade Sales Organisation which had a machine to produce the effects of various countries daylight on the colours of cloth (naturally, London's light was a rather yellowish-grey). Our visit to the firm's mill was memorable because of the deafening roar of the power looms, which left one literally incapable of hearing for a quarter of an hour afterwards.

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We were puzzled by the phrase "Group Tests" on our second day's programme : we soon discovered its meaning; it was a test of mental alacrity, somewhat resembling the "11 + exam", but much harder.

These are but a few of the events which crowded our programme. During our two visits to Tootals we also learned that "spinning yarns" did not only mean "telling tall-stories", but could mean "producing threads"; that Tootal does not only make ties and handkerchiefs, but also book-cloths, scarves, crevats, dressing-gowns, furnishing fabrics, shirtings, socks, stockings and frocks for girls. And last, but by no means least, we discovered that it does not always rain in Manchester !

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed my work's course and would recommend anyone who is not sure whether to go or not, to take the bull by the horns and apply for a place on a course. It will mean sacrificing part of his holiday, but I am sure he will find it, as I did, a really worthwhile experience.

W.G.M.

2.—ROVER CO., LTD.

In the first few days we toured the Tysely factory and met the heads of the various departments. We saw the manufacture of gearboxes and engines. We then spent a day at the Perrybar factory and saw the production of the axles.

For the latter part of the week we were at the Solihull factory. Here we saw the assembly of the cars and Land Rovers and all the subordinate departments connected with the assembly line. We also saw the administrative side of the factory and toured the experimental shop. The latter visit included a hair-raising run in a Land Rover over the experimental testing track; there were some incredibly steep inclines which brought out admirably the climbing ability of the vehicle when in four-wheel drive.

Although there was no practical work included in the course, it was nevertheless very interesting. During our stay we were well looked after at "Rover House" and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. A.O.S.

3.—BRITISH RAILWAYS : CIVIL ENGINEERING

This course lasted for five days during the Easter holidays. It covered all civil engineering in any way associated with the railways. It consisted entirely of lectures and outings to different parts of the North Eastern Region where work could be seen in progress, both on the line and in the shops.

I can thoroughly recommend those who are thinking of joining the railways to undertake a course of this kind; they would find it most helpful. D.H.S. 48

4.—VICKERS-ARMSTRONG (AIRCRAFT) LTD., WEYBRIDGE

First we were taken to the drawing office where we spent an extremely interesting twenty minutes and had explained to us the use of "loft plates", giving us an idea of the complications of aircraft design. We next made our way through the factory, seeing quickly the fitters and machine shops and the production line, and returned to the canteen for an extremely good lunch. The first thing that we saw in the afternoon was the wind tunnel, and although we spent nearly three-quarters of an hour there, most of us would have liked to have studied it in greater detail. We had a short break for tea and then went to the Research and Development department for a very good lecture by Dr. Barnes Wallis, of "Dam Buster" fame. After his lecture we were shown into the "stratosphere" chamber, where experiments were being carried out concerning icing conditions and there was a miniature blizzard in operation.

On Wednesday morning we were introduced to three student apprentices who were going to be our guides for the remainder of the course. After coffee we split up into groups of three and each group went with an apprentice. We first went to the production line and moved slowly up the line, seeing in detail the growth of the wings and fuselages in the "jigs" until the aircraft gradually formed.

After lunch we went into the processing department and saw some of the electro-plating and "normalizing" of the metal. To finish off the day we had a discussion, led by Mr. Duckett, the Apprentice Superviser, on "The importance of practical experience". Mr. Duckett explained why the firms prefer students at the University to have practical training during their courses.

On Thursday we met the Chief Personnel Officer, who told us about the other side of the factory life—welfare, safety precautions, the canteen and the personnel problems that have to be dealt with, and gave us a very clear picture of the running of the works. After coffee we changed over guides and spent a very instructive morning visiting the fitters' shops and the carpenters, tinsmith and coppersmith, and the machine shops. In the afternoon we visited more of the processing departments and then we had a talk with Mr. Barber on "The purpose of University training". I believe that these talks were almost the most important parts of the course, since it was here that we had our questions answered concerning entrance into the company and training schemes.

The last day started with a talk by Mr. Barber about the various training schemes that the company offers to young men, not only for those who are at a University but also for those who are going to learn a trade. After this we split up again and changed our guides,

and we went to the "spar milling" shop where the main spars were made out of immense bars of solid metal. From there we went on to another production line of a different type of aircraft from the first that we had seen. After lunch we were taken to see the "drop forge", which was shaping thick sheets of metal without heating them, and was very impressive. A general discussion over tea followed, and this was the last stage of the course.

M.G.S.

THE SCHOOL VISIT TO WILTON I.C.I. WORKS

Our route to Wilton had been very thoughtfully planned so that on our way we should see some of Yorkshire's countryside. Starting at 11-30 a.m. we went via Helmsley, Bilsdale and Stokesley, having our picnic lunch at the top of Newgate Bank, from which a fine view of the surrounding hills is commanded. Despite the fact that this was somewhat obscured by mist and that the weather was rather cool, the journey there was enjoyed by all.

As we approached Tees-side, those of the party whose homes were in that neighbourhood began to pick out many landmarks— Newport and Transporter Bridges, Dorman Long's Factories, etc. Among them was a .tall, thin chimney on which burnt a red, oily flame. This is one of the landmarks of our destination.

On our arrival we went to the Castle, a large house which is included in the I.C.I.'s estate and which they use as offices. Here the nature of the plant and of its products was explained to us. The site, we were told, is 2,000 acres in extent, and is divided into four sections by two main roads which cross each other at right angles, thus forming a cross whose .arms lead roughly North, South, East and West. In each of the four sections a separate type of product is made. Starting at the North and going round anti-clockwise, the first sector contains the dyestuffs division, the second the plastics and perspex division, and the third the plant for making the new artificial fabric, terylene. The fourth section contains the Olefines plant, which Makes use of various properties of oil.

After this preliminary introduction we entered our bus and travelled another 1f miles to the plant itself. The first building that we visited was the power house, which produces all the electricity for the works. We watched the coal-crushing machines at work; then, on the next floor, we saw the blazing interior of one of the furnaces. Then after passing through the turbine room with its deafening din, we entered the comparative quiet of the control room, where we gazed at, rather than understood, the rows of dials which lined every wall.