28 An evolving industry
The Times they are a changin’ As he prepares to start his retirement and enjoy more time with his family, Tim Marks, who has spent 20 years as the Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades’ Secretariat, reflects on how the repair sector has changed and looks at what the future holds.
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ike many people, Tim Marks came into the industrial equipment repair industry by chance, as he explained: “Back in 1945, my father started a Lucas agency in York and North Yorkshire. There were few foreign cars or tractors at that time, and Lucas had a virtual monopoly on vehicle electrics. “We also had a small rewind company. It was a Brook Crompton authorised repairer and sold its motors if a repair could not be done in time. And so, I quickly learnt to love the smell of a burnt-out motor. “Then, when my father passed away while I was in my late 20s, I took over the running of these companies.” In around 1975, the rewind company in York joined the Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT), and Tim was encouraged to attend the organisation’s Associates Display and AGM. Suddenly, he realised there was much more to the industry than he had suspected. “In what seemed like no time at all, I found myself on the Association’s council in 1982,” Tim continued. “Then, by 1989, I became President, a position I held for two years, and then again for a year in 1996.” For many years the Association had been fortunate to have a very professional Secretary in Tony Harman, until his retirement in 1991. Then three other secretaries held the role over the following years, all for relatively short terms. “When in 2001 the AEMT was once again looking for another Secretary, and having been on the council almost continuously since 1982, I suggested that I may be able to carry out the role if it only took up two days per week,” added Tim.
Tim’s offer was accepted, but the AEMT seemed to become more and more of a full-time job. So he stepped back from his other interests to give the Association his full attention. AN EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRY When Tim first got involved with the industry, there were many small motor repair shops with very elementary repair equipment: pegboard for formers, a few selfmade ovens, large cans of not very clean grease, no bearing heaters, hammers and chisels to get the windings out, and even the occasional bonfire to loosen difficult windings. And in those businesses, there was often a large queue of motors on the floor waiting to be wound. But it became clear, through ‘state of the industry’ surveys the Association carried out in the 80s, that the sector was changing, and there were too many rewind companies fishing a smaller and smaller pond. Heavy industry was being affected by political and economic influences, meaning the overall number of industrial motors was reducing. Plus, where in previous years cheaper labour and the relatively high cost of motors had seen most companies want to repair their machines, an influx of low-price motors from countries such as China reduced prices and what could be rewound economically.
“I quickly learnt to love the smell of a burnt-out motor.”
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Tim Marks speaking at the inagural AEMT Awards
Quarter 2 2021
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