Cycling UK Forum

https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2012/au ... h-factory/

You might find this History of Raleigh interesting. This was the glory days when Raleigh produced up to 75% of UK cycles. Tales (assuming I clicked on the correct link) are from a painter, wheel builder and typist at Raleigh Nottingham. Two things stand out at Raleigh. Like the Cadbury there was a social spirit and it was very very hard graft.
Good you posted its nice to revisit history.

It's interesting to mull on the notion of companionship, social interaction and their effect on productivity. Compare and contrast with the outsourced mainaintance of the apartment block where I live. The simple issue of a dropped hinge on the bin store door has been reported several times, attempts at a fix have been made several times and after months, the door remains impossible to close readily. My point, given that this isn't Nottingham and we're not talking bicycle manufacturing? Well, the point is that nobody's seen any of the staff who came to look at the door - it's all totally anonymous. They come and go, many times, without any intereaction with us residents at all. And fail to fix the issue. But do not fail to bill us excrutiating amounts for each of their failed attempts. Bring back the Old Days, say I... (but not necessarily, the old bikes, mind...)

See too Royal Mail's response to claims they have recently lost thousands of letters intended for recipients in Cambridgshire - here. Anonymous and wholly inadequate. This is modern life - can it get any worse? Answer: Yes.
I'm off for a nice ride.
ps Wasn't working job at Raleigh famously depicted in a somewhat negative light, in Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, starring Albert Finney?

briansnail wrote: 15 Apr 2022, 10:05pm https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2012/au ... h-factory/

You might find this History of Raleigh interesting. This was the glory days when Raleigh produced up to 75% of UK cycles. Tales (assuming I clicked on the correct link) are from a painter, wheel builder and typist at Raleigh Nottingham. Two things stand out at Raleigh. Like the Cadbury there was a social spirit and it was very very hard graft.

It is interesting, thanks for posting.

But Bournville and the other model societies were in a different league from factory trips and Christmas bonuses.

Jonathan

Simon's right, The 1960 film Saturday night Sunday morning had a good opening sequence with Arthur Seaton (played by Albert Finney) a machinist turning out bottom bracket axles in a life of mind numbing toil in the Raleigh factory. Well worth watching. A pretty realistic account of life in the factory by all accounts.
https://youtu.be/zJAeb0wiQjA
You wouldn't find unguarded machinery nowadays. How many fingers were lost.

Albert Finney was a great actor ,and should have been knighted..Two Alberts ,Finney and Guinness were great,and seldom were in same film,excepting The loneliness of a long-distance slimmer.