Oral History collection: John Ernest Broad interviewed by interviewed by about Clive Reed the Pontardawe Tinplate Works.

Track 1. [00:00:01] Personal Details: John Ernest Broad, aged 88, of Alltwen: b 1906 in Neath.Ex-Gilbertsons. [00:01:12] Industry: Father came to Pontardawe 1909, to work in new Gilbertson's tinplate works, furnaceman. [00:02:18] Industry: Pontardawe Foundry closed 1919, cast-iron and brass works, later re-opened. [00:03:46] Industry: Hargreaves engine for Pontardawe Foundry. [00:02:59] Industry: Milling processes. [00:04:55] Industry: Furnaces: 2 per mill, thick & finishing. [00:05:12] Industry: Metalworking processes, very detailed. [00:06:58] Industry: Doubling process. [00:07:40] Industry: Finishing processes, very detailed. [00:09:38] Industry: Shearing process, next day. [00:10:08] Industry: Tearing processes, by women. [00:10:54] Industry: Weighing processes, piece work pay. [00:11:04] Industry: Pickling processes, acid/water. [00:11:17] Industry: Cold rolling processes. [00:11:49] Industry: Annealing processes, preceeding cold rolling. [00:12:03] Industry: Tin House procedures, polishing. [00:12:38] Industry: Sorting and quality control procedures. [00:12:40] Industry: Packing & boxing procedures. [00:13:28] Transport: LMS sealed vans to Swansea, for export. [00:13:50] Industry: Furnaces extinguished midday Saturdays for maintenance. [00:14:13] Industry: Coal furnaces until 1945-46, then oil. [00:14:39] Industry: Shifts (3 per day), each mill producing 4 tons per shift. [00:14:56] Industry: Gilbertsons steelworks supplied steel. [00:15:13] Industry: Gilbertsons closed 1957, work to Velindre (Richard Thomas & Baldwin, then SCoW). [00:16:23] Industry: Alloy Works closed 1957, corrugated sheets. [00:17:08] Industry: Camber maintenance on weekends. [00:17:38] Industry: Six-men crews on mills. [00:18:39] Industry: Wages: subject basic 18/0d pw in 1920, aged 14, £3 in 1957. [00:19:16] Industry: Industrial work clothing, flannel, non-flammable. [00:19:39] Industry: Accidents: "Doublers Cuts" explained. [00:20:53] Industry: 1953: Dyffryn Works converted to oil. [00:21:56] Industry: I gallon of fuel oil per box allowed, furnace oiling procedures. [00:23:00] Industry: Oil use popular and efficient. [00:23:33] Industry: Gilbertsons own colliery, sold to workforce, 1/6d per 1cwt bag. [00:24:10] Railways: Pontardawe marshalling yards, many English immigrant workers.