Addressograph Memories
Bob Cheeseman remembers the Addressograph factory in Hemel Hempstead well, he watched it being built.
The 1951 photo of the site |
He tells us: "My Father was the works manager at Addressograph at the time of their move from Oxgate Lane in Crickelwood to the New Town in Hemel, at which time we were living in Rickmansworth.
"He was responsible for the layout of the new factory, and I accompanied him on trips at the weekends to review the site progress. The photograph is an aerial photograph of the site taken in July 1951, when I was eleven. The road roughly North/South is Maylands Avenue, and the road running left to right is Cleveland Road (named as such because the company had its headquarters in Clevland Ohio).
"Having left school in 1959 I obtained an apprenticeship with AM (not without a bit of leverage from the Works Manager!).
"I earned £5 a week and was attached to the drawing office, although I did work in most departments within the company. I hope not to sound too immodest when I say that in all the companies that I subsequently worked with, AM was the best organised that I have ever known.
"I spent five years learning my trade and had a job as a junior draughtsman, and I think that I would have been earning about £14 a week. I do remember that when I passed my HNC I had the best raise of all the draughtsmen - 7/6 extra per week - 37p ! I left in 1965.
"My Father retired in December 1969 after 41 years of "Loyal and Untiring Service". He died in 1975."
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