Tool kit 1956

My professional electrical career started off as an electrician's mate in a very large Victorian hospital whilst I waited to start my technician apprenticeship with the Post Office.


I was very keen to learn but continually prevented from doing so by the class system operated by the ETU (Electrical Trade Union) who at the time operated very restrictive practices. I was given a little green book of rules issued by the ETU. It had a very restricted list of what tools I was able to own, probably about 5 or 6 tools. I still have my Elliot Lucas side cutters I purchased at the local tool shop in my lunch hour after receiving my first week's pay. On returning to the electrician's workshop I was solemnly reminded what I was permitted to use them for. I was allowed to cut long surplus singles after pulling them through conduit whilst assisting an electrician but under no circumstances allowed to cut them to length or terminate them. 


My main activities were carrying a bending machine and tool bag over long distances behind an electrician like some native bearer. I could put a thread on the end of a piece of conduit under the direct supervision of an electrician. Rawl plugging holes with a No. 8 Rawl Plug tool and 2LB hammer could for hours was a mind numbing activity, we had an early hammer drill in the stores but there was only one and could only be used by an electrician. 


I used to make the tea for the electricians in the workshop whilst they waited on to be served except on days when I was told to collect a patient from a ward and take them to the workshop to make the tea for therapy. I was not allowed to join in technical arguments during break times as I was "only a mate".


I did learn a lot from working and some secret teaching from a couple of the more enlightened electricians who would let me have a go at tasks I was not allowed to do. One taught me how to strip and terminate Pyro. I watched every activity I could to learn whatever I could, a practice  that I have maintained to this day.


It was a year after joining the Post Office before I was issued with a tool kit in my leather "Wallet No.3". A milestone in my career as I had scraped through my first years training without getting sacked or requested to leave and had passed my first years exams and assessments. When I left the PO many years later as a Director I passed it on to an new apprentice with my Meter Multi-range 12 C with the words "here you are son look after them". 

My professional electrical career started off as an electrician's mate in a very large Victorian hospital whilst I waited to start my technician apprenticeship with the Post Office.


I was very keen to learn but continually prevented from doing so by the class system operated by the ETU (Electrical Trade Union) who at the time operated very restrictive practices. I was given a little green book of rules issued by the ETU. It had a very restricted list of what tools I was able to own, probably about 5 or 6 tools. I still have my Elliot Lucas side cutters I purchased at the local tool shop in my lunch hour after receiving my first week's pay. On returning to the electrician's workshop I was solemnly reminded what I was permitted to use them for. I was allowed to cut long surplus singles after pulling them through conduit whilst assisting an electrician but under no circumstances allowed to cut them to length or terminate them. 


My main activities were carrying a bending machine and tool bag over long distances behind an electrician like some native bearer. I could put a thread on the end of a piece of conduit under the direct supervision of an electrician. Rawl plugging holes with a No. 8 Rawl Plug tool and 2LB hammer could for hours was a mind numbing activity, we had an early hammer drill in the stores but there was only one and could only be used by an electrician. 


I used to make the tea for the electricians in the workshop whilst they waited on to be served except on days when I was told to collect a patient from a ward and take them to the workshop to make the tea for therapy. I was not allowed to join in technical arguments during break times as I was "only a mate".


I did learn a lot from working and some secret teaching from a couple of the more enlightened electricians who would let me have a go at tasks I was not allowed to do. One taught me how to strip and terminate Pyro. I watched every activity I could to learn whatever I could, a practice  that I have maintained to this day.


It was a year after joining the Post Office before I was issued with a tool kit in my leather "Wallet No.3". A milestone in my career as I had scraped through my first years training without getting sacked or requested to leave and had passed my first years exams and assessments. When I left the PO many years later as a Director I passed it on to an new apprentice with my Meter Multi-range 12 C with the words "here you are son look after them".