Thought you might like to hear about my apprenticeship and life in the glass trade. I am no William Shakespeare but I will try my best.

Stuart Norton. A Brief History of my Time. Part one.

Easter 1966 and 14 years old 15th birthday to come in June the summer of love was to come the following year so this was to be my summer of get a job boy! Until I started to think about this time I did not realise what an influence my older brother had on my choices I was trying to make.

At this time he was a ships engineer via drawing office and pattern maker with a ship builder Hawthorn Leslie. I also want to be a ships engineer and see world. The only way this was open for me was to do the same as him but I was to be a fitter and turner. Best bib and tucker on and off to interview.

Good and bad news I would be offered job, but this was to be the first year they would not be taking 15 year old on, so job would be on offer in august 1967.

So to the rescue. Later to find out I was to continue the family tradition... My Uncle Bill, Glazing manger pulled strings for an interview to be a glass worker.

I found myself, me 14 being interviewed by works manager and an ex Sergeant major who was to become my foreman and nemesis. Office interview over, Mr Millburn foreman who later in no certain terms after I started I had to work for him twenty years before I could call him George. Showed me round the department I was to work in.

Oblong, about 2000 sq feet. His desk centre top wall with big red stop button and small green (his get back to work now) start button. This was connected to a very large electric motor which powered a long shaft up the middle of the workshop. With all the machine belts powered from this bevelling on the right, brilliant cutting on the left. The shaft when set up here after the war was considered safer 2ft from ground rather than a ceiling height in their eyes less likely to lose an arm. Quick tour over I was out and on the way home.

A week later, job offered I was to become an indentured apprentice Brilliant cutter, and Beveller the first. At this time there was strict demarcation lines you where brilliant cutters full stop. You learnt one trade and did not cross the lines. The flat glass association Employers negotiation group wanted rid of demarcation lines. At first there what'd to combine pay groups together so Brilliant cutter with acid embossers same pay scale, Logical but embossers held out so no go.

Bevellers were easier quarry, so I was to be brilliant cutter beveller.

Part two February 2010

http://www.glass-and-sign.com/images/me%2017.jpg

Stuart,
Very interesting to hear you recall your youthful introduction to the brilliant cutting trade.
Your description of the long building with the long power shaft, demarcation line, and labor struggles along with a mental picture of the gruff boss and his power button
reads a bit like the beginning of a great Dickinson tale. I loved it!
Pat

Hi Stuart. Have heard Dave Smith mention your name many times. Glad to see you visiting our "wee patch" and enjoyed the tale. Your experience does give a pretty good impression of how things just might have been in the grand days of cut glass in the late 1800's

I am waiting for part two

Hi Doug, I am not that old

Stuart,

When will storyline 2 appear?
The one with all the girls and flashy mirrors above the pink hartshaped beds?

Erik

Great little story Stu, you never told me that before. 1966 two years before I was born. that makes you 105
Dave

Yes it was the swing sixties, but Newcastle 1966 the most erotic thing was trying to get your whippets to breed and blowing your pigeons to find out what sex they were. I was the only person on the department that did not wear a flat cap. All the good girls where good. (Think like nuns)

part two end feb.

I see maths was not your best subject at school. so it was good you where good at sign writing. No if you where still at school it would have been Graffiti. You are not Banksy are you.

Now that is real graffiti art old Banksy. My maths was never very good Stuart ,probably would of helped if I had gone to school....
Looking forward to part 2
Dave

Dave, the math might not be great but whatever the answer, that makes you the same age as my older daughter.

Yes 42 this June 18th for me Kent. Getting old!
Dave

If you are getting so old, what does that make me, besides young at heart?