Did you work at Longbridge? Rover stories. Red Robbo things.

[Alusilber]

Something I'm curious about is how good Robbo was at his actual job in the factory (whatever his job actually was?)  - did he take it seriously (which would have been quite unusual from the sounds of it!) or was he too busy fomenting unrest? Assuming he had any time left in the working day after his union duties...

[motorpunk]

He was a toolmaker, and a time served apprentice. Later in his career he was a full time convenor meaning he would dedicate his time to union matters in an office during working hours. There’s a curious interview where he describes how his toolmaker job has changed over the years and you get the feeling that, actually, he hadn’t gotten his hands dirty in many years. He had use of an office near the press plant and, on more than one occasion, complained that the noise of the factory made it difficult for him to do his union job. The influence he had as an individual on the running of the factory is incredible. 

[N Dentressangle]

On 06/04/2025 at 22:44, motorpunk said:

Just under 10000 words. Have given Harold Musgrove a good kicking. Am curious if he’s still alive, he’d be 95ish now…

I think he is. And was obviously sharp enough 8 years ago:

https://www.aronline.co.uk/people/harold-musgrove-interview/

But his views of his own performance might differ from others:

https://www.aronline.co.uk/opinion/i-was-there/working-with-harold-musgrove/

An unpleasantly familiar management style.

[colnerov]

 

 Not his usual style of video, but interesting.

 

 

[lesapandre]

Interesting video. 

One point - about the shadow factories - these were never built wholly underground nor intended to be completely bomb proof.

'Shadow' in this case meant that they contained production operations and other activities that shadowed existing industry elsewhere. This was intended to increase production of various type of weapons and other materials and disperse production in the event of air raids.

What's shown is probably the mass air-raid shelters and other connecting tunnels as well as secure storage for key components and space for some protected production lines.

http://www.austinmemories.com/styled/index.html

Longbridge was never a shadow factory itself but an existing established main works - the East Works was extended to provide extra 'shadow' capacity in addition to these main activities.

Explained here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_shadow_factories

[motorpunk]

I never dream when I sleep. Last night I did. I held a meeting with a load of ex-Longbridge employees and Robbo himself stood up and started answering my questions. He said he drove a motorhome. I told him he’d died years ago and then I woke up. I think I’m overdoing the research. 

[willswitchengage]

In the news today

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1v136r57o

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, willswitchengage said:

In the news today

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1v136r57o

46 workers at Longbridge. FFS.

[N Dentressangle]

An utter shitshow of a situation. Disgraceful.

[lesapandre]

3 hours ago, willswitchengage said:

In the news today

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1v136r57o

Glosses over what happened which was an absolute fiasco - and fiasco is the kindest word - I can think of others.

'Herbert's Yard' - typical tripe.