My WIP book about Red Robbo, and Longbridge stuff.

[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.

[motorpunk]

Just paid for a load of period photographs. Don’t nick this one, please. I love it. Totally captures the moment.

[New POD]

On 15/04/2025 at 20:29, lesapandre said:

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.

 

On 15/04/2025 at 19:57, N Dentressangle said:

An utter shitshow of a situation. Disgraceful.

 

On 15/04/2025 at 18:58, motorpunk said:

46 workers at Longbridge. FFS.

 

On 15/04/2025 at 17:12, willswitchengage said:

In the news today

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

I lived in Rednal from 1989 to 1994, and most of the families in the area had someone working at "The Austin" 

The problem for many of them would be that other work would require them to commute more than a mile. 

 

[motorpunk]

I wonder if there'll be any other shiters at The Pride of Longbridge event. Satursday April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Cofton Park, B31 2BQ?

I am aiming to take the Elise (with a Longbridge kettle in the back, so it sort-of qualifies). I've visited Cofton Park recently and the terrain looks better suited to a Moke than a Lotus, but let's see. I don't usually like car shows with the detailing and crap trophies and parking in rows and all that, but I do have a soft spot for Rovers and (important) would like to mingle with anyone who has a story to tell about Robbo and co. 

Not sure how to 'advertise' myself, though. Sign in the windscreen saying "I'm horny for Robbo stories - talk to me" or something? Seems a bit desperate. If I had my shit together I could have made some flyers or something to advertise the book which is about 10% written and, therefore simultaneously, 90% not written. I'm not on Facebook which really hampers me and, as mentioned elsewhere, I currently have no mobile phone either. 

Come and say hello if you're going to be there. I'm the chap with the moustache who usually looks knackered. 

 

 

[comfortablynumb]

Get  a t-shirt printed @motorpunk?

Friends did that to advertise their holiday let, got loads of business.

Appreciate time might be a bit short tho, and what if it rains?  😁

[lesapandre]

59 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

I wonder if there'll be any other shiters at The Pride of Longbridge event. Satursday April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Cofton Park, B31 2BQ?

I am aiming to take the Elise (with a Longbridge kettle in the back, so it sort-of qualifies). I've visited Cofton Park recently and the terrain looks better suited to a Moke than a Lotus, but let's see. I don't usually like car shows with the detailing and crap trophies and parking in rows and all that, but I do have a soft spot for Rovers and (important) would like to mingle with anyone who has a story to tell about Robbo and co. 

Not sure how to 'advertise' myself, though. Sign in the windscreen saying "I'm horny for Robbo stories - talk to me" or something? Seems a bit desperate. If I had my shit together I could have made some flyers or something to advertise the book which is about 10% written and, therefore simultaneously, 90% not written. I'm not on Facebook which really hampers me and, as mentioned elsewhere, I currently have no mobile phone either. 

Come and say hello if you're going to be there. I'm the chap with the moustache who usually looks knackered. 

 

 

You need to dress like George Smiley for this kind of high-grade espionage work, carry a rolled up copy of the Morning Star and have a Bush cassette player in your pocket with the Red Flag playing quietly.

You'll be recognised by theses subtle signs and the comrades will gravitate to you.

(Don't forget your microfilm camera)

[lesapandre]

Series of before, during and after redevelopment views at Longbridge - some taken from the same location - emphasising the scale of demolition, remediation and redevelopment:

https://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/austin_rover_factory_longbridge_before_during_after_redevelopment_13393

[garethj]

7 hours ago, motorpunk said:

I wonder if there'll be any other shiters at The Pride of Longbridge event. Satursday April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Cofton Park, B31 2BQ?

I am aiming to take the Elise (with a Longbridge kettle in the back, so it sort-of qualifies). I've visited Cofton Park recently and the terrain looks better suited to a Moke than a Lotus, but let's see. I don't usually like car shows with the detailing and crap trophies and parking in rows and all that, but I do have a soft spot for Rovers and (important) would like to mingle with anyone who has a story to tell about Robbo and co. 

Not sure how to 'advertise' myself, though. Sign in the windscreen saying "I'm horny for Robbo stories - talk to me" or something? Seems a bit desperate. If I had my shit together I could have made some flyers or something to advertise the book which is about 10% written and, therefore simultaneously, 90% not written. I'm not on Facebook which really hampers me and, as mentioned elsewhere, I currently have no mobile phone either. 

Come and say hello if you're going to be there. I'm the chap with the moustache who usually looks knackered. 

 

 

When I occasionally went to autojumbles in the 90s, there were people wearing those placards that normally say “The end of the world is nigh” but said “Looking for 1954 Ford distributor parts and NSF brake hose”

Get one with “Tell me your Longbridge stories from the 60s and 70s” although make it large print because the old duffers might not’ve had the cataract op done yet.

[motorpunk]

Met some Brummie communists. I don’t think they liked me much. Am sad because I am genuinely writing a balanced view on Robbo’s life and I suspect they think I’m doing a hatchet job like the tabloids did. I’m not sure I have much more time or patience to develop this relationship with them further, I have a book to write!

Have a pic.

 

[lesapandre]

[Sir Snipes]

From what I've read (way outside of uk manufacturing) you will rarely see an insincere communist, but they attract grifters like you wouldn't believe and they always seem to have a huge blindpsot for such people. 

It's kinda sad when buildings empty, people move on and things are forgotten, but that's life I guess. 

Really looking forward to the book, motorpunk. Did you say you've already published something prior?

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, Sir Snipes said:

From what I've read (way outside of uk manufacturing) you will rarely see an insincere communist, but they attract grifters like you wouldn't believe and they always seem to have a huge blindpsot for such people. 

It's kinda sad when buildings empty, people move on and things are forgotten, but that's life I guess. 

Really looking forward to the book, motorpunk. Did you say you've already published something prior?

Thank you.

I’ve written quite a bit. My previous book is called Looking for the real Weasel. It’s on Amazon. It’s about bank robber and racing driver, Roy James. It got good reviews and I’m rather proud of it although I now get weird emails from the likes of drug smugglers and self-proclaimed ‘ard men as a result of it.

[Sir Snipes]

8 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Thank you.

I’ve written quite a bit. My previous book is called Looking for the real Weasel. It’s on Amazon. It’s about bank robber and racing driver, Roy James. It got good reviews and I’m rather proud of it although I now get weird emails from the likes of drug smugglers and self-proclaimed ‘ard men as a result of it.

I think Confessions From Quality Control might be a good companion with the Robbo book.

 

Any possanility of a hardback edition?

[New POD]

8 hours ago, motorpunk said:

My previous book is called Looking for the real Weasel. It’s on Amazon. 

Despite my wife's attempts to make Jeff Bozo extra rich, I'm trying not to buy anything I can get elsewhere from them.  Do you have any other distributors? 

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, New POD said:

Do you have any other distributors? 

You can buy it from me, but it’ll cost more than it does on Amazon as I use their print on demand service, but it does allow me to sign it or draw a cock and balls on it if you like.

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, Sir Snipes said:

I think Confessions From Quality Control might be a good companion with the Robbo book.

 

Any possanility of a hardback edition?

Thanks. Hardback? I hadn’t considered that! 

[New POD]

3 hours ago, motorpunk said:

You can buy it from me, but it’ll cost more than it does on Amazon as I use their print on demand service, but it does allow me to sign it or draw a cock and balls on it if you like.

How does one place an order (signed but without cock or balls) ? 

[motorpunk]

58 minutes ago, New POD said:

How does one place an order (signed but without cock or balls) ? 

 

For 'Looking for the Real Weasel'?

Sorry chap, due to the fact that I'm utterly irresponsible and have a penchant for doodling, I cannot guarantee there will be no cock and balls in it. Maybe you'll get some comedy knockers instead, or some purile nonsense about UR MUM M8, but I cannot be trusted with personal requests. If you're feeling really brave then DM me your address and I'll send you some bank details and we can take it from there. The book will still have been printed by Amazon anyway, I'm stuck with 'em, sadly.

Or you can click this link and it'll arrive much cheaper and faster than I could ever manage 

 

[motorpunk]

Have just written “rage against the machine (shop)” and am so pleased with myself I’ve stopped writing to have a celebratory coffee. 

[motorpunk]

11000 words. Am now in 1982 (I write in reverse chronological order because it’s fun and difficult and sort-of makes sense). Lots coming together. Robbo unemployed. Mental things still happening at Longbridge. Last weekend I interviewed a man who was sacked not once, not twice, but three times from Longbridge in 1982 for some proper naughty things. Need to write that up next.

[High Jetter]

Intrigue is peaked. What crimes?