Bootle Times - Past - Present - Future

IanA · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 172 Location: Scotland

During the war, my mum worked in the Cable Works in Bootle. I know roughly where it was but I would be interested to hear whether anyone has any pictures of it or knows the history of it - especially during the war years.

Ta.

Ian

BOBHAMO · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2521 Location: BIG CITY

this was taken in the war years ian , i have some info will have to look for it , bobhamo
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bootle born altcar road

BOBHAMO · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2521 Location: BIG CITY

[img]
Liverpool Electric Cable Co
‎‎
1918. From Kempes Directory.
1918. From Kempes Directory.

of Linacre Lane, Bootle, Liverpool

* 1901 Company established.

* 1914 Manufacturers of vulcanised rubber and rubber bitumen insulated cables. [1]

* 1926 Patent - Improvements in and relating to insulated electric conductors. [2]

* 1937 Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue as Maker of C. M. A. (Cable Makers' Association) Cables. Manufacturers of Electric Wires and Cables for all purposes. (Electricity: Industrial and Domestic Section - Stand Nos. Cb.501 and Cb.409) [3]

* 1937 Electric cable manufacturers. "Liverpool" Electric Cables. [4]

* 1945 Patent - Improvements relating to electric cable coupling boxes. [5]

* 1959 Acquired by AEI Cables. [/img]
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bootle born altcar road

lily8 · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject:

Tiny bit on this link;

http://indicatorloops.com/cablemakers.htm
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lily

IanA · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 172 Location: Scotland

Thanks to Bob and Lily8 for the quick response. The cable is much more sophisticated than I thought and the link is really interesting. Though I think mum began work there on the shop floor, I think she was pretty soon drafted in to the office.

daveowe · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2191 Location: Netherton

There were two distinctive electric cable manufacturing companies next door to each other on Linacre Lane. In the pic Bobhamo posted the name Mersey Cable Works Ltd, is shown on the cable drum. This factory was next to the Coronation pub, the other company was the Liverpool Electric Cable Company which was on the corner opposite Vernons Pools. The Liverpool Cables started life as a wire rope factory, later converting to electric cables. In 1953, AEI acquired Siemens Bros, taking over the Liverpool Electric Cables Company in 1958.

Mersey Cables was acquired by Enfield Cables in 1961. After it folded it became Skellys motor dealership, then becoming Peoples motor dealership.
A previous thread http://www.bootlehistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=109485&highlight=&sid=61aebb7d72fb47f70fda4d1d847e19ed

lily8 · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject:

Ian if you are interested in the history of cables you may find the following link useful.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=HUCieJjeQ-wC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=mersey+cables&source=bl&ots=v9UHrv50w0&sig=rzlQQErkVYOJkKrVE7iUd1xhY7s&hl=en&ei=R6pQTJfYNI6mvQPnopyPBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCkQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=mersey%20cables&f=false
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lily

Kathy John Moorcroft · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:27 am Post subject:

My Dad and brother worked in the Cable works, (Vactite).

My sister also worked in the office there.

Kathy.
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KATHY, Born in Litherland, lived in Bootle, now in Australia.

IanA · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 172 Location: Scotland

Hi Lily8 - not really interested in cables as such but fascinated at the complexity of the anti-submarine cables illustrated.

Daveowe - now you've thrown a spaniard in the works - mum only ever said that she used to work in 'the cable works'. It would be interesting to see if anyone remembered her - Edna Glendenning, as she would have been then - her contemporaries would be in their mid 80s by now. Incidentally, her uncle ran the barber's shop on Knowsley Road which was bombed in the war.

lily8 · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:29 am Post subject:

Good luck Ian hope someone can help

Cheers
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lily

Mack · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Kathy

I worked in Vactite too on work placement after leaving school in 1982. My job was to test the cables to make sure they where safe which involved getting many electric shocks. I was learning to build radio transmitters at the time so the copper wire that was getting chucked out came in very handy. Then I went on placement to Mannings Marine which was based on the Dock Road bottom of Millers Bridge learning how to repair ship motors. Sadly they too have now departed... Ah the memories...

Mack
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www.bootlehistory.co.uk

Kathy John Moorcroft · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:20 pm Post subject:

Nice one Mack, a man of many talents..

With all thoses electric shocks you should have curly hair.. Wink

I lost my sister earlier this year, I have her watch that she was given to her for 25 years service.
It is dated from 1948 to 1973, with Vactite Limited.
I just wondered when the change over took place..

Kathy.
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KATHY, Born in Litherland, lived in Bootle, now in Australia.

jean eaton · Joined: 29 Aug 2009 Posts: 1621 Location: nevada usa

Kathy our neighbor who lived on Linacre lane worked at the cable works, His name was Albert Thompson. His house was opposite side of the street.
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lived Linacre ln. Spence ave. moved USA 1959. Still a Brit

Kathy John Moorcroft · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:54 am Post subject:

Found this old pic, not a very clear one. Not sure of the year, 60's ???

It's my sister, Dad and Aunt..

Not sure if it is the Vactite in the background or other side of Street.??

Kathy.
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KATHY, Born in Litherland, lived in Bootle, now in Australia.

daveowe · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2191 Location: Netherton

Kathy
Sure is Liverpool Electric Cable works/Vactite, in the background the tower Vernons Pools building. The ladies never without with their 'message' bags.
Dave

Kathy John Moorcroft · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:33 am Post subject:

Thanks Dave, thought it was but wasn't sure..

Kathy.
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KATHY, Born in Litherland, lived in Bootle, now in Australia.

PETER CRAIG · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 18317 Location: BOOTLE

Kathy,
Is this any better?
Peter.

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A soft answer turneth away wrath.

Kathy John Moorcroft · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:26 am Post subject:

Thanks Peter good job, I have very few old photo's, so treasure the ones I have.

Kathy.
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KATHY, Born in Litherland, lived in Bootle, now in Australia.

jean eaton · Joined: 29 Aug 2009 Posts: 1621 Location: nevada usa

Kathy, I know what you mean about old family photos. Thanks to my niece in Wirral I have a lot more. Her dad, my late brother had kept many so she e-mailed them to me. In our parents day they didn't take to many photographs on the old box cameras.Wish I still had my dads old cameras.
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lived Linacre ln. Spence ave. moved USA 1959. Still a Brit

PETER CRAIG · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 18317 Location: BOOTLE

lily8 · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:49 am Post subject:

Hi Folks this is not Bootle but maybe of interest to those who woked at the cable companies perhaps same methods were used?? though this is a 1930's clip.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=82809
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lily