Home | The Reyrolle Story
Robert Owen winds up his history of one of the most illustrious manufacturing concerns on Tyneside.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
There is an announcement that houses are to be built on the site of a massive Reyrolle building.
To obtain a copy of Robert Owen's history of the famous Tyneside manufacturing firm please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
After more than a hundred years the once-huge manufacturing concern Reyrolle disappears from the Hebburn scene.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The last year of the century brought further redundancies as the Tyneside manufacturing concern Reyrolle continued to decline.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please click on
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The Tyneside manufacturing firm Reyrolle continues a fight for survival.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...During the last decade of the twentieth century, Reyrolle management seemed to develop a new social responsibility regarding education and training...
Robert Owen continues his history of the Tyneside manufacturing firm Reyrolle.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Despite winning its biggest-ever export order the giant Tyneside manufacturing concern Reyolle continues to make workers redundant.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The Tyneside manufacturing concer Reyrolle, now part of Rolls-Royce Power Engineering, continues to decline.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Reyrolle, battling to survive, win a huge order in a new market.
Robert Owen continues his history of the huge Tyneside manufacturing concern.
To order a copy of Robert's book please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The end now seems to be in sight for the giant Tyneside manufacturing firm, Reyrolle.
Robert Owen continues his history of a once-proud industrial concern.
To purchase a copy of Robert's excellent book please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The huge New Town Works of Reyolle, the Tyneside manufacturing firm, is finally put up for sale.
Robert Owen continues his history of the firm.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...One indicator that a company is in real trouble is said to be when it 'sacks' its apprentices on completion of their training. This happened at NEI Reyrolle in 1980 when it terminated the employment of numerous apprentices after their four year's training...
Robert Owen charts the rundown of a once-great Tyneside manufacturing concern.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book The Reyrolle Story please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The management of the huge Tyneside manufacuring cconcern Reyrolle continue to face up to stern trading conditions.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen's history of the firm please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Reyrolle. now fighting for its existence, merges with yet another large manufacturing concern.
Robert Owen continues his history of a once-prestigious Tyneside firm.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book The Reyrolle Story please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
After years of decline Tyneside's giant manufacturing firm Reyrolle shows signs of revival, asRobert Owen reports.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book The Reyrolle Story please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen charts the run-down of the once-great Tyneside manufacturing concern, Reyrolle.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book The Reyrolle Storoy please click on
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The trading tide begins to turn against the huge Tyneside engineering firm Reyrolle.
To purchase a copy of The Reyrolle Story, Robert Owen’s history of the firm, please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Continue reading "41 – One Of The Finest Research Laboratories" »
Robert Owen continues his history of one of Tyneside’s most famous manufacturing firms, Reyolle.
To purchase a copy of Robert’s book The Reyrolle Story please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen tells of the biggest change in the history of the giant Tyneside manufacturing firm, Reyrolle.
Faced with increasing competition Reyrolle continues to diversify.
To purchase a copy of Robert Owen’s history of the giant Tyneside manufacturing firm please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen tells of the merger of two huge Tyneside manufacturing firms.
To purchase acopyof Robert’s book The Reyrolle Story please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
The huge Tyneside engineering firm Reyrolle at last merges with another major manufacturer, Parsons.
Robert Owen continues his history, The Reyrolle Story.
...Bookies could be found throughout the factory and cigarettes and confectionary could be purchased with ease...
Robert Owen recalls the “Underworld’’ whih thrived at the giant Tyneside engineering firm, Reyrolle.
To purchase a copy of Robert’s book The Reyrolle Story please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Feeding the thousands who worked for the giant Tyneside engineering firm Reyrolle was a massive task, as Robert Owen reveals.
To purchase a copy of Robert’s book please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Dry humour and practical jokes helped the days to go by at the huge Reyrolle engineering works, as Robert Owen reveals in the latest chapter of his history of the firm.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...In 1951 the Company was 50 years old and it was planning to produce a formal Jubilee History. It never happened but a Jubilee Dinner was held in the Old Assembly Rooms, Newcastle on the 10th October 1951 - the same week as Alphonse Reyrolle's birthday...
Robert Owen, now providing that history, continues his story of the huge Tyneside engineering firm, Reyrolle.
Reyrolle, the huge Tyneside engineering firm,produced many excellent sports people, including goalkeeper Ray Wood, who played for England and was one of Manchester United's famous Busby Babes.
Robert Owen continues his history of the firm which he joined as an apprentice.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
"Many marriages took place after an initial meeting at work and some workers thought Reyrolle was like one big family,'' writes Robert Owen, continuing his history of the huge Tyneside Engineering firm, Reyrolles,
...Reyrolle was always a popular place to work, and compared to local coal-mines and shipyards it had many advantages. Numerous workers have happy memories of the place...
Robert Owen recalls the days when the huge engineering firm Reyrolles was at the centre of life in the Tyneside town in which it was based.
The Tyneside firm Reyrolles reaches a historical turning point and less happy times are ahead.
Robert Owen continues his history of a major British engineering concern.
Robert Owen, continuing his history of the huge Tyneside engineering firm Reyrolles, tells of the winning of a contract to supply equipment to one of Britain's biggest power stations.
The late Fifites found Reyrolle'ss engineers pondering over a major switchgear design change.
Robert Owen continues his history of the giant Tyneside engineering concern.
To read earlier chapters please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...The Nuclear Power Plant Co was formed in 1955 with Reyrolle as a constituent member. A few years later Calder Hall the world's first Nuclear power station to generate electricity on an industrial scale, was opened by H.M Queen Elizabeth when she switched the station onto the National Grid...
Robert Owen continues his history of Reyrolles, the huge Tyneside engineering firm.
To read earlier chapters please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...He also remembers happy days socialising with other graduate students and the annual drinking competition which was won by an allegedly non-drinking Sheik!...
Robert Owen tells of a man who went through Reyrolle's Graduate Scheme then later became a university professor.
To read earlier chapters of Robert's history of the huge engineering firm please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen, continuing his hsitory of the giant engineering firm Reyrolles, tells of a Board of Trade investigation concerning share dealing.
To read earlier chapters please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen, continuing his history of a major industrial concern, tells how changes had to be made in the aftermath of war.
To read earlier chapters of Robert's history please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
...The Oxford National Biography concludes his obituary by saying: "In the field of electricity supply, Charles Merz ranks as the premier electrical engineer during the first half of the twentieth century."...
Robert Owen continues his history of Retrolles, the huge engineering concerm.
To read earlier chapters click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?
Robert Owen tells of the visit of George VI and Queen Elizabeth to the Reyrolle works in 1943.
To read earlier chapters of Robert's history of the famous engineering firm please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...Perhaps it was just as well that Reyrolle was never bombed, because it is debatable if the Company had sufficient air-raid shelters to accommodate its thousands of workers. Frank Pearce, a post-graduate student, remembers: "Our instructions in the event of an air-raid were to proceed downstairs in an orderly manner and to stand under a row of trees near the football field!"...
Continuing his history of the giant enginneering concern Reyrolles, Robert Owen tells of wartime security measures.
To read earlier chapters please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...It was also not uncommon for work to be re-directed to Reyrolle from bomb damaged factories or shipyards throughout the country. An example was a two-inch rocket project that was being manufactured in the midlands. Many essential drawings were lost in a raid and new drawings had to be prepared by Reyrolle draughtsmen. A prototype was prepared in four weeks and during acceptance trials, was inspected by no less a person that the Prime Minister - Winston Churchill...
Reyrolles, the giant engineering firm, produced a wide variety of military equipment for all three services during World War Two as Robert Owen reveals.
To read earlier chapters of Robert's book please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of the book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Continue reading "Seventeen - Work For The Army, Navy And RAF" »
During World War Two the giant engineering firm Reyrolles adpted its production to the needs of the war machine, as Robert Owen reveals.
To read earlier chapters of The Reyrolle Story please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...At the start of the 1930's about one third of houses in the UK had electricity; by the end of the decade, the proportion had doubled. The result was that Reyrolle showed its flexibility by manufacturing a small range of products for the home and farm...
Robert Owen continues his history of one of Britain's great 20th Century engineering firms.
Robert Owen, in his history of the giant engineering firm Reyrolles, tells of apprentices playing practical jokes on each other.
"Jack Hull recalls the prank of gaining access to a mate's sandwiches, lacing them with Keene's Cement and then just waiting for lunchtime!''
To read earlier chapters of Robert's story please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of his book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Continue reading "Fourteen - Zis eez not zee playhouse, zis eez zee workhouse!"." »
...Looking back, the Reyrolle Technical Conference is remembered as an excellent example of technical co-operation between managers in different countries. It was ironic however, that such co-operation worked so well at an international level for so long, whilst comparative exercises with manufacturers in Great Britain, rarely succeeded...
Robert Owen tells of attempts to organise national power grid systems.
To read earlier chapters of his history of the huge engineering concern Reyrolles please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
A Reyrolle's apprentice tells of a thrilling day at the Cup final.
Robert Owen continues his history of a great engineering firm.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...The 1920's were harsh years for any worker who was ill or had an accident at work. Long before the National Health Service, the assistance of the Reyrolle's Employees Benevolent Association was always in demand. Administered by an elected committee it disbursed funds in lump sums or weekly payments for blankets, clothing, food and orthopaedic aids etc., for employees and their families...
Robert Owen continue's his history of one of Britain's major engineering firms.
Reyrolles. the giant engineering concern, grew so rapidly during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century that by 1920 it was employing 1,1000 people.
Robert Owen continues his history of the firm which gave him his start as an engineer.
Robert Owen tells of the death of the founder of one of Britain's major engineering concerns.
To read earlier chapters of The Reyrolle Story please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of Robert's book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
...Occasionally, enlisted men were discharged back to the Company as essential war workers. However, back at work many were challenged by other workers and told they should be serving the King in the armed forces. Some were even presented with white feathers to indicate their cowardice...
During World War One some essential workers on the home front were branded as cowards.
Robert Owen continues his history of one of England's great engineering firms.
To purchase a copy of Robert's book please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Robert Owen tells of the wedding of Alphonse Reyrolle, the French-born founder of one of England's greatest engineering firms.
To read earlier chapters pleaase click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
Continue reading "Seven - Mixed Fortunes For The Reyrolle Family" »
Robert Owen continues his history of one of Britain's most important engineering firms.
To read earlier episodes click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/the_reyrolle_story/
To purchase a copy of Robert's book visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyrolle-Story-History-Co-Ltd/dp/1905295073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245678876&sr=1-1
Alphonse Reyrolle moved his London-based business north to Tyneside in the same year that Queen Victgoria died.
Robert Owen continues his history of one of England's major manufacturing concerns.
Approaches are made to persuade Alphonse Reyrolle to relocate his London factory to Tyneside.
Robert Owen continues his outstanding history of one of Britain's major industrial concersn.
Continuing his story of one of England's greatest engineering firms, Robert Owen tells how Frenchman Alphonse Reyrolle set up his first business in London.
Beginning his history of one of Britain's most famous engineering firms, A Reyrolle & Co Ltd, Robert Owen introduces us to the man who founded the business, Frenchman Alphonse Reyrolle.
The Reyrolle Story will appear in weekly episodes in Open Writing on forthcoming Fridays.
Robert Owen served his engineering apprenticeship with Reyrolles.
Continue reading "One - Introducing Alphonse Constant Reyrolle" »
Robert Owen presents an introduction to his history of one of Britain's major engineering firms A Reyrolle & Co Ltd.
At one time this giant Tyneside firm employed 12,000 poeple. Robert trained as an apprentice at Reyrolles.
