Nelson Reunion
1999/96 Nelson Reunion, chaired by Dr David Finkelstein, Heather Holmes and HelenClark at Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh on 28.5.1999.
000 Introduction to the project
031 Family atmosphere at Nelsons. Not a Nelsonian unless you ha served your apprenticeship there. Quite an insular firm.
073 Rivalry between departments, efficient factory. Tea trolley going round factory. Welfare at Nelsons, Nelsons not good payers.
138 Feeling that if you were at Nelsons you were pretty special. Discussion on map making firms in Edinburgh. Bartholomews were part of Nelsons. Nelsons had a good social side; badminton, bowling and annual dances.
218 Families worked in Nelsons, would get members into firm. Most people who worked in Nelsons lived in the Southside. Were close enough to go home for lunch. Description of canteen.
276 Apprenticeship and apprentice tasks.
311 Day release and evening classes at Heriot Watt. People at Nelsons enjoyed the social side of work.
379 Not coming from the Southside you were a bit of an outsider. Took a while to accept people. Not accepting towards Catholics.
426 One apprentice to five men in the litho
437 Bonus apprentices and diluted labour
467 Women and men’s work.
484 Relationship between management and chapel. Jimmy Ford was a hard worker. Discussions with management as an FOC.
553 Time sheets and piece work. No bonus scheme at Nelsons. Pay at Nelsons, discussion on difference in pay between firms.
673 The chapel. Chapel meetings.
702 Meetings held in the glueroom.
752 Reaction to Nelsons closing character of Mr Nelson.
829 Morrison and Gibbs bonus scheme.
860 Closure of Morrison and Gibbs, owner of firm.
940 Gaffers, character of Archie Laurie.
985 Hierarchy of departments. Foremen weren’t necessarily the best workers. Feeling that the foremen did nothing.
042 Relationship between foremen.
082 Separation of roles between men and women.
092 Women’s task was a preparatory one
103 When women came in as a dilutee and stayed it was not liked.
122 Arguments over what was women’s work.
136 Women in the chapel, Mother of the chapel.
154 Women not keen to be on chapel committee. Nelsons had clout in union, big numbers. Story of McKechnie trying to get on national committee.
221 Finishing of apprenticeship, trying to get a pay rise.
270 Would not really recognise talent. Would get merit money for individual machines. Pay rises were very arbitrary. Characters at Nelsons. Swearing at Nelsons. Could not wander round the factory. Productivity rates in different firms compared.
398 Nelsonians made up for lack of salary in what they didn’t do.
End.