In the photo-nostalgia page of Saturday's Star (21 April) there is a photograph of a party of employees leaving for a London trip.
The caption stated: "The Easter Brooks and Allcard yearly London trip."
My recollection is of the company being called Easterbrook Allcard Co. Ltd.

I can also remember Kemsley Newspapers using the work of sportswriter Basil Easterbrook (football and cricket) for over 30 years from 1950. He died in 1995, aged 75, and although unlikely to be related to the company, the Star ought to be familiar with the name Easterbrook. Perhaps PeterW knew him?

Hi Chairboy, Just seen your post about Easter Brooks and Allcard, I always thought it was East Brook and Allcard who manufactured Taps and Dies and more famously Presto Twist Drills.

I used for a short while went out with Jill Allcard and the familly lived at either 1 or 3 Taptonville Road.

This was in the mid 60's not sure this is is relivent to your post

It was definately EASTERBROOK and ALLCARD before it became PRESTO TOOLS. I worked there in 1960 ish and met my future wife there, they were famous for taps,dyes,drills and shipped them all over the world.
as an aside my first wage there as a progress chaser was £2..1..11d.

Hi Chairboy, Just seen your post about Easter Brooks and Allcard, I always thought it was East Brook and Allcard who manufactured Taps and Dies and more famously Presto Twist Drills.

I used for a short while went out with Jill Allcard and the familly lived at either 1 or 3 Taptonville Road.

This was in the mid 60's not sure this is is relivent to your post

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/33/a4222333.shtml

Here is a link which confirms my thoughts. It may be of interest to someone local. I was really commenting on the Star and the fact that you don't have to look far to find a mistake!

I live in the area you mention and remember Mr.Allcard, a smallish man with glasses and moustache?

Sorry Chairboy it was over 40 years ago I have allways called it Eastbrooks and Allcard, possably my mind was on the girl more than the name

It was definately EASTERBROOK and ALLCARD before it became PRESTO TOOLS. I worked there in 1960 ish and met my future wife there, they were famous for taps,dyes,drills and shipped them all over the world.
as an aside my first wage there as a progress chaser was £2..1..11d.

Arrodbo, did you see the aforementioned photo on page 27 last Saturday? There is no date given when this trip took place but it looks more 50's to me -all the staff in suits and ties.

Sandie - no probs.

There must be lots of people around who worked at Easterbrooks, and who have memories of their time there. Tell us some tales of what it was like working for Bert McGhee and suchlike! How about some memories from the girls who worked in the Inspection Dept?

R there any photos about of the premises before it was Presto?

This early 1960s photo includes the building: http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=u01755

and there are more photos on the Presto site: http://www.presto-tools.co.uk/History.html

Anybody remember Harold Roberts at Easterbrook/Presto ?

This early 1960s photo includes the building: http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=u01755

and there are more photos on the Presto site: http://www.presto-tools.co.uk/History.html
Excellent thanks hillsbro.

There must be lots of people around who worked at Easterbrooks, and who have memories of their time there. Tell us some tales of what it was like working for Bert McGhee and suchlike! How about some memories from the girls who worked in the Inspection Dept?

I worked at Presto Tools (Easterbrook and Allcard's) in the 80's and remember Bert McGee well - and his son John.

Bert McGee bought out Easterbrook and was involved with the day-to-day running of the factory. He was an "old-fashioned" type of boss who struck fear into his employees.

There was a "disease" prevalent on the firm called "macgeesia". I didn't understand what it was when I first started but it must have been something akin to sleeping sickness, but had the opposite effect.

Weary employees would dawdle about until someone cried "macgeesia" then they would all spring to life. It only seemed to have a temporary effect however :hihi:

They were tight gits the McGees - they never paid a decent wage

As for the girls - it had the reputation of a "knocking shop".

can anyone remember the girls in the inspection department? AROUND 1960 to 1965

Pauline Biggins, Teresa Morton,Jose Loy and a lady called Beatie who had a walking stick.
All maiden names of course.

I remember one of the McGee family who lived on Oldfield Road - I can't remember his first name (he had a daughter called Helen) but he seemed a nice chap; I often visited his next-door neighbours. In case it's of interest I just looked on findmypast.com - I found a Herbert Edward McGee who died in Sheffield in May 1995, aged 77; I guess this must be Bert McGee.

I worked at Presto Tools (Easterbrook and Allcard's) in the 80's and remember Bert McGee well - and his son John.

Bert McGee bought out Easterbrook and was involved with the day-to-day running of the factory. He was an "old-fashioned" type of boss who struck fear into his employees.

There was a "disease" prevalent on the firm called McGeesia. I didn't understand what it was when I first started but it must have been something akin to sleeping sickness, but had the opposite effect.

Weary employees would dawdle about until someone cried "McGeesia" then they would all spring to life. It only seemed to have a temporary effect however :hihi:

They were tight gits the McGees - they never paid a decent wage

As for the girls - it had the reputation of a "knocking shop".

Well! I remember working for Easterbrook and Allcard,. I think around 68-69. I worked in the export office which was located on the roof. If by any chance you was caught in the lift the boss would make you walk back down the stairs and back up. It was like a concentration camp. The office manager cant remember his name used to sit just watching. If the typing wasent up to his standard or the export logo was drawn wrong he used to make you type it over again some times 16 copies. Only stayed 3 months was glad to get out of there.

can anyone remember the girls in the inspection department? AROUND 1960 to 1965

Pauline Biggins, Teresa Morton,Jose Loy and a lady called Beatie who had a walking stick.
All maiden names of course.

Trevor Biggins worked in the Toolroom at Presto's, he'd be in his early 60's now. His sister Pat used to be in my class at Langsett Rd. (Burton St.) school. The family, in the 50's, used to live somewhere near the bottom of Burton St.

My dad worked there for years his name is Eric lambert he is 81 now. Also jack knott he is in his eighties now think he was a foreman back in the day.
My dad worked there for around 20/30 year.

my grandad David Bailey worked there for donkeys years, he sadly passed away last year :cry:

One of my neighbours in Owlerton worked at Easterbrook and Allcards.

His name was Fred Harrison, a wonderful artist but very shy about his talent, does anyone remember him?

Happy Days! PopT

The name Fred Harrison sounds familiar, can't say that I remember him though.

I left in 1990, after working in the maintenance department for 10 years.

Some of my 'better half's' family work there at some time...........Ivy Sullivan, Pat Pemberton. Carol Hobson, Pete Sherwin.

I worked with Pete in the maintenance dept, he retired a few years ago, how is he these days?

my grandad David Bailey worked there for donkeys years, he sadly passed away last year :cry:

Sorry to hear that, I remember your grandad, he was foreman in the heat treatment dept when I was there and retired around 1990ish I think, good bloke, always kind and smiling but also a laugh and took the pi$$ out of others as we all did

I could tell you loads of stories - some funny and some sad - about Presto Tools. I did a trip with old Stanley Allcard in the early 80s when he took me to the Gulf States - we arrived in Kuwait and the customs official confiscated a full bottle of Black Label and left him with a minature bottle of brandy and said "sorry Sir, you're only allowed one bottle!" (we could get a bottle through in those days)

There must be lots of people around who worked at Easterbrooks, and who have memories of their time there. Tell us some tales of what it was like working for Bert McGhee and suchlike! How about some memories from the girls who worked in the Inspection Dept?

I worked at Presto Tools (Easterbrook and Allcard's) in the 80's and remember Bert McGee well - and his son John.

Bert McGee bought out Easterbrook and was involved with the day-to-day running of the factory. He was an "old-fashioned" type of boss who struck fear into his employees.

There was a "disease" prevalent on the firm called "macgeesia". I didn't understand what it was when I first started but it must have been something akin to sleeping sickness, but had the opposite effect.

Weary employees would dawdle about until someone cried "macgeesia" then they would all spring to life. It only seemed to have a temporary effect however :hihi:

They were tight gits the McGees - they never paid a decent wage

As for the girls - it had the reputation of a "knocking shop".

worked there six weeks in 1970 always remember it as penistone rd workhouse

worked there six weeks in 1970 always remember it as penistone rd workhouse

It was more commonly known as a bread-and-fat shop :hihi:

It did provide work for lots of local people though until a succession of different owners had it and ran it down, including Yanks who carved-up the more profitable side of the business.

I worked there twice! Glutten for punishmnet or what?

The work was boring and the pay was terrible. It was the workers that made the place. I still laugh at some of the antics we got up to, some thirty-odd years ago.

By the way, there was another Mcgee in the factory. Bernard, gaffer of the drill grinding Dept. A cousin of John I think. Nowt like keeping it in the family!

Gosh, I remeber Eric. He was a Flute Grinder and I actually worked for John (Jack) Knott. Your Dad will remember me. I was a big lump of a cheeky beggar at 17 years old!

An old mate of mine worked there in the 1960s..Pete Bingham, his brother was sadly knocked down and killed outside Dial House club when he was about 19. I went to his funerall and the church was packed out.
Pete worked there for years on a machine and I havn't seen him for donkeys years.

easterbrooks was at the bottom of our st hobson ave my mate tony and me found a way to get into the canteen via the river we used to take bottles of pop sup em and take back the empty bottles a bobby on the watterside road saw us came round on his and watched while our dads gave us agood hiding no uming rites gestapo then thank god the nick name for easterbrooks was bread and fat shop because the money was crap burt magee went toburton st school with 2 of my aunts

easterbrooks was at the bottom of our st hobson ave my mate tony and me found a way to get into the canteen via the river we used to take bottles of pop sup em and take back the empty bottles a bobby on the watterside road saw us came round on his bike and watched while our dads gave us a good hiding no uming rites gestapo then thank god the nick name for easterbrooks was bread and fat shop because the money was crap burt magee went toburton st school with 2 of my aunts

Just driving past Presto Tools has inspired me to join this forum. Its brought back some great memories and although i never regretted leaving the place the memories will never leave me.
I started work there in June 1977, left school on the Friday and Started at Presto on the Monday!!!. I remember there was this guy who worked in the time house, I think his 2nd name was Marriot and he was a special constable. Always remember this as he once caught me sneaking into Wednesday football ground for nothing.
His son worked with us in our little group of inducted new starters, with a guy called Mossy who stuck out like a sore thumb as he was the only one that had a moustache and looked well older than 16 years old.
This guy called Walt Hall was our teacher and mentor, always remeber his very strong London accent. Never knew what became of most of these chaps.

i worked there from 1968 to 1973 i worked in the warehouse putting the orders to gether to be packed i loved it i wored with two sisters kath and jouce one was team leader i forgot which one i got married then i left to work at fred hartleys

Just found this thread. Both my mom and dad worked here. My dad worked there from beig 15 years old. His name is Dennis Wilman. Does anyone remember him? My mom worked there from about 1976 I think.

Drove past the place the other day and theres only half of it left as you can see the old lane that went up between the old Tool Room on the left hand side and the medical room and the entrance to the Reamers and Tap shop on your right. I knew all these departments as i ended up in them all, mainly as a vagrant and passed from pillar to post.

The old gaffers in those heady days were John Childs, Fred Freeman,Terry Wood, with the Gaffer in the tool room being a little guy with white hair, whose name escapes me at the moment. I have certainly got no hard feelings towards these guys in the least, as i reckon apart from this type of regime never to be seen again, i like to think that the experiences gave me the life skills to deal with anything like this again, I mean, where would you work to the sound of a bell on the wall these days, as not even in a prison is this method of working adopted.

I worked at Presto Tools from 1972 to 1974 , i worked in the office with Clive Swallow, and in John Childs office on the shop floor, i also remember Mr Wentworth, the German lady called Lisa, who had the habit of throwing things around the office at people if she was angry . Also John McGhee, who never spoke a word to me all the time i was there, and a proper gentleman was his father , i think there was a lady called Joy who worked in an office right at the back of the factory, didn,t she win the pools.

I knew Bill Headford who was one of the general labourers there, sometime after 1969.