Memoirs of a Masonian Page2

Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish

Dan & Charles Mason, pioneers of the shoe polish industry in Chiswick

The Memoirs of a Masonian P2

Let me here relate a misfortune that befell me about the middle of 1906. I was foolish enough to have an argument with a crane. I had occasion to get at a barrel of turpentine which was stored in the yard beside the crane. It was Monday morning and the Soap Department had finished unloading a barge of barrels of linseed oil the previous Saturday. The unloaders had discharged their cargo in front of the barrels of turpentine. To use a crane was my only means of obtaining my objective. I had the barrel of turpentine hoisted high enough to allow for swinging over the barrels of oil operating the crane the handle slipped from my grasp, came back at a terrific speed and hit me on the forehead. As if awakening from sleep was my next recollection of life. No-one witnessed the mishap and for a few minutes I merely felt as if I had a headache. It was not, however, long before I discovered that blood was flowing rather freely from my wounded forehead. Finding my coat, I put my handkerchief to the wound, walked to Chiswick High Road, boarded a tram and so made my way to the West London Hospital. Three stitches I returned to work as if nothing had happened. I mention this episode to show, by contrast, the lack of first aid and dispensary facilities in those days and their availability today. No "Safety First" campaign then!

Up to 1906 all polish tins were filled by hand and there was great excitement in that year when a Baker Filling Machine arrived. "We shall never sell enough polish to keep that machine going" was my thought then, but it was not long before I was proved wrong.

When the machine arrived, not least excited amongst us was Mr Dan Mason who had it fitted up temporarily, as was his custom with all newly acquired plant. The great day arrived when the filling machine was to be put in operation. Thereby hands a tale against our esteemed "chief". Mr Dan Mason was the operator. The writer was responsible for pouring the polish into the hopper and several girls one with a tray of tins, another holding a wiper, and so forth made up the cast in this little drama. It was late August, the weather was warm and, as was usual at that time of the year, Mr Dan walked about in white drill trousers, white shirt and wearing a straw hat. Soon after experimental operations had commenced a piece of foreign matter became lodged in one of the nozzles, causing polish to squirt considerably, all over the front of our "chief's" white shirt. I can best describe it as a currant pudding effect!! I had eventually to take over this machine, which meant making my own polish and pouring it into the machine by means of a bucket. It was also my duty to fill the tins and keep the machine clean.

Some details of the working of the Baker Filling Machine may be of interest. It had a V-shaped hopper without stirrers, and the only die had to be cleaned frequently, this task falling to my lot. The manufacturing plant consisted of one pot of 100 gallons and one of 50 gallons, and these were steam jacketed. When the polish was being made I had to use an iron stirrer or crutch with one hand and pour the turpentine into the pot with the other.

Trade improved and early in 1907 we had our first taste of mass production in the manufacture of polish. Prior to the time of which I write, the polish was made on the same floor as the filling machine. Above us was a flat roof. Iron girders began to arrive, and a building was erected on the roof. In this building a large mixer was installed. It was the shape of a funnel the narrow portion going through the roof so that the valve came immediately over the filling machine. This part of the building still remains and is embodied in the present Nugget Mixing Department.

The day for another one of our "try-outs" arrived, with life consequently kept full of interest for me. In a humble capacity I found it nevertheless gratifying to be associated with such a growing concern.

Mr Dan Mason was, as usual, eager to get busy with the mixer and with Mr Burdett and any odd labour available, operations commenced. From the neck or valve of the mixer to the filling machine was a distance of about nine feet. Eight feet of this run consisted of a two-inch steam jacketed pipe with a large funnel about 30 mm diameter in the top and a hole with a bush to allow a piece of cane to be pushed up the valve of the mixer when the valve was opened to make the polish flow. The valve was operated by a chain. So far so good, but the snag was that the bottom part of the mixer was not jacketed and the polish frequently became set in the valve which necessitated much use of the cane. Considerable time was spent in making the polish flow as freely as was desired, and many were the baptisms with polish we received!

This method of production had, however, to suffice for a time. The 2d tin was introduced. All boot polish tins in those days were foiled and the tins sealed with a paper band.

Not satisfied with the mixer in use or in fact with anything else, so intent was Mr Dan on improving methods of manufacture etc, an improved type was found and purchased six oval water jacketed mixers which had seen service if a margarine works at Southall. They had double-gate stirrers and were operated by wooden cogs. On the side was fixed a small steam engine for driving purposes. This engine was removed, a large pulley fixed onto the shafting and the mixers driven by an electric motor. Each mixer held about 50 cwts. The exit valve was operated by a wheel from the top which worked on a worm gear on a rod running through the front of the mixer.

The method of manufacture on this new principle was to melt the wax in a pot above the mixer, and run the wax into the mixer when melted. The mixer was kept hot by an open ended steam pipe in the water jacket and the turpentine pumped out of the barrel into the mixer by a small pump operated at the end of the shop. The pipe dropped into the mixer when the lid was opened. The polish was delivered to the filling machine by means of a steam jacketed copper pipe, a great improvement on the funnel system. This was a great advance on any previous method of production and it is interesting to note that the same principles are in operation today 'though with vastly improved mechanism.

The Memoirs of a Masonian P2 Continued P3 >>

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