Notes and news
Owing to holidays, certain features are missing from this issue of the "Oracle", but we hope that "Around the country with our representatives" and "Our retailers" will be back in our next issue, which we hope to make a bumper Christmas number.
The "Oracle" distribution has increased and it is now gradually circulating more and more amongst our retailers.
Also on the increase in spite of adverse trading conditions is the sale of Oral shoes. Sales showed an increase during the first 6 months of this year. Export sales to the United States and Canada have also increased.
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For the benefit of our London and district customers, we have opened a new office and showroom, at 22 Maddox Street, off Regent Street, where Mr. P. W. Vince has taken over responsibility. Mr. Vince, who has many years of service with Oral behind him, will be maintaining many long standing connections with our customers in London; many of whom have already shown an interest in the project. On display will be the complete in-stock range and we hope to publish photographs of the interior layout of the new office in our next issue.
Oral will again be taking part in the Fashion in Footwear Exhibition at the Washington Hotel, London, in September, where our representatives will be looking forward to meeting old friends, and making new ones.
We are hoping for a terrific number of entries in our holiday photographs competition, and providing we get what we hope for, entries will be exhibited in the canteen.
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The shoe and the foot - by L. ABRAHAMS (Finishing Department)
I want to say a few words here about corns. Most people at some time or other suffer from corns, whether it be from army boots or from the most elegant looking footwear. What is a corn? There are five different types on which we need not elaborate because we are only interested in their cause. A corn is a localised thickening of the skin, usually on a bony prominence of the foot caused by undue pressure from badly fitting footwear. Contrary to popular belief, corns have no roots, having only an outward growth as the skin thickens under the pressure of the shoe. A corn will reappear after removal unless the cause of the pressure or friction is removed, therefore good fitting footwear is essential.
Lastly, a word of warning about corn pastes and solvents. Care should be taken in their use as they can do injury to the surrounding tissues. Removal of corns should only be carried out by a qualified chiropodist or on advice from your doctor.
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Holidays ahead - Christmas:
Close Tuesday evening, December 23rd. Re-open, Monday morning, December 29th.
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More Income for the Benevolent Fund! - Mr. J. Lilley, our Works Manager, has been swelling the Benevolent Fund by selling the boxes which contained imported Italian uppers. He has sold 26 at a shilling a go.
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Factory profile
Jack Odell joined Oral in 1913 as a heel scourer and saw service in the 3rd Northants and 8th Beds and Herts in the first world war. He was invalided out after being gassed during the bitter campaign at Cambrai. Jack worked in the Finishing Room as a heel scourer until he reached the age of 65, and since then has been a utility man.
Now at 74 Jack has retired and a presentation was made to him on July 28th in recognition of long service to the Company. We wish him well, with many happy years of retirement ahead.
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Jack Odell receiving his combined gift from the Finishing and Making Depts : tobacco, pouch, pipe and snuff box.
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How we started - by H. Geary
Following the introduction of welted shoemaking a market had to be found for the extra production, and in addition to the home market representation was established in South Africa, which in those days was a good market for British footwear.
A large business connection soon evolved in both the older method of making as well as the welted method, and this continued until the out¬break of the 1914-18 world war. During this period, factories here turned over to making boots for the armed forces, with the result that our shipments to South Africa were greatly reduced and shoemaking in that country made great strides ahead. Our own factory was turned over to the manufacture of boots for the British, French, Italian, Serbian and Russian armies each with their own individual styles and lasts. After the war the problem of making renewed contact with a greatly reduced civilian trade had to be dealt with.
A letter from a passer-by
Muss Tredita,
Om juss seejaw magzine. Sawright ennit? Sintrestin t' fawwuks what dawnt work wiyya nawl.
Om binna clip-cloppin parshaw factry fruvva fifty year, nom seed chairngiz. Part frum mawwust onya not unny aggitin, but alookin older.
Forty three yayer agoo this month I adda ride in Muss Trorrells old brown Schneider. It wurra treaut in them days goo inna motor, wernit?
Nye fawty yeayer agoo I come cairshnin atorrells. I seed Muss Geary, nee sez, "Whatcha know bout boots?" Nye sez, "Muss Geary, I dawno a tow-cap fromma back-strip", I sez. Nee sez "Then om afred we kent mek no use onya me bwy" e sez.
Spitty ennit? Feeda gin me a job vellike be now I mighta binna drecta.
Nice dadda grut Dairmla t'ride boutin, shoonye? Still, thas life, ennit?
Nike nawlus remember lung nuffagoo on St. Pancuz stairshun. Right accrawwust agin the clock wurra grut banner ORAL SHOES FOR MEN—urrit might abin gentlemen I dawno. Nye sez tummyself, Ruzdin in the middla London frawl the world t' see. Lawwa'
Well. Muss Tredita I slatta goon gitton wi' summut, nye opes azow ya woont tek-tut at what om writ seen azow om knowja uvva fifty yeayei
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The men who keep the wheels turning
| Behind the scenes at Oral are the Engineers, who keep the production lines humming. Oral generates its own electric power and responsibility for the maintenance and running of the generators falls on H. Whiteman, who is in charge. The engineers are on call too, for machinery breakdowns, as well as essential maintenance, and A. Berrill, who has 37 years service with Oral (quite a record) has all the tools of his trade as well as two eager hands ready for any emergency. |
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H. Whiteman throwing the master switch
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A. Berrill at the lathe
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Press Room
Frank Pugh, who is treasurer and part organiser of the Angling Section Rushden Branch, British Legion, reports a successful outing and competition at Little Thetford, on Saturday, June 21st.
Considering the very rainy conditions on the day in question, there were some good catches offish. The first fifteen, which included the prizewinners, ranged from 19 lb. 0 oz. 11 drams to 6 lb. 12 oz.
Top Bream 2 lb. 7 oz. and Top Roach 13 oz. 7 drams.
There was also an over sixties and boys' competition, for which prizes included shoes, pork pie, chocolates, etc.
"Well done" to leading fireman, Billy Talbot, of the Raunds Brigade, our "Planet Rounder", who led the successful cup winning team in the five man drill for the County Championship at Raunds, on Saturday, June 14th. The cup, which returns to Raunds after a lapse often years, makes Billy and his team, the "Tops".
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Making Room
This edition records three workers with 20 years service—Ron Sharman, Allan Haddon and Bert Drage.
Fishing in a British Legion competition at Little Thetford on Saturday, June 21st, Jack Goodfellow weighed in with 9 lb. of fish, only to be placed in eighth position. (Some catch).
We will be pleased to see the return to work of Leo Tobin, who has been away through illness for a considerable time.
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Finishing Room Reports
Our outing to Clacton on June 7th was a great success. We left on time in beautiful sunshine, arriving at Clacton at 11.30 a.m. to spend what turned out to be a fine day by the sea. We arrived back happy and satisfied with a day well spent, and many are already talking of another outing in 1959. I should like to thank all those who helped financially to reduce the expenses for the children.
Our savings group this year was a great success and we hope as many as possible will make use of this way of saving during the 1958-1959 period. New members are welcome, contact Mr. F. Clayton or Mr. L. Abrahams.
The 'Oracle' is proving to be popular, and interest in it is growing.
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Clicking Room
A proposal for an outing has been put forward to go to Southend t see the illuminations.
It is hoped to make this a family affair to be arranged jointly by Clicking and Closing Rooms and from the names so far a good response is being shown.
It is suggested the date should be September 27th.
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Lasting Room
M. Slack, who left on March 27th to do his National Service, has sailed with the Suffolk Regiment for service overseas.
Fishing - Biggest "catch" to date?
Whilst fishing at Brampton Lake, R. Morley pulled out with his landin net a fellow fisherman, who had slipped down the bank into the water.
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Closing Room
Miss Edna Parker leaves for Canada with her family to join her sister and will board a plane on October 18th. We all wish her well and hope that she will soon settle down in the "New World".
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Shoe Room
The members of the Shoe Room were to be found in various parts of England, Scotland and Ireland whilst on holiday, but we think the prize for an unusual holiday goes to the lady who spent part of hers "train spotting" with her son.
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Office
We welcome to the staff two new members, Mrs. Ann Coward (Typing pool) and Mrs. Marjorie Krause (shipping). Both are newcomers to the town; Mrs. Coward from Nottingham, and Mrs. Krause from Bradford. Your Assistant Editor has already informed Mrs. Krause that she will no doubt find out how Yorkshire puddings are really made now.
All members of the male staff would like to express their thanks to the management for all the help given upon the introduction of the new Pension Scheme.
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Benevolent Fund
We are pleased to say that at the moment we have a "healthy" factory with very few away through illness. Mr. C. Underwood of the Lasting Room has now been away 12 months through ill health.
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Memhers of the Finishing Room with their families
before setting out to Clacton
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