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Wigan Observer   Press Cellar  Rowbottom Square 1966
Wigan Observer Press Cellar Rowbottom Square 1966
Photo: Colin Harlow
Views: 2,137
Item #: 18231
Before the change to web-offset this process was used to print the Wigan Observer by letter-press since 1884. Here, Thomas Harlow is seen with a casting printing plate next to the hot metal furnace. This was a very skilful task and Tom who worked for the Wigan Observer from 1932, was a master of the ancient craft.

Comment by: TERRY HATELEY on 6th September 2011 at 14:22

Hi colin, I worked uner your dad, he was a hard taskmaster but blinking funny in a very dry way! I still have the chair he used to sit on under the press gantry! Terry

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 8th September 2011 at 14:32

Hello Terry, it's nice to hear from you. Yes dad Tom was a person who enforced hard work and perfection...it had to be right, and yes he had a dry sence of humour he had ability to say amusing things from a serious situation.

Comment by: Terry Hateley on 13th September 2011 at 19:35

Hi colin, drop me a personal line, further to the remark i left about your dad's old chair, it's perhaps right that you should own it now. Its a high back, carved vicorian piece. regards

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 13th September 2011 at 22:06

Thankyou Terry, it will be a pleasure. My email: colinharlow49307@virginmedia.com

Comment by: David Molyneux on 6th April 2013 at 19:01

I served my apprenticeship in the machine room on the commercial printing side which was located at the time in the cellar at Rowbottom Square with a partial dividing wall between us and the newspaper press. I knew Tommy very well whilst he was press room overseer. In the photograph showing him by the casting box for the old hot metal plates you can see the furnace for melting the metal. One of my jobs as an apprentice was to get in early and light the fire under the furnace to get the metal to melt. No one else would be in the department during this time...heath and safety would have a baby nowadays. When we moved to Woods St in 1966, the commercial section closed down and I transferred onto the new press. I suppose I was a pioneer in that as I was the first of the printers to have day release to the Manchester College of Science and Technology to obtain City and Guilds. I was put on the "new full colour" section of the printing process...I was still an apprentice at the time so not in charge but it was a great experience. I worked alongside Tommy Harlow and both myself and Bob Fishwick who was also an apprentice had some great laughs with your dad Colin, he had probably the largest tea cup in Lancashire and made the strongest tea! I'm convinced he would have been able to stand up his spoon in it. One of his expressions was "Home James and don't spare the bobby horses" but can't remember what context in was used in.
There are many things I remember about those times with fond memories and it brought back memories to see myself in several of the photos along with my old workmates. I left the Observer in 1970 for pastures new, but those times at the Ob were special (as was your dad).

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 7th April 2013 at 08:45

The post above 6th April 2013 was sent to me by email from David Molyneux. It's a lovely letter describing his time at the Wigan Observer in Rowbottom Square and Woods Street. (Sorry of some spelling mistakes I made, I need to slow down with my finger tips)

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