tailoring factorys
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grumpybloke
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sat 25 Sep, 2010 6:44 pm
Yes, sadly there is only a ghost of a tailoring industry left in Leeds and certainly nothing of the mass production there once was. As far as I know there are a few left, Firstneat in Mabgate, Crowther's at Harehills, Sterling in Armley, Vernon's near temple Newsam, Perry at Bramley, a few smaller ones,and then a few one man tailors dotted around. Turner Virr, which was mentioned above, moved from York Road out to Garforth. They are supposed to be uniform manufacturers, and indeed do make a few things, but mostly they ship raw materials out and have uniforms for our armed forces and police knocked out abroad. (I think that is an absolute disgrace, that our own government cannot support UK manufacturing.) I think Berwin's are still on the go but their premises in Leeds are only warehousing for garments made in their Hungarian factory.
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Chrism
- Posts: 1828
- Joined: Sun 20 Jan, 2008 8:26 am
liits wrote: I am in the process of getting a copy of “Leeds United”, a BBC Play for Today from the ‘70’s. It’s all about the tailoring strike in Leeds in the late 60’s or early 70’s. It stars Lynne Perry and Liz Dawn and was filmed [mostly] at Sumeries on York Rd. At the time, my Mam worked at Burtons, always called Montague Burtons by her, and she always said that the strike was started by left-wing fools who couldn’t sew but who wanted more money for the shoddy work that they turned out. She always blamed this for the demise of the trade in Leeds. Once I have the DVD, I’m more than happy to lend it to anybody who would like to borrow it. The whole play is on Youtube, here's part 1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX7zCA3-FekPart 2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G60itdzRzdM&feature=relatedPart 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqWULNj-g2g&feature=relatedPart 4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgL3ZjjDgYg&feature=relatedPart 5http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPLwesIxr0E&feature=relatedPart 6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtxTcolBaws&feature=relatedPart 7http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhDmERxp2k&feature=relatedPart 8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBXfVC0Sb84&feature=relatedPart 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBiEsfLW ... elatedPart 10http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVueGLL52LQ&feature=relatedPart 11http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3pU5xPSB6k&feature=related
Sit thissen dahn an' tell us abaht it.
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jdbythesea
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Sat 02 Apr, 2011 6:14 am
Chrism wrote: liits wrote: I am in the process of getting a copy of “Leeds United”, a BBC Play for Today from the ‘70’s. It’s all about the tailoring strike in Leeds in the late 60’s or early 70’s. It stars Lynne Perry and Liz Dawn and was filmed [mostly] at Sumeries on York Rd. At the time, my Mam worked at Burtons, always called Montague Burtons by her, and she always said that the strike was started by left-wing fools who couldn’t sew but who wanted more money for the shoddy work that they turned out. She always blamed this for the demise of the trade in Leeds. Once I have the DVD, I’m more than happy to lend it to anybody who would like to borrow it. The whole play is on Youtube, here's part 1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX7zCA3-Fek Haven't seen this since it was first broadcast in the 70s. That's tonight's viewing sorted. Thanks Chrism.
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uncle mick
- Posts: 1588
- Joined: Wed 14 Jan, 2009 6:43 am
Chrism wrote: liits wrote: I am in the process of getting a copy of “Leeds United”, a BBC Play for Today from the ‘70’s. It’s all about the tailoring strike in Leeds in the late 60’s or early 70’s. It stars Lynne Perry and Liz Dawn and was filmed [mostly] at Sumeries on York Rd. At the time, my Mam worked at Burtons, always called Montague Burtons by her, and she always said that the strike was started by left-wing fools who couldn’t sew but who wanted more money for the shoddy work that they turned out. She always blamed this for the demise of the trade in Leeds. Once I have the DVD, I’m more than happy to lend it to anybody who would like to borrow it. The whole play is on Youtube, here's part 1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX7zCA3-FekThanks for the link.I had never seen it before,really enjoyed it.
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Chrism
- Posts: 1828
- Joined: Sun 20 Jan, 2008 8:26 am
I've ripped and uploaded it if anyone wants it here http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... eadID=3431
Sit thissen dahn an' tell us abaht it.
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Uno Hoo
- Posts: 755
- Joined: Fri 20 Jun, 2008 2:04 pm
Quite pleased, really, to read that Turner, Virr & Co Ltd remains extant. On seeing the York Rd building recently I assumed the firm must have gone the way of all flesh. Take the point about sourcing for British uniforms, though.
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, moves on; nor all thy Piety nor all thy Wit can call it back to cancel half a Line, nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
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volvojack
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Tue 26 Jan, 2016 11:57 am
Re: tailoring factorys
What a great subject for Leeds.
Like L.S.I. my Grandmother worked at Sumries factory on York Road during the war. They made uniforms for the army and one day she brought my brother and i a couple of brass buttons with crossed rifles on, must have been from a regiment.It seemed wonderful at the time.
Down North Street and off Regent St. / Mabgate there were small factory's galore, Neville Reed's up Dewsbury Rd was another one.
In the early 1950's I worked for William Stembridge, a family firm in Sovereign St. making Ladies coat, suits and skirts That area was filled with small tailoring company's as was most of Leeds.
In the Y.E.P. there were adverts every night for cutters, sewers, machinists pressers and on Thursday night there must have been half a dozen full pages wanting these work people.
How sad that it has all but gone.
Like L.S.I. my Grandmother worked at Sumries factory on York Road during the war. They made uniforms for the army and one day she brought my brother and i a couple of brass buttons with crossed rifles on, must have been from a regiment.It seemed wonderful at the time.
Down North Street and off Regent St. / Mabgate there were small factory's galore, Neville Reed's up Dewsbury Rd was another one.
In the early 1950's I worked for William Stembridge, a family firm in Sovereign St. making Ladies coat, suits and skirts That area was filled with small tailoring company's as was most of Leeds.
In the Y.E.P. there were adverts every night for cutters, sewers, machinists pressers and on Thursday night there must have been half a dozen full pages wanting these work people.
How sad that it has all but gone.
Last edited by volvojack on Mon 25 Jul, 2016 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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volvojack
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Tue 26 Jan, 2016 11:57 am
Re: tailoring factorys
After doing my National Service in 1957 i bumped into an old Beeston Pal who told me he was working as a Presser at John Collier's factory in Garnet Road. He said the "Money's good and there's loads of birds, I can get you a start." as it was local i went down and the manager told me that the only vacancy was Seam Pressing, so even though i did not know what it entailed i started Monday morning.
For those who do not know you have garments that have just been sewn together and where the join is needs to be ironed flat.
i stood at a narrow ironing board with a narrow red hot Iron which is suspended on an arm. I began to iron a seam flat and then while turning the material around i pushed the iron out of the way, BUT this red hot thing that weighs about 30 lbs. is on a spring just eased back and burnt my elbow. this happened a few time and my left arm was getting quite marked. On the side of the coin i had dates with a couple of the Lasses.
After about a month i went in for a rise but first of all the week before I really had a Bull Week, did not bother with tea break and really pushed myself. thought i might need a skin graft but if my money goes up O.K. I gave the Manager a tug on Friday Afternoon and asked for a rise. He asked how many skirts i had done that day, i proudly showed him my book 47 (blood and sweat) He turned and said to Old George "Bring your book over" George tottered over and the Manager showed me 96. I said Send my money and Cards on and walked out.
For those who do not know you have garments that have just been sewn together and where the join is needs to be ironed flat.
i stood at a narrow ironing board with a narrow red hot Iron which is suspended on an arm. I began to iron a seam flat and then while turning the material around i pushed the iron out of the way, BUT this red hot thing that weighs about 30 lbs. is on a spring just eased back and burnt my elbow. this happened a few time and my left arm was getting quite marked. On the side of the coin i had dates with a couple of the Lasses.
After about a month i went in for a rise but first of all the week before I really had a Bull Week, did not bother with tea break and really pushed myself. thought i might need a skin graft but if my money goes up O.K. I gave the Manager a tug on Friday Afternoon and asked for a rise. He asked how many skirts i had done that day, i proudly showed him my book 47 (blood and sweat) He turned and said to Old George "Bring your book over" George tottered over and the Manager showed me 96. I said Send my money and Cards on and walked out.