Author Topic: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !  (Read 14431 times)

pete.mason

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #35 on: February 11, 2020, 05:30:13 PM »


I'm told that wings for the other (airfield) factory Stirling wings were lorried in over Rochester bridge. I particularly curious about what other local factories supplied Shorts.


According to an elderly neighbour of ours in the 1970s Reeds at Aylesford was a shadow factory producing fabric covered ailerons and rudders. She had worked there as a machinist


Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #34 on: December 12, 2019, 08:15:31 PM »
Very interesting, your two reports today. Interesting about Troutbeck Bridge.
I must have been about twelve, when we went by train, through the night.
I remember nothing about the housing estate, only the Sunderland on the lake.
My brother trained at Shorts Rochester. His `mate`at Windermere, he married her.
I have photo`s of the Maia & Mercury that I made out of old tins, while in the Dockyard.
I may be able to put them in the `Avatar ` section. ( cant do them any other way )

Offline Dave Smith

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #33 on: December 12, 2019, 07:41:01 PM »

Offline Dave Smith

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #32 on: December 12, 2019, 07:28:19 PM »

Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #31 on: December 12, 2019, 01:14:56 PM »
When we went to Jersey in May 1958 we visited the `Underground Hospital ` it was a shell then.
I have seen news reel of it now - it`s a money spinner.
We approached the entrance of the tunnel, it was deadly cold, we could have done with a jumper.

Offline Medway Born and Bred

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #30 on: December 10, 2019, 05:11:41 PM »

Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #29 on: December 10, 2019, 04:19:24 PM »
Bigger than I thought --- and I worked there --- I did not know of their existance.
I would think some one like - Medway Council - should put it on their agenda to
re-store it - for future generations - to come & see- ( like Jersey i.o.w. did )
























Offline Smiffy

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #28 on: December 10, 2019, 01:46:51 PM »
Tunnel exploration from a couple of years ago...


Offline AlanTH

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #27 on: December 10, 2019, 09:43:24 AM »
30 quid to walk round a few mouldy old tunnels! I did that for nothing many years ago whilst an apprentice at Blaw Knox although of course we got in them despite the obstacles like shuttering to stop us doing it. :)
I doubt we saw the whole system though, just the parts out the back our factory and Burnett and Rolfe, Berry Ede and White etc.
AlanH.

Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2019, 06:01:40 PM »
Both photo`s returned today......

epsom

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2019, 09:22:49 AM »

Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #24 on: December 08, 2019, 05:23:42 PM »
2 Photos from Smiffy, have been removed, from my computer ---- copyright --- ( one still there ? )

Offline castle261

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #23 on: November 14, 2019, 04:03:15 PM »
Very, very, interesting -- Dave Smith --- I have only just read your latest comments.
They are very detailed, thank you for that. As a boy of 14, my eyes sort out the finish Sunderlands.     I was not sure about the shops between No 3 shop and  No 17 shop, as my work probably, would
not take me into these shops, very often.


Cant vouch for those Sunderland`s being on No 18 slip -- Smiffy


epsom

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #22 on: November 07, 2019, 11:37:13 AM »

Offline AlanTH

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Re: Short brothers. Seaplane Works !
« Reply #21 on: November 07, 2019, 09:01:27 AM »
Hi Dave Smith (and others of course).
My Dad worked in No.18 shop during those years you were there I'm sure. I vaguely remember him going on to work at Guildford Surrey when Shorts closed down in Rochester.
He died in 1952 (smoking diseases) and was very badly treated by Shorts with his pension entitlements.
I believe the last remnants of Shorts have now gone after Bombadier their last owner in Belfast recently sold off their assets their due to various problems.
AlanTh.

PS. I really must hunt down that pic I have of him and his fellow workers and psot it here.