A brief history of the firm from 1964 to 1987
by Robert F.B.Unwin
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Why P. and M.? The P.
stands for Peter Unwin and M. for Margaret his wife who started the
business at Rochdale in 1964. Peter was born in 1934, went to
Oughtibridge village council school near Sheffield, then to King Edward
Grammar School.
Early years at school
Memories of KES - Peter J. Unwin
Not keen on sport, apart from
swimming, he was interested in photography and contributed many
photographs to the school magazine. His chief interest was in
electronics, and all his pocket money went in radio parts and making
experimental circuits.
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Early guillotine used for cutting board edges. |
1965. Flypress costing 10UKP and was delivered by the local milkman. |
1965. Peter drilling out large holes with a lathe. |
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During 1950 he designed and made a prototype ankle joint for an
artificial limb manufacturer, experimenting with sound on tape and
making a tape deck. The following year, he passed the school certificate
in six subjects, taught himself to play the piano from reading books on
theory and was able to play popular music by ear. With three friends he
formed a quartet until neighbours complained. |
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In 1951 he became articled to
Ronald Atkin, a partner in a firm of accountants at a wage of twenty-six
shillings per week. He spent two years with them travelling the country
with a senior doing audits, but found the long nights spent in hotels
studying, weary and boring. In spite of protest from parents he decided
to give up and do his National Service, but passed his driving test
first.
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Left, Plate camera used for making negatives. Right, early drilling
system, boards were lifted up onto the drill.{ Not all that safe as
Peggy once found, when her hair was caught by the chuck.} |
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January 1954 he was accepted in the Royal Corps of Signals and
was posted to Hong Kong where he spent two years as service engineer
with radio. He was invited to stay on as an instructor but said No thank
you. After a few months working as radio
engineer for a local shop he got tired of clambering about on roofs
fitting aerials. He left and rented a small shop, bought a small van and
set up as television engineer with one man as assistant.
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In 1958 he married
Margaret Bacon, with our warm approval, and in August started working
for British Relay Wireless as service manager for the Sheffield area.
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Left, Gold Plating Tank. Right, Extensive manufacturing supplies on
shelves. |
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In 1962 he passed his finals exam in telecommunications and obtained
his City and Guilds certificate. After building up a busy service
station employing several vans, they turned down his application to be
put on the staff, so he left and joined I.T.V. and went to Emley Moor
transmitting station. The work was not as demanding as expected with
much time spent playing chess and games, then panic stations if
transmission failed. The next move was as technical and production
manager of a television factory employing two hundred people. Around
this time, printed circuit boards were beginning to replace the
conventional wiring together of components. The factory was paying such
high prices for them he decided to leave and have a go at making and
selling them himself. Also he could see no better long-term prospects
with the firm.
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Left, Sons Roger and David with Spray Etcher 1967. Right Roger with Ex
Police camera. Purchased in 1967 for 150UKP. |
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A small back street shop in Rochdale was rented, and after some
experimenting, the first few boards were produced. Having little capital
all the tools were second hand. These included a foot operated
guillotine, pillar drill and surplus dark room equipment I gave him.
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A five pound advert in Wireless World brought in many small
orders with cash, and the first weeks takings amounted to eighty pounds.
The first few months I was able to assist occasionally by photo copying
drawings in my darkroom, but as fine accuracy became needed in
commercial work I had to give up. Meanwhile Peter had taken on a man,
found that some contacts on the boards needed gold plating, studied
library books and constructed a serviceable method using an old fish
tank, meccano parts and a motor which served very well. Cash was very
tight. Margaret dealt with correspondence and even the two children
helped to pack the boards. |
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In September 1964 P. and M. Services was formed. The directors were
Peter, Margaret, and myself. Having retired from business I only
consented to join in a nominal capacity without pay and to act as
standby.
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Left, New upstroke drills cost 500UKP ea April 1968. Right Precision micro
Drill, drill sharpener in background. |
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Two years later much larger premises were taken. Two part time women
were engaged for drilling and assembly work and Peter was working seven
days a week until very late at night. He constructed a compressor and
etching machine using two second hand motors from washing machines. A
massive precision second hand copying camera, which ran on steel rails,
was purchased so large the children could get inside. |
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During 1968, Peter constructed and designed all the apparatus
to set up the silk screen-printing room and gold plating section and
made the tanks. A new cutting machine was purchased and one of the
latest drilling machines installed on hire purchase.
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Left,
home made Silk screening table. Right, The Unwin Family 1969. From left
to right David, Vicky, Peggy, Roger, and Peter.
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During 1969 the more advanced type of
boards were introduced using fibreglass and a printed circuit on each
side, connections were made by through hole electro-plating, with which
even the largest firms were having difficulty. Peter spent several weeks
experimenting with different methods and chemicals until he had mastered
the technique. Then came a long postal strike and four workers had to be
laid off.
A bank loan was arranged to tide things over and a secondary company
was opened selling motor ignition units by mail order to help cash flow.
However in 1972 came the miners strike. All firms were limited to a
three-day week to conserve electricity, and a customer went into
receivership owing over a thousand pounds for boards.
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Left, Stoneswood mill 1977. Right Roger
and Peggy with Hi tech ‘Pet’ pricing computer. Photo taken 1987. |
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Adjoining, vacant premises were rented. A
new type of Hi- Fi Speaker was designed for possible future production
and articles for technical magazines raised a little extra cash, but
over two million were unemployed and orders were scarce. David and Roger
helped during school holidays and weekends.
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by 1976 the premises were too cramped and the roof leaked. Roger, the
younger son joined the firm, having a natural bent for electronics, and
seemingly able to repair anything whatever, became very useful and it
was hard to keep him away at week ends. |
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Left, Roger with C.A.D. System
1986. Right Faster Excellon Uni Drills 1986. |
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| A large Tannery, near Todmorden, empty for many
years was purchased freehold with aid from the bank. The shell of the
building was sound, with thick concrete floors but with no fittings and
needing extensive alterations to comply with factory and fire
regulations. It took three years for Peter working with a labourer and
occasional advice from an architect to cut out a section of the first
floor and construct a wide brick and concrete staircase. He built an
outside effluent tank for chemical drainage, and installed all the
complicated plumbing and water timing devices used for cleansing
boards. |
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Left, Jerry Silk screening solder resist.
Right Wayne Roller Tinning. |
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| In May 1983, after long and protracted negotiations, the
adjoining Stoneswood Mill and land was purchased. I retired from my
directorship and passed on my shares in the company. |
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In 1986, Roger was made a
director. As I write now the year is 1987 and my age is eighty one.
Last year, in a national survey of the top ten thousand private Limited
Companies P. and M. services came 23rd. for growth and profitability. I
think this is a great achievement from an original capital of one
hundred pound shares, and no present burden of loans or debts to
service.
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Left, Anna using an old Excellon Uni Drill. Right Early Mape C.N.C.
Drilling machine. |
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Over the years, most of the profits have been ploughed back into the
business. No salesmen or representatives ever employed. New accounts all
obtained by recommendations from customers. Happy staff relations by
staff working close alongside the proprietors, and talking problems over
in a friendly atmosphere.
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Left, is a copy of an old slide of Robert F.B. Unwin with his newly
wedded wife Lois, taken on honeymoon in Bristol. Who wrote the text
above back in 1987 when he was 81.
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