Report - British United Shoe Machinery (BUSFA) Leicester - Feb 08

[dweeb]

British Shoe is an enormous site. Much of the works is currnetly under the early stages of Demolition. The Victorian works is your typical iron framed factory floor, but the site is a huge mixture of styles and eras. The most dominating building is a 1930's concrete factory, which is still in use.

I just swung past to get some shots of the tower in the blue sky, when I noticed a farmiliar face. It was the fella who had let me in to Dunlop hose in Leicester last year. We had another chin wag about British industry before he said "yes mate in you go, take what you want"!!!

The works was fairly stripped but had some great features and gems if you looked hard enough. The bolier house was untouched and was full of amazing things, including 5 lancashire boilers! Sadly no ladder in the chimney...

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Vintage road signs still up on the walls.
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BUSM service case
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and a custom printed DTI face
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Backbone of British Industry
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plans for a hobnail machine, circa 1922
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Boiler control panel, with a fine clock... 'gent of leicester' of course!
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Bottles of mercury are always a pleasure
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[dweeb]

Re: British United Shoe Machinery (BUSFA) Leicester Full Site Report.

The tower had had a large section of it's ladder cut off... but where there is a will...

View was stunning from the top... I must have spent half a hour up there.

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Water guage... 'Gent of Leicester' of course!
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