So I never got round to doing this place before, as it looked so wrecked. I saw in Mookies, and other reports that it had some wonderfully untouched and seldomly explored parts; so I thought, why not go there.
I first went on my own, then returned with Southside Assassin and Mookster. Thanks to Mookster for the guided tour.
In 1910 a London floor polishing paste firm known as J. Masters&Co began the manufacture of of their paste on a site nearby the railway tracks along the small village train station.
J. Masters&Co closed after just12 years in business and was purchased by a former employee named C.T Cripps.
In 1923 Cripps founded ‘Pianoforte supplies Ltd’ which was solely dedicated to the production of castings and fixtures for Piano manufacturers and also successfully produced fair quantities of fixture parts for automobiles.
In 1933 the factory suffered from severe fire damage and was soon rebuilt that year.
During WW2 the factory went into full time production creating spare vehicle and aircraft parts as part of a contribution to the war effort in Britain.
During the 1960’s employment peaked with the factory employing a little more than 1,800 workers. This was however short lived and when the railway station of Roade was closed in 1964 Pianoforte began a slow journey into gradual decline.
In 1980 the factory ceased to production of piano parts altogether, though one side continued to produce parts till 2011
Thanks to Southside for the info ;-)
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
More At:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/sets/72157650519160101/
I first went on my own, then returned with Southside Assassin and Mookster. Thanks to Mookster for the guided tour.
In 1910 a London floor polishing paste firm known as J. Masters&Co began the manufacture of of their paste on a site nearby the railway tracks along the small village train station.
J. Masters&Co closed after just12 years in business and was purchased by a former employee named C.T Cripps.
In 1923 Cripps founded ‘Pianoforte supplies Ltd’ which was solely dedicated to the production of castings and fixtures for Piano manufacturers and also successfully produced fair quantities of fixture parts for automobiles.
In 1933 the factory suffered from severe fire damage and was soon rebuilt that year.
During WW2 the factory went into full time production creating spare vehicle and aircraft parts as part of a contribution to the war effort in Britain.
During the 1960’s employment peaked with the factory employing a little more than 1,800 workers. This was however short lived and when the railway station of Roade was closed in 1964 Pianoforte began a slow journey into gradual decline.
In 1980 the factory ceased to production of piano parts altogether, though one side continued to produce parts till 2011
Thanks to Southside for the info ;-)
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
More At:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/sets/72157650519160101/
