Memories of working with F&P Presses.

I was an apprentice with E&E Kaye Ltd of Ponders End, Enfield, from 1973 and finished my time there in their drawing office in 1978. During my time I worked with both production and engineering teams and spent 6 months with the press fitters. We looked after the 2500T supplied in 1964, the 1600T from 1967, which were installed back-to-back in the large factory bay parallel to Southbury Road, but I cannot find any history on the 1700T press, or when it was supplied. From memory the former ran with 10″ billets, the others 6″-7″ dia. billets. The presses were doubled-shifted with dedicated crews and from a maintenance point of view were checked at start of each shift, with each press getting an extended service break for 2 hours per week. Any stoppages were either breakdowns or planned maintenance. Whilst working in the drawing office I also visited the new Doncaster factory where a new 2000T press was installed, having been supplied in 1974.
Good memories of my time at E&E Kaye and the aluminium extrusions produced on these presses, sadly Enfield long gone and Doncaster now owned by others!

Ed: Many thanks, Keith, for your story about working with Fielding extrusion presses.  Unfortunately, there are no surviving pics of any of the presses other than the 2000T highlighted in the link above.  All four presses are listed in the Notable Orders tables for 1960s and 1970s.  John B