My dad worked in Caterpillar from the factory opening until he took voluntary redundancy in 1984. When I was a student, I worked for a maintenance company (FMS) in Caterpillar during the summers of 77 and 78, cleaning swarf pits under the cutting machines. Two of us had to leave them clean enough to eat your dinner off (almost). A new building, Building X had been built for a new earthmover production line - if I remember correctly, Jimmy Carter decided to bring jobs back to the USA (sound familiar?) in Peoria, Illinois and that production line was never completed - it was suggested that this was the eventual death knell for Caterpillar in Tannochside. It's funny that the Caterpillar website and Wiki pages don't mention the Tannochside factory - I wonder why?
I also worked at Caterpillar (Tannochside plant) 1973- 1987. It closed on 7th November 1987 after workers occupied and fought for 103 days to save it from closure, but alas it was not to be, but at least WE and the people of Scotland TRIED to save it, Anyway, regards your comment, I remember the guys who drove the Iron Fairy for FMS, Two brothers Jimmy and Roger, they could drink any of us under the table, but were good at their job, lifting and moving Machines all around the Factory. I still remember the smell from the stagnant coolant lying in the machines after going back to work after the 3 week Summer break..but soon got used to it after a day or two..that must have been a right dirty job cleaning out the swarf, hard graft right enough. I also worked in Building X ..it was used for stores due to the high volume of empty space after the cancelled production area you mentioned, it was saved from demolition and became Ibstock Brickwork for 20 odd years, now demolished and cleared for Private housing, and streets desrevedly named after the Caterpillar Occupation..thanks to Councillor Robert Burrows and John Brannan, Two of the main figures in this Scottish Industrial History event..Last but not least Caterpillar will never mention Glasgow Plant as it is one occasion where the workers fought back...and Corporate thugs like Caterpillar, don't like that.
@@danielhanney3326 shame councillor Robert Burrows can't remember where a lane in his constituency lies straight across from the original main entrance to where the caterpillar site used to be 🙄🙄🙄
Good to see some memories of local history, where many of our mothers and fathers were brought up, will bring many fond memories for Ex-Pats around the world too, thanks to the late Bill Brandon for taking the time and effort to record these memorable short video clips..would like to see more like this.
I'm from viewpark which is a scheme built here I'm 37 and I remember all of this,my granda mcgraw was born in nackerty rows,has anyone got anymore picture,videos etc?
The commentator was born in 29 Laidlaw Street and I was born in 31 Laidlaw Street. My father was a miner from the age of 14, briefly joined up in the Army but sent back to the mines as they needed the coal for the war effort.
