Source Collection:https://hdl.handle.net/10599/107422024-03-29T08:32:32Z2024-03-29T08:32:32ZW&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 14: Michael Purcell (b. 1940)O'Keeffe, Mauricehttps://hdl.handle.net/10599/107562018-10-01T02:00:56Z2014-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: W&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 14: Michael Purcell (b. 1940)
Authors: O'Keeffe, Maurice
Description: Michael Purcell recalls joining Jacobs in 1966, working in the Drawing Office, and his colleagues there Cecil Fry, Jonathan Bewley, Mike Kellett, Ken Wilson and Bill Hodgins. Memories of the ‘old school’ atmosphere that prevailed in the workplace are also recounted. Track 2: The stages of biscuit-making, and the expertise of those who manufactured the product are described, as are the changing designs of the packaging. Track 3: Michael outlines the differences between the old building and the innovative technology in the new Tallaght factory, and he describes working closely with the UK suppliers, Henry Simon and Co. Ltd on machinery design matters. The move to Tallaght, and the unfortunate financial struggle for the company which followed are recalled. Track 4: The business acumen in the Quaker tradition and the atmosphere of the Bishop Street workplace are described. The fact that in 1966 a series of photographs was displayed in a case attached to the exterior of the building, supplied by Dublin Corporation, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, is also recalled.2014-01-01T00:00:00ZW&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 13: Gordon Poff (b. 1930)O'Keeffe, Mauricehttps://hdl.handle.net/10599/107592018-10-01T02:00:56Z2014-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: W&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 13: Gordon Poff (b. 1930)
Authors: O'Keeffe, Maurice
Description: Track 1: Gordon Poff describes his background, growing up in Rathfarnham, and his connections with the Palatine community. He joined Jacobs in 1953, beginning in the General Office under manager Ned Lee. He recalls the style in which business was conducted, which he describes as ‘old school’ and he remembers his move to the Internal Audit Department as a clerical worker in the engineering section. Track 2: The move to Tallaght, which took a total of seven years. The challenge of working between what he calls ‘the old mother house’ and the new factory, working in the Goods Inward section. Track 3: The skills of the predominately female workforce in decorating the biscuits with great speed and precision is recalled. The forewomen – Miss Patty Farrell, Miss Rice in charge of piecework and Miss Woodhead managing the floor are remembered. Track 4: Memories of Gordon’s years in engineering, where his responsibilities included stock control, and recalls the introduction of the tabulator and the card index room. Track 5: Gordon remembers the Jacobs management team at the time, Mr Edward and Mr William Bewley, and later Mr Jonathan Bewley. He describes the final years of his career at Jacobs, working in materials management.2014-01-01T00:00:00ZW&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection: Sound BitesO'Keeffe, Mauricehttps://hdl.handle.net/10599/107622018-10-01T02:00:56Z2014-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: W&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection: Sound Bites
Authors: O'Keeffe, Maurice
Description: Sound bites from the W&R Jacob Oral History Collection, featuring snippets of many of the interviews.2014-01-01T00:00:00ZW&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 4: Andrew Vincent Cleary (b.1928)O'Keeffe, Mauricehttps://hdl.handle.net/10599/107512018-10-01T02:00:56Z2014-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: W&R Jacob & Co. Oral History Collection 4: Andrew Vincent Cleary (b.1928)
Authors: O'Keeffe, Maurice
Description: Track 1: Andrew Cleary recalls his early years in Phibsborough. His father and three uncles fought in the First World War, his father being a member of St John’s Ambulance Brigade. Track 2: Andrew joined Jacobs in 1949, remaining with the company for 44 years. He discusses the sporting facilities provided by Jacobs, including soccer and gaelic football. Track 3: He first worked in the Goods Inward Section, which he calls ‘the back gate’, and later moved to the New Street stores. Part of the work involved handling barrels of fat up to 40 stone in weight. His co-workers were Jimmy Robinson, Irish amateur heavyweight boxing champion at the time, and Brian Kearney, Irish amateur flyweight boxer, and many ‘coaching sessions’ and scuffles took place between these two. Track 4: Both of Andrew’s parents worked for Jacobs, and he himself worked at Carbery’s Coach Builders until it closed. He then worked for Alec Toms, Printers, as a proofreader, before finally joining Jacobs. Track 5: He was among the first group of employees to move from Bishop Street to the new factory in Tallaght, and he has a poignant memory of being the last to leave the Bishop Street premises on the day the final batch of biscuits was baked. He recounts memories, prompted by his daughter Sandra, of friendships made while working for Jacobs.2014-01-01T00:00:00Z