Title
Dennis O'Brien talks about the East Midlands Electricity Board services and new opportunities in 1956.
Subject
Work
Description
Dennis O'Brien talked about his first job in the East Midlands Electricity Board services, doing National Service, new opportunities after return and changes in 1956. Discusses use of Ready Reckoner for calculation and use of comptometer for big accounts.
Creator
East Midlands Oral History Archive
Source
East Midlands Oral History Archive
Publisher
EMOHA
Date
1947
Rights
You may use this item in accordance with the licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/uk/
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Type
Audio
Original Format
.wav
Duration
2'07''
Bit Rate/Frequency
128kbps
Transcription
Where did you work, Dennis?
In those days, 1948, you either went into local industries or got apprenticed or looked for an office job and started work at the recently nationalised East Midlands Electricity Board. But I suppose two pounds three and five a week was just about average for a 16-year-old. They gave me some independence.
What work did you do for them?
Just clerical work, cashier work, until 1948 when I was conscripted and I spent two years in the RAF.
Can I take you back to working for the electricity board and the office environment that you worked in? And like now, you know, there are, I don't know, computers and all sorts, aren't there to help you? What sorts of things helped you in your job? What sort of machinery did you have or equipment?
Machinery? Well, everything was calculated by Ready Reckoners.
What's a Ready Reckoner?
Book of tables and by hand. And then it was checked manually. There was a computer check on the bigger accounts, not a computer check, Comptometer check on the bigger accounts. Later, it was in the early ‘50s that they did start a computer system on repayment meters, but it was a very bulky punched card affair, always going wrong.
So did you go back to the electricity board after your national service?
Yes, mainly because they had to hold the job open for me. So I went back and started looking around for something career orientated, something more ambitious, but it wasn't until 1956 I moved on.
In those days, 1948, you either went into local industries or got apprenticed or looked for an office job and started work at the recently nationalised East Midlands Electricity Board. But I suppose two pounds three and five a week was just about average for a 16-year-old. They gave me some independence.
What work did you do for them?
Just clerical work, cashier work, until 1948 when I was conscripted and I spent two years in the RAF.
Can I take you back to working for the electricity board and the office environment that you worked in? And like now, you know, there are, I don't know, computers and all sorts, aren't there to help you? What sorts of things helped you in your job? What sort of machinery did you have or equipment?
Machinery? Well, everything was calculated by Ready Reckoners.
What's a Ready Reckoner?
Book of tables and by hand. And then it was checked manually. There was a computer check on the bigger accounts, not a computer check, Comptometer check on the bigger accounts. Later, it was in the early ‘50s that they did start a computer system on repayment meters, but it was a very bulky punched card affair, always going wrong.
So did you go back to the electricity board after your national service?
Yes, mainly because they had to hold the job open for me. So I went back and started looking around for something career orientated, something more ambitious, but it wasn't until 1956 I moved on.
Interviewer
Jenny Escritt
Interviewee
Dennis O'Brien
Location
Interviewees home
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