Pye People at Work
Pye TV Assembly - Lowestoft
1932 Pye employees leaving work, exiting onto Haig Road (now Elizabeth Way), Cambridge.
1932 Pye employees leaving work, exiting onto Haig Road (now Elizabeth Way), Cambridge.
Very early production work at Cambridge Works, possibly before World War 2.
Very early production work at Cambridge Works, possibly before World War 2.
Radio production at Cambridge Works in the early 1930s. See the "Rising Sun" motif on the radio on the bench to the left.
Radio production at Cambridge Works in the early 1930s. See the "Rising Sun" motif on the radio on the bench to the left.
Radiogram production - Cambridge Works 1936.
Radiogram production - Cambridge Works 1936.
Pye formed its own Home Guard troop on September 3rd, 1939, the day war broke out. It was needed to protect its buildings where secret work was going on in radar and radio communications. It grew to a strength of around 300.
Pye formed its own Home Guard troop on September 3rd, 1939, the day war broke out. It was needed to protect its buildings where secret work was going on in radar and radio communications. It grew to a strength of around 300.
They took it seriously, practising marching drills and bayonet practice on the sports field. They patrolled the premises throughout the night. Here they are drilling and marching outside the main Pye Head Office and Reasearch Laboratory building.
They took it seriously, practising marching drills and bayonet practice on the sports field. They patrolled the premises throughout the night. Here they are drilling and marching outside the main Pye Head Office and Reasearch Laboratory building.
During WW2 the Government wanted to move companies to less hazardous locations in the case of bombings.
During WW2 the Government wanted to move companies to less hazardous locations in the case of bombings.
CO Stanley refused, but instead located small sub-assembly manufacturing operations in small villages around Cambridge.
CO Stanley refused, but instead located small sub-assembly manufacturing operations in small villages around Cambridge.
In this rare photograph are to be seen workers in a bakery in the village of Sawston, making up Pye sub-assemblies for shipment to the main factory in Cambridge.
In this rare photograph are to be seen workers in a bakery in the village of Sawston, making up Pye sub-assemblies for shipment to the main factory in Cambridge.
This is a photo of Pye Telecom’s Ditton Works in 1959.
This is a photo of Pye Telecom’s Ditton Works in 1959.
The items in the centre of the photo are high power Rangers (a variant of the Ranger series) and were destined for the USA. The items towards the front are thought to be AM10FRX Base Station Receivers.
The items in the centre of the photo are high power Rangers (a variant of the Ranger series) and were destined for the USA. The items towards the front are thought to be AM10FRX Base Station Receivers.
(Thanks to Eddy Boyd for this information)
(Thanks to Eddy Boyd for this information)
Pye Engineering Services in the press, machine and lathe shops. Pictures from the 1930s through to the 1960s.
Pye Engineering Services in the press, machine and lathe shops. Pictures from the 1930s through to the 1960s.
Jim Langford joined Pye in 1937 as a Toolmaker Apprentice. This is the Record Card from 1944. Note his wage at £1/11/3d per week. Jim went on to become Managing Director of Pye Engineering Services.
Jim Langford joined Pye in 1937 as a Toolmaker Apprentice. This is the Record Card from 1944. Note his wage at £1/11/3d per week. Jim went on to become Managing Director of Pye Engineering Services.
The main assembly line at Pye Telecom, Ditton Works around 1952. Assembling the Reporter mobile and PTC703 Base Station.
The main assembly line at Pye Telecom, Ditton Works around 1952. Assembling the Reporter mobile and PTC703 Base Station.
Pye Telecom's three factories employed around 1500 staff, almost all on assembly and test.
Pye Telecom's three factories employed around 1500 staff, almost all on assembly and test.
Pye Telecom - Ditton Works. Production of the Vanguard around 1963.
Pye Telecom - Ditton Works. Production of the Vanguard around 1963.
Christmas on the line - Cambridge Works 1950s and 1960s - decorations, singing carols and high spirits - but the work went on!
Christmas on the line - Cambridge Works 1950s and 1960s - decorations, singing carols and high spirits - but the work went on!
Pye TV Assembly - Lowestoft.
Pye TV Assembly - Lowestoft.
Pye provided buses every day to bring people in to Cambridge to work. Most came from the Fenland area where permanent, indoor, clean work, especially for females, was scarce. As the need for more workers grew, so the number of buses increased and by 1970 there were 25 buses bringing in more than 1200 staff every day.
Pye provided buses every day to bring people in to Cambridge to work. Most came from the Fenland area where permanent, indoor, clean work, especially for females, was scarce. As the need for more workers grew, so the number of buses increased and by 1970 there were 25 buses bringing in more than 1200 staff every day.
The day Workers' Playtime came to Pye.
850 workers selected by ballot from Pye's and its associated companies crowded into the canteen to not only enjoy the Workers' Playtime radio programme staged and broadcast from the company but also half-an-hour's extra lunch-hour given them by the management.
Geoff Turner of Pye TVT retiring on 3rd July 1979 after 51 years with the Company.
Geoff Turner of Pye TVT retiring on 3rd July 1979 after 51 years with the Company.
He holds the original radio set with the "Sunrise" fretwork design.
He holds the original radio set with the "Sunrise" fretwork design.
Pye Telecom - Ditton Works in the 1980s.
Pye Telecom - Ditton Works in the 1980s.