This is a story from Chas Atkins who was an apprentice in the 1954 intake with John Goodhand, Jim Crick among other names. Chas worked in several divisions as a tool and mechanical. Design draughtsman before joining Alf Harrison’s outfit, Kent Drawing, then latterly ADD model shop with Dave Marvel. Chas even remembers his Clock Number 153.
Chas was a founder member of the Elliott Model Flying Club in 1964 and he still has a model aircraft that he first flew almost 50 years ago in the front carpark of the Company
Circa 1970, I left the drawing office and joined Dave Marvell in ADD Model Shop. The first job I undertook was to make a prototype of Night Vision Goggles. Australian Staff Ellis was the Project Engineer, liaising with model shop technicians, myself and Ernie Morton. Staff did a rough sketch of what he had in mind, that consisting of an attachment for the pilot’s helmet which held the goggles on a swivelled bracket so that they could be tipped upwards, out of the line of normal vision. I did what little machining was required and shared the sheet metal components manufacture with Ernie Morton. Upon completion of the attachment, Staff brought down a pair of night vision optics for fitting to the bracket. The wiring and miniature battery installation were done by ADD Model Shop wiring bay, the foreman, if my memory serves, was Jack whose surname was Whall (or something like that).
When all was ready, Staff told us to try them out, but it had to be done in complete darkness, I had a simple solution, the gents toilet had no windows, and was pitch black when the door was shut, so, adorned with the helmet and goggles, myself and some of the lads shut ourselves in the gents and switched on the goggles. I was amazed- I could see everything quite clearly, albeit in a greenish hue. I reported back to a delighted Staff Ellis who had one of his colleagues pose for photos whilst wearing the goggles. I wonder if that historic photo is still in the archives? For me, it didn’t end there: Many years later, I worked on the now advanced NVG’s, this time with engineer Ed Cheesman. That is a long story, and probably continues to this day. Of interest: The late Ernie Morton served his time at Short Bros, Rochester, working on Sunderlands and Stirlings. He had remarkable sheet metal skills, nothing seemed to faze Ernie.
Happy memories, Chas Atkins.