Fun Ho! History

Fitting and Drilling

Arthur spent many, many years assembling and drilling Fun Ho! toys. A faithful, consistent operator, he was a study of time and motion. Rather 'staccato ' in his speech and movements, he would receive a 'run of say 200 toys, and once he got going there was hardly time to get his attention for anything, until he had completed the 'run'. He had a little hammer, and would be tap, tapping away, adjusting castings and axles almost incessantly.

Every movement of both hands and feet was pre-planned, as detailed as a champion boxer training, Every tap with the hammer was habitual and sounded exactly the same.

Every assembled toy when he had finished with it, was neatly placed to fit in one of the many toy trays, used for transporting from department to department.

He knew exactly how many of any type of toy would fit in these trays.

Even the wooden duckboard he always trod on was worn down in about the same places, so regular was his footwork!

Sometimes he was given a new lad to help him, but if the lad didn't pick the job up quickly Arthur would catch up, do it for him and then send him away.

Arthur's way was to get it right the first time, and with his long experience he didn't make too many mistakes. The various castings were drilled where needed, usually by locking the casting into a steel purpose made 'jig' so the axle holes were always in the right place and would always be in line. Sometimes a hole slightly smaller than the axle would be drilled, then, after further processing, and painting, these holes would be 'run' by using the final size drill in the first 'pilot 'hole, which would mean a nice clean hole ready to accept the appropriate size axle.

Again, Get it right first time', and there were no 'three wheelers' ! Not with Arthur anyway.





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