I was also sent to the Block makers ( Dellagana & Denby ) with Artwork . This would be photographed and then printed on a photo-sensitised metal plate (a zinco) .

This plate was then immersed in sulphuric acid and all the unprotected areas of the metal would be etched away leaving the type and illustrations standing high on the plate . When inked it would print the type and illustration. We always got one of these prints, which was called a proof .

I also went to photographers and remember going to a photographers in Bold Street where I saw one of the very earliest colour prints which was of food and was for use on a poster for Lewis's Food Hall .

I also went over the road ( Church Street ) to our Studio, called Studio Sefton, where there were I believe forty artists employed . These artists specialised in certain types of artwork . The categories were something like - Furniture, Men's Fashion, Ladies Fashion, Shoes, Jewellery, Bedding, Children's wear, Underwear, Lettering and so on . They worked on Washboard ( which was water colour paper mounted on card ), or Lineboard ( which was a hard surfaced board that would leave a clean line, usual an Indian ink drawing ) . It was fascinating to watch these artists at work and I learnt a great deal about techniques and tricks with water colour.

On the studio floor there was also a small photographic department, which opened out onto the Studio . If overtime had to be worked, which it often had, the juniors would be sent to the Kardohmar Restaurant for pots of tea and coffee, also plates of toast, jam or marmalade, this was for the artists doing overtime. They didn't get paid money for working over !

In those days the Unions power was virtually non-existent, and anyway, it was not until the 1970s that they set their sights onto the advertising agencies, so, in the 1930s what the boss offered was all you would get. Object, and you were looking for another job . Having said that, artists were a funny lot to control . I remember one artist who had a greyhound which he used to race, and on the day of the race meetings he would bring this dog in and tie its lead to one of the door handles in the studio ! Another incident I remember was when three of the artists laid bets to see who could grow the best beard within a month . In those days, everyone went to work properly dressed in suit, collar and tie; not in casual jeans and vest like today . About a fortnight had past and these three characters were looking real scruffy. On this particular morning one of the Directors walked in, looked at these fellows and said: " Haven't you got any razors?" When they explained about the bets the boss said: "If you've not got those beards off by tomorrow morning you're out of the door ! " . The next day they all appeared with shining clean-shaven chins, because they knew he meant it !

After a little over twelve months working at Peacocks I decided the money I was being paid was not enough, because by that time I was being given work that Layout artists were doing but not getting the pay. During that twelve months or so I had really learned quite a lot, so
See previous pageTree18next page