Oral history; Interview with David Holdsworth, 2017
Main details
| Reference number | 2017/5594 |
|---|---|
| Description | David Holdsworth discusses the moquette manufacturing process at the family business John Holdsworth and Company Limited. |
| Interviewee | David Holdsworth |
| Dates | 22/06/2017 |
| Collection | |
| Object type |
|
| Topics | |
| Completeness | 100% |
-
Physical description
Item content Attribute Value Object title Oral history interview with David Holdsworth -
Interview summary
Track 1 of 1 [00.40.28] David Holdsworth (DH) was born 27 January 1952, in Kettlewell North Yorkshire. His father was the Chairman and Managing Director of the Textile Mill, John Holdsworth and Company Limited. He studied Physics at Nottingham University and then went on to study Textiles at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology [00.03.37]. DH was put in charge of Production planning at the family business, John Holdsworth and company Limited [00.04.20]. John Holdsworth and Company Limited was founded as a limited company in 1822 in Halifax. The company was a textile manufacturing company, involved in the whole process of manufacturing including spinning yarn, weaving, finishing. At the age of 16 DH begun working at John Holdsworth and Company limited in his school holidays as a Creeler in the mills, which involved putting the bobbins of yarn into the wooden creels so that the jacquard looms could then weave the fabric and after this he was trained as a weaver [00.08.12] Jacquard weaving was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard who devised a system to digitally select a certain thread to lift at a certain time to allow a complicated pattern to be woven into the fabric [00.09.12]. After his role in Planning Production DH became the Sales Officer Manager at John Holdsworth and Company Limited and after this he moved back into the production office as the Assistant Weaving Manager, organising and planning production and then went on to become the Weaving Manager. When a Weaving Manager was recruited, DH became Operations Manager and then was recruited to Operations Director which he stayed in for around 30 years [00.12.53]. DH explains punched cards used in jacquard weaving for the manufacturing of moquette. DH explains what moquette is and how it is used. DH explains the weaving process for moquette [00.20.56]. Talks about working with London Transport and how staff from London Transport would come to the mills to inspect the moquette rolls before they were sent down to Acton Works [00.23.00]. DH talks about the design process for moquette at John Holdsworth and Company Limited [00.26.20]. DH explains the selling of John Holdsworth and Company Limited [00.34.39]. DH explains his career after John Holdsworth and Company Limited was sold [00.37.54]. DH talks about his favourite moquette design and his proudest achievement at John Holdsworth and Company Limited. End of track [00.40.28] -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Interviewer Georgia Morley, 22/06/2017Interviewee David Holdsworth -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Interview location Halifax, 22/06/2017