SheffGens
Family and Social History
Production at Bachelors
Peas
The following is an extract from the Pea - Pod
magazine 1953
Original author unknown
The job of describing the production side is not as easy as it may seem. Apart from the fact that there are two large and two small factories involved there is also the point that production at any one factory is not just a simple job of putting things in a can, closing it, cooking it, labelling it and packing it in a carton, although it may seem to be so on the surface. It is in fact quite a complicated job in which many people who are not directly concerned with the actual canning process play an important part.
In our factories many different products are produced. They vary from dried peas (in packets or drums) to canned ox - tongues. Naturally, processed peas is the biggest product of all but considerable quantities of soup, baked beans, fruits and vegetables are also canned. Chicken Noodle Soup incidentally is seperately handled for us by one of our associate companies.
One of the small factories at Worksop is concerned with preperation of the raw materials. In charge is Mr Pickard and under his guidance 200 staff produce more than 200 tons of dried peas each week
An
arial view of the House of Bachelors Sheffield factory 1953. The most up to
date and largest of its kind in Europe. Built at Wasdley Bridge 4 miles from
Sheffields center and was opened October 4th five months after the Coronation,
The opening ceremony was performed by the Marquis of Hartington (later the Duke
of Devenshire)
A
crate containing canned peas being lowered into a retort cooker. After a length
of time during which the peas are both cooked and sterilised, the cans are rapidly
cooled to prevent over cooking. In preparing the peas we use a large amount
of ingenious machinery, including special pin machines for taking out peas with
holes in them, electric eyes for sorting out discoloured peas and blowing and
shaking machines for separating straw, stones and other waste material.
In
addition to all the latest mechanical means we still have nearly all our peas
checked visually. In this photo we show a close up of an electric eye machine
showing how the peas are fed into a rotating bowl and are then picked up on
the suction ferrules of the drum to be carried forward before the lens in a
lamphousing for inspection. Also illustrated is a typical hand picking line
where the peas receive a visual check.
A
general view of a blancher in this picture, showing the washed peas recieving
a final visual check whilst being carried forward to conveyor belts which lead
to the canning lines.
A point of interest associated with the dried peas factories is the use of the former indoor riding school at Welbeck Abbey. This huge building is used as a store for dried peas. At times it has in it almost 5,000 tons of peas, that is something between 50,000 and 60,000 sacks.
This
formidable looking charactor (the "pea can" model, not the father
and son) was "Bertie Bigga". A talking model which together with another
talking model "Dan Dwarf" was used to draw the crowds at the Ideal
Home Exhibition March 1953.
© G Cambell