WADSWORTH Lifts closed in 1986 after 120 years in Bolton.

It was a major employer in the town and its lifts could be seen far and wide, including on London Underground stations as well as in far-flung places such as China.

When the firm shut up shop, 240 workers lost their jobs.

Wadsworths started as a general engineering company in Bolton and developed as a supplier of lifts and hoists to the many textile mills.

William Wadsworth began a machinist’s business in 1864, repairing belt-driven equipment in the mills in and about Bolton.

Sons Thomas and Alfred, previously apprenticed as a millwright and draughtsman, joined the firm and it became WM Wadsworth & Sons in 1891 when it began manufacturing worm gear hoists and the self-landing transporters that were to become famous for moving material directly between floors and wagons or trucks.

Wadsworth sold thousands.

When the direct hydraulic elevators, serving the Mersey Underground Railroad since 1886 at the world’s first under-river crossing (90 feet underground) had to be replaced Wadsworth substituted four, 60 passenger and two, 70 passenger lifts.

This provided the largest carrying capacity in the country — 30,000 people per hour.

During the Fifties and Sixties the company started to make lifts for multi-storey apartments. Later the company took pride in developing “one-offs”.

Former worker Syd Shuttleworth credits Wadsworth Lifts with giving him a “wonderful life”.

The 83-year-old says what he learned at the Bolton company has given him a life most people can only dream of.

He has travelled widely and now lives in “beautiful California” and it is from his home in the USA that Syd tells his fascinating story.

Syd grew up in Astley Bridge with his parents, Hilda and Arthur, and sister Joyce.

When he was aged 14 it was time to leave Castle Hill School and head for work. “Can you imagine children today working at the age of 14?” says Syd.

He started work as an apprentice for Wm Wadsworth — in 1944 — on a five-and-a-half day week earning 15 shillings.

“The war was still on. The blackout was strictly enforced. I remember how cold the factory was in the winter. Everyone wore scarves and caps while they worked.

“There was little to no heat just a couple of radiators and one stove. The blacksmith’s fire did help if you were able to get close to one of the three fires.

“I would cycle all the way from Chalfont Street to work in Bridgeman Street. When it snowed I walked it.

“In the summer it was just the opposite — it was very hot. The roof was covered with glass. There was one drinking fountain that provided water for the entire staff and factory and it wasn’t chilled.

“When I turned 18 I was asked if I wanted to be an outfitter. An outfitter is an installer of transporters and lifts in the field. ‘Yes’ was my quick reply. It was a chance to get out of the factory. I worked as an outfitter for 16 years, installing all types of lifts,” explains Syd.

Working in the field meant Syd would be sent all over the UK installing lifts. He would stay in “digs” or motels with an allowance of two pounds, 12 shillings and six pence to pay for accommodation for a week.

“You might have to share a bed with another guy or if you were lucky you got a room all of your own,” he says.

Syd and his first wife and two sons, David and Robert, left Bolton for South Africa in 1964. The South African government had placed an advertisement in most British newspapers for skilled lift mechanics and Syd felt this was an opportunity he could not turn down.

The family spent more than three years in South Africa and then returned to the UK.

Then, in September of 1967, Syd saw a newspaper advertisement that The Ontario Canada government was looking for skilled lift mechanics to be trained in Canada as lift inspectors.

A two-year contract included passage to Ontario and the government would pay for Syd’s family to Montreal by ship. Syd applied and had to go to Liverpool for a test.

He passed the test and was accepted. While Syd flew to Ontario as soon as he was able, his family followed him, the following May, by ship.

When Syd had completed his two-year contract he saw an advertisement for the University of Toronto — the university was looking for an applicant for the position of maintenance supervisor for all lifts, dumbwaiters, goods lifts and stage lift on the campus.

“I stayed there for 10 years,” explains Syd.

In 1978, following his divorce, Syd emigrated to California.

Here he was offered a job as a maintenance supervisor for a growing elevator company in Sacramento.

“I applied for the position. It took quite a while to get my Green Card. In 1978 my future employer had to prove, by advertising the position for three days in several newspapers, that no American citizen qualified for the position.

“After several months of waiting I finally received my Green Card.

“The position required a great deal of travelling. By then I had remarried — my wife is Maribeth — and I was travelling up and down the state of California.

“It proved to be too much. I resigned and joined US Elevator, in sales.

“In 1985 I saw an advertisement for the State of California. They were advertising positions for elevators inspectors for downtown San Francisco. I applied, took the test and passed.

“I was an associate elevator inspector. It was the job I wanted. A great deal of San Francisco was quite old — 1880s to 1930s. This is where my experience with Wadsworth, so many years ago, came in.

“I stayed with the State of California for 11 years and reached the position of senior inspector.

“I retired in 1996 after 52 years in the trade.

“I want to say thank you to William Wadsworth and Sons for giving me such a wonderful career and life,” says Syd.