PERHAPS the summer in 1939 was producing temperatures similar to those we have experienced this year, because the caption for these two photographs read: "Bolton's mineral water manufacturers are now at their busiest, coping with the usual summer rush.

Our pictures, taken at a works where over 12,000 bottles can be turned out daily, and where 'pop' has been made for well over 70 years, show one of the ingenious bottle filling, capping and labelling machines, and cases coming down the roller conveyor."

In those days, they didn't publish the name of the firms involved in the paper, but I have looked back at the Bolton Directory for 1932 (the nearest available to 1939) and the Mineral Water Manufacturers listed were: Bolton District Family Supply (Aerated Water Manufacturers), Arkwright Street; Eckersley, James & Sons, 39 Gate Street; Magee Marshall & Co, Ltd., Peel Street and Cricket Street; Pemberton, Thomas & Son, 83-89 Crumpsall Street; Rothwell, William, Park View Works, 121 Mayor Street; Waller & Riley, Ltd., 100 Bark Street. So presumably the pictures were taken at one of those firms.