WHEN textile machinery was built in Bolton, many engineers had to go abroad to make sure that the machinery was erected correctly, and that it worked.

Most local people at the end of the 19th century never left the town or village in which they were born, but the lucky ones saw quite a lot of the world.

I have received an original Articles of Agreement, dated September 1, 1899, between the well-known local firm of John Musgrave & Sons, Ltd., Bolton, as agents on behalf of the Moscow house of Messrs. De Jersey & Co, and William Fisher, a Bolton engineer.

It has been sent to me by Mr and Mrs K.W. & E.C. Benson, of Lingfield Close, Farnworth, who tell me that Mrs Benson's father was a friend of the Fishers, and that is presumably how the document came into their possession.

It states that Musgrave's agreed to engage William Fisher "to proceed to any mill or manufactory in Russia for the purpose of erecting, completing and setting to work all such engines sent by Musgraves to Messrs De Jersey."

The employment was to begin "from the time of the said William Fisher leaving Bolton for Russia, each day's regular labour to commence and terminate at the customary hours of labour in that country, at the wages or salary, and upon the terms hereafter mentioned; and in lieu of all overtime over usual English hours, lodging and board to be provided free at the Mills, or in lieu of board an allowance of forty roubles per month will be made to the said William Fisher."

What about William's wages? Well, Musgrave's (on behalf of the Russian firm) "agree to pay William Fisher the wages or salary of six pounds per week, payments on account of salary if paid in roubles at Mr Knoop's office in Moscow to be debited to the said William Fisher at the current rate of exchange, although the said Moscow House of De Jersey & Co. shall not in any week have sufficient work for the said William Fisher, either from stoppage, breakage, or other casualty, or by reason of any holidays or by any other cause not occasioned by the said William Fisher, but in such case no allowance for board and lodgings will be made by De Jersey & Co." Six pounds a week? That was a lot of money in those days.

Musgrave's also agreed to pay £15 travelling expenses from Bolton to Moscow, and a further £15 travelling expenses back from Moscow to Bolton. However, if William decided at the end of his term of contract not to return home, he would not be entitled to the latter £15. During his travelling time, he was also to be paid £6 a week.

I hope that William Fisher was a good worker, because if not, "and he shall not be found competent to the satisfactory performance of the duties mentioned, or in the case of drunkenness, absent without leave, or any breach of the stipulations of this agreement, the Moscow company shall be at liberty to discharge William Fisher without notice, on payment of his travelling expenses back to England, and wages for time occupied in so doing,."

The agreement was signed by George Musgrave, Director for the Bolton firm, and William Fisher, and witnessed by Joseph Broughton, Asst. Secretary, Bolton.

And the document also contained a Memorandum at the end, on behalf of William Fisher. "John Musgrave & Sons, Ltd. have this day advanced me the sum of £15 on account of travelling expenses under this agreement, and the sum of two pounds per week shall be paid to my wife in England by the said John Musgrave & Sons, Ltd., during my absence from England, the amounts so paid to be deducted from any balance which may become due under this agreement."

So presumably off to Russia went William Fisher of Bolton, probably together with many more local engineers over the years. It must have been a fascinating experience so very many years ago, even if you only think of the time it must have taken to travel from Bolton to Moscow.

But it just shows how important Bolton engineers were in the development of the world.