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Fred Armstrong - Electrical and Mechanical Engineer. Recorded 2 May 1983. Part 3 of 3.
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Summary00:25
Fred began talking about his Mining Electrical Engineering qualification.
1:33
Jack asked Fred about his feelings about computers.
Fred said “We used to use slide rules but we always trusted our own rough calculations. There’s a lot of gimmickry in them”.
5:20
On the subject of travel: Fred’s first trip was to Tasmania in 1966 by the Engineering Institute of New Zealand.
Then he travelled to the UK to investigate the corrosion problems of the cooling system of a nuclear power station (Bardswell). It was not severe enough to close it down but where there was a million in one chance that it would malfunction his job was controlling the heat and making it fail safe.
Microprocessor = integrated circuit.
Now in retirement he tries to keep active and balancing with rest.
18:34
He refers to diet and Martin Pretorius about nutrition.
23:36
Jack returns Fred’s conversation to Cessnock history, Frank Sellars, his “gang”, and Clyde Garrish.
In 1940’s his work in pumping and electrical and water reticulation at the pumping stations. Cessnock Pumping Station
27:20
Water reticulation, Neath
Neath Pumping Station
30:00
The same day Bert Hinkler flew over on the same day as the Bellbird Mine disaster.
Jack does a bit of questioning about pumps towards the end of the recording
Bellbird Pumping Station
Pelton Pumping Station
Kurri Kurri Hospital
Sewerage pumping station, Kurri
Matt Stewart
Fred is a bit vague saying he had been retired for 13 years.
East Greta Junction
Jack King
Jack Lorne
Bill Booth
40:18
End (Tape 11/Side A)
Armstrong, Frederick Austin, 1905-1995Coal mines and mining -- New South WalesPersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSW
Fred began talking about his Mining Electrical Engineering qualification.
1:33
Jack asked Fred about his feelings about computers.
Fred said “We used to use slide rules but we always trusted our own rough calculations. There’s a lot of gimmickry in them”.
5:20
On the subject of travel: Fred’s first trip was to Tasmania in 1966 by the Engineering Institute of New Zealand.
Then he travelled to the UK to investigate the corrosion problems of the cooling system of a nuclear power station (Bardswell). It was not severe enough to close it down but where there was a million in one chance that it would malfunction his job was controlling the heat and making it fail safe.
Microprocessor = integrated circuit.
Now in retirement he tries to keep active and balancing with rest.
18:34
He refers to diet and Martin Pretorius about nutrition.
23:36
Jack returns Fred’s conversation to Cessnock history, Frank Sellars, his “gang”, and Clyde Garrish.
In 1940’s his work in pumping and electrical and water reticulation at the pumping stations. Cessnock Pumping Station
27:20
Water reticulation, Neath
Neath Pumping Station
30:00
The same day Bert Hinkler flew over on the same day as the Bellbird Mine disaster.
Jack does a bit of questioning about pumps towards the end of the recording
Bellbird Pumping Station
Pelton Pumping Station
Kurri Kurri Hospital
Sewerage pumping station, Kurri
Matt Stewart
Fred is a bit vague saying he had been retired for 13 years.
East Greta Junction
Jack King
Jack Lorne
Bill Booth
40:18
End (Tape 11/Side A)
Armstrong, Frederick Austin, 1905-1995Coal mines and mining -- New South WalesPersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSWloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Fred Armstrong - Electrical and Mechanical Engineer. Recorded 2 May 1983. Part 3 of 3. , [011A]. Living Histories, accessed 30/11/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/65374