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Albert Wolfgram (1908-1996) - Bus driver, Rover Motors, Cessnock. Recorded 13 November 1983. Part 1/2.
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Summary314A Albert Wolfgram
Recorded 13 November 1983.
Part 1 of 2.
0:27
His father worked first in Hetton Colliery, Carrington, then to Cessnock and the family moved to Bellbird.
1:14
He was born West Cessnock, 13th September 1908.
1:28
Father worked at Bellbird Colliery. There were 6 houses in Cessnock at the time. The Cessnock Hotel was there. There used to be vineyards all around the place right through to the creek.
2:33
Father worked as fireman on boilers at Bellbird pit.
3:10
Recalls house being destroyed by fire.
3:21
George Wolfgram was his uncle - the family shifted back to Carrington. In about 1916 they shifted back to Bellbird. He resumed work as a fireman. He then went into the Power House as the operator.
4:16
George Jones, Taff Jones - George's son
4:54
Recalls reticulation of electricity in 1916 from Bellbird pit - street lights were on but they went out at midnight.
5:37
George Cousins was in charge.
6:04
Readings of the meters was once a month and the spragging or "rigging" of power meters -
6:50
Recollection of Bellbird Powerhouse
6:58
Recollection of boilers, Bellbird - 3 double boilers, 2 together and a single.
They were English boilers - all bricked in and round at the front.
In the 30's Caledonia Collieries took over and supplied the power.
9:14
Albert attended Bellbird Public School from 1916.
10:17
Billy Davies and Albert each had a pushbike and they'd double if either had a puncture. Billy was a "pretty good fighter, he could handle himself".
10:48
Ranter Smith and Billy Davies get involved in a fight.
Albert married Miss Watts from East Greta. Her father was a butcher and he worked for Hector.
He and his wife went into a shop at West End. They operated it for 3 or 4 years.
Hector's butchery, Kurri Kurri.
12:25
Albert began working for George Ryder at age 13 at Rover Motors in 1921.
12:42
Fred Wallace, as the carrier, worked in partnership with George Ryder. They got together and bought the Paxton run. They used 2 International buses on the Paxton run.
13:20
Recollection of early Rover Motor runs - Paxton, Bellbird and Kurri.
14:02
Recalls working as bus conductor - he left school at 3.30pm. He'd have a hot dinner with his father - Albert caught the 4.30pm bus from Bellbird and he'd conduct on the 5.00, 6.00 and 7.00pm from Kurri. They were a half hour each way - Then he'd be on the bus connecting to the train at 8.15pm to Bellbird.
14:44
Andy Scott and Albert would take it in turn to do Saturdays. They'd also do Newcastle on Saturdays and Sundays. Andy worked at The Store and then enlisted to go to the War.
15:22
George Ryder married Andy's sister Dorothy "Dorrie" Scott.
15:41
Les Brown - Wallace and Ryder bought Les out in about 1925.
16:22
George Ryder drove buses for Ditton & Hill .
16:31
Recalls how George Ryder met his wife.
17:48
Ditton & Hill were on Aberdare Road. George bought Ditton and Hill out.
18:05
Keith Ezzey had a garage in Vincent Street.
18:40
Peter Phillips.
18:47
Luskintyre's milk run to Wollombi and had Sunday picnics by adding an attachment to his truck.
19:28
Recollection of Keith Ezzey's bus fleet - 2 Deluxe bodies (both Reo's). Ezzey probably lasted 2 years
20:55
Ken Chapman's motor bus run was around Bellbird. He then had a cordial factory in Newcastle.
21:45
Scott McGill had the Nulkaba bus service also bought out by George Ryder.
21:51
Recollection of Scotty McGill's motor bus - he had a Reo charabanc. He had the run for about 5 years.
22:28
Rover Motors ran bus service to Pelton pit in the late 20's.
23:09
Rover Motors ran bus service to Bellbird pit and Ellalong.
23:21
Rover Motors ran bus service to Elrington, Pelaw Main and Richmond Main, Millfield and Maitland Main. No opposition.
23:41
Bill Jenkins had the Paxton run.
24:32
Bill Peden, Kalingo bus service. Reg Batterham bought Peden out.
24:57
Reg Batterham, Kitchener bus service. Reg started with a little car driving out to the pit and back. Then he progressed to a charabanc then bigger buses.
25:35
McMurray's bus service, Maitland Main. He had a taxi and a boarding house.
26:36
Recollection of Hancock brothers - they had Abernethy and Kearsley and Aberdare.
27:00
Bill Hancock, Arthur Hancock - brothers who ran in opposition to each other.
27:32
Alf Mitchell had a horse bus. Stan Barksby was in opposition to George Ryder - he ran to Kurri only. He had a shop in Maitland Road. He had a garage, service station and spare parts shop before the bus run.
28:38
He and his wife married in 1932
31:34
Amos Fogg started a bus run out of the pit. He ran only to Central.
32:40
Herb Bailey, Ken Johns, Don Freebairn.
34:04
In the 1930's they had about 6 buses when they were put off Newcastle.
34:14
Left school at age 14 to work full time conducting in 1923.
34:47
Ray Smith from Aberdare.
35:17
Harold Johns.
35:22
Early bus drivers at Rover Motors, c. 1924
35:37
Ernie McNeill eventually became an inspector, George Reid.
35:51
Recollection of Rovers bus fleet, c. 1924. He didn't wait till he was old enough to get his driver's licence.
36:34
Worked at Bellbird Colliery.
40:00
Recalls applying for bus driver's licence.
40:10
Andy got his licence after Albert got his licence.
40:26
Drove Bellbird-Paxton route when he was 18. Ezzeys was the opposition. Chapman was also in opposition and he lasted for 8 years.
41:19
Recollection of Baxter's bus fleet which lasted 4 or 5 years.
42:32
Bill Baxter
42:52
Eric Nelson drove for Keith Ezzey.
44:04
Clive Ranclaud
44:23
End (Tape 314/Side A) Part 1 of 2
SubjectWolfgram, Albert Edward Deacon, 1908-1986Cessnock (N.S.W.)Buses -- New South Wales -- CessnockBus driversDitton & HillRover MotorsPersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToGeorge RyderBilly DaveyLes Brown (1900-1983) – Founder of Rover Motors. Part 1/1. Recorded 22 August 1983Peter Phillips - Owner of Kearsley Bus Company. Part 1/1. Recorded 13 October 1983.CreatorWolfgram, Albert Edward Deacon, 1908-1986Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWDate Created13th November 1983Identifier314A
Recorded 13 November 1983.
Part 1 of 2.
0:27
His father worked first in Hetton Colliery, Carrington, then to Cessnock and the family moved to Bellbird.
1:14
He was born West Cessnock, 13th September 1908.
1:28
Father worked at Bellbird Colliery. There were 6 houses in Cessnock at the time. The Cessnock Hotel was there. There used to be vineyards all around the place right through to the creek.
2:33
Father worked as fireman on boilers at Bellbird pit.
3:10
Recalls house being destroyed by fire.
3:21
George Wolfgram was his uncle - the family shifted back to Carrington. In about 1916 they shifted back to Bellbird. He resumed work as a fireman. He then went into the Power House as the operator.
4:16
George Jones, Taff Jones - George's son
4:54
Recalls reticulation of electricity in 1916 from Bellbird pit - street lights were on but they went out at midnight.
5:37
George Cousins was in charge.
6:04
Readings of the meters was once a month and the spragging or "rigging" of power meters -
6:50
Recollection of Bellbird Powerhouse
6:58
Recollection of boilers, Bellbird - 3 double boilers, 2 together and a single.
They were English boilers - all bricked in and round at the front.
In the 30's Caledonia Collieries took over and supplied the power.
9:14
Albert attended Bellbird Public School from 1916.
10:17
Billy Davies and Albert each had a pushbike and they'd double if either had a puncture. Billy was a "pretty good fighter, he could handle himself".
10:48
Ranter Smith and Billy Davies get involved in a fight.
Albert married Miss Watts from East Greta. Her father was a butcher and he worked for Hector.
He and his wife went into a shop at West End. They operated it for 3 or 4 years.
Hector's butchery, Kurri Kurri.
12:25
Albert began working for George Ryder at age 13 at Rover Motors in 1921.
12:42
Fred Wallace, as the carrier, worked in partnership with George Ryder. They got together and bought the Paxton run. They used 2 International buses on the Paxton run.
13:20
Recollection of early Rover Motor runs - Paxton, Bellbird and Kurri.
14:02
Recalls working as bus conductor - he left school at 3.30pm. He'd have a hot dinner with his father - Albert caught the 4.30pm bus from Bellbird and he'd conduct on the 5.00, 6.00 and 7.00pm from Kurri. They were a half hour each way - Then he'd be on the bus connecting to the train at 8.15pm to Bellbird.
14:44
Andy Scott and Albert would take it in turn to do Saturdays. They'd also do Newcastle on Saturdays and Sundays. Andy worked at The Store and then enlisted to go to the War.
15:22
George Ryder married Andy's sister Dorothy "Dorrie" Scott.
15:41
Les Brown - Wallace and Ryder bought Les out in about 1925.
16:22
George Ryder drove buses for Ditton & Hill .
16:31
Recalls how George Ryder met his wife.
17:48
Ditton & Hill were on Aberdare Road. George bought Ditton and Hill out.
18:05
Keith Ezzey had a garage in Vincent Street.
18:40
Peter Phillips.
18:47
Luskintyre's milk run to Wollombi and had Sunday picnics by adding an attachment to his truck.
19:28
Recollection of Keith Ezzey's bus fleet - 2 Deluxe bodies (both Reo's). Ezzey probably lasted 2 years
20:55
Ken Chapman's motor bus run was around Bellbird. He then had a cordial factory in Newcastle.
21:45
Scott McGill had the Nulkaba bus service also bought out by George Ryder.
21:51
Recollection of Scotty McGill's motor bus - he had a Reo charabanc. He had the run for about 5 years.
22:28
Rover Motors ran bus service to Pelton pit in the late 20's.
23:09
Rover Motors ran bus service to Bellbird pit and Ellalong.
23:21
Rover Motors ran bus service to Elrington, Pelaw Main and Richmond Main, Millfield and Maitland Main. No opposition.
23:41
Bill Jenkins had the Paxton run.
24:32
Bill Peden, Kalingo bus service. Reg Batterham bought Peden out.
24:57
Reg Batterham, Kitchener bus service. Reg started with a little car driving out to the pit and back. Then he progressed to a charabanc then bigger buses.
25:35
McMurray's bus service, Maitland Main. He had a taxi and a boarding house.
26:36
Recollection of Hancock brothers - they had Abernethy and Kearsley and Aberdare.
27:00
Bill Hancock, Arthur Hancock - brothers who ran in opposition to each other.
27:32
Alf Mitchell had a horse bus. Stan Barksby was in opposition to George Ryder - he ran to Kurri only. He had a shop in Maitland Road. He had a garage, service station and spare parts shop before the bus run.
28:38
He and his wife married in 1932
31:34
Amos Fogg started a bus run out of the pit. He ran only to Central.
32:40
Herb Bailey, Ken Johns, Don Freebairn.
34:04
In the 1930's they had about 6 buses when they were put off Newcastle.
34:14
Left school at age 14 to work full time conducting in 1923.
34:47
Ray Smith from Aberdare.
35:17
Harold Johns.
35:22
Early bus drivers at Rover Motors, c. 1924
35:37
Ernie McNeill eventually became an inspector, George Reid.
35:51
Recollection of Rovers bus fleet, c. 1924. He didn't wait till he was old enough to get his driver's licence.
36:34
Worked at Bellbird Colliery.
40:00
Recalls applying for bus driver's licence.
40:10
Andy got his licence after Albert got his licence.
40:26
Drove Bellbird-Paxton route when he was 18. Ezzeys was the opposition. Chapman was also in opposition and he lasted for 8 years.
41:19
Recollection of Baxter's bus fleet which lasted 4 or 5 years.
42:32
Bill Baxter
42:52
Eric Nelson drove for Keith Ezzey.
44:04
Clive Ranclaud
44:23
End (Tape 314/Side A) Part 1 of 2
SubjectWolfgram, Albert Edward Deacon, 1908-1986Cessnock (N.S.W.)Buses -- New South Wales -- CessnockBus driversDitton & HillRover MotorsPersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToGeorge RyderBilly DaveyLes Brown (1900-1983) – Founder of Rover Motors. Part 1/1. Recorded 22 August 1983Peter Phillips - Owner of Kearsley Bus Company. Part 1/1. Recorded 13 October 1983.CreatorWolfgram, Albert Edward Deacon, 1908-1986Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWDate Created13th November 1983Identifier314Aloading google map....
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Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Albert Wolfgram (1908-1996) - Bus driver, Rover Motors, Cessnock. Recorded 13 November 1983. Part 1/2., [314A]. Living Histories, accessed 12/12/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/87336