Brian Chapel has been Rewinding Electric Motors for 45 Years this year. To celebrate this amazing achievement we have delved into our archives to capture Brian through the years Rewinding Electric Motors
Brian left school at the age of 15 to become a trainee on the shop floor as a AC Motor Winder at Newman Electric Industries based in Yate. He worked his way up rewinding AC Motors to become the Leading Charge Hand looking after 10 ladies in the AC Section.
It was his responsibility to ensure stocks of coils, and all other materials were ready for rewinding Motors. It was here that Brian met his wife Mary, she was working as a winding clerk at Newman’s.
Mary rewinding a Mawdsley A355 at Dursley.
Brian making coils at Dursley.
After 18 years working for Newman Electrical Industries Brian went to work for Mawdsleys Motors at Dursley as a charge hand. He spent 18 years at Mawdsleys Motors working on AC and DC Motors.
After Mawdsleys Motors at Dursley closed, Brian came to work for Mawdsleys and has been here for the past 9 years.
Brian has enjoyed his 45 years of rewinding but is worried that a lack of apprenticeships in this industry has seriously jeopardised the art of rewinding. Over the past 5 years Mawdsleys has run an apprenticeship scheme to ensure the future of this industry. Brian has been instrumental in nurturing the new apprentices and teaching them the knowledge he has gained over his 45 year reign.