1980s workhorse still doing the business
Like the Filofax, the Golf GTi, and U2, another classic of the 1980s is still going strong.
Friday, 10 Oct 2014 12:35 GMT
Faithful friend: Astra Signs still has a working Gerber 4B in tip-top condition
A Gerber 4B bought 20 years ago by Astra Signs in Manchester continues to pull its weight when needed by the signage company.
David James Derbyshire of the firm has rewarded the reliable vinyl cutter’s reliability by giving it a clean-up and placing it in a display cabinet for visitors to marvel at.
It’s just good luck to have some old things around that helped businesses to grow”
David says: “We have created a showcase highlighting our old Gerber 4B—it stands outside my office and still works if plugged in. It’s just good luck to have some old things around that helped businesses to grow.”
The Gerber machine was bought by Astra Signs back in 1985. It became the catalyst for change from traditional hand lettering skills enabling automation.
David continues: "We used to cut all vinyl and self-adhesive card on it with additional weights, the card was bonded to polystyrene for hot wiring letter shapes. A real work horse, you could leave it cutting all night, you needed to, it really was painfully, painfully slow.
"The machine has moved with us over the years and has probably been dropped on many occasions but recently we kick fired it up and it worked first time, after a cleanup we made a display case now it’s in a prominent position in the factory and has been a topic of interesting conversation with visitors. We kept hold of the machine for nostalgic reasons and we feel it’s something of a good luck charm and a milestone in our progress through the years. We were wondering if anybody else has any old machines that they don’t like disposing of."
Do you have a piece of kit bought decades ago that’s still earning its keep?
If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail
news@signlink.co.uk
Follow Harry on:
