Affenrucken Single Quarters

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Where the people living at Affenrucken working at 1 Plant? or where they doing other work?

???

Yes mainly 1 Plant and mining

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Malcolm, Clive
I went out there today, took about 76 pics of everything will start sorting and post soon I saw the Sikorsky in the scrap yard got some picks, glad to hear it did'nt crash, Malcolm the bridge is still there, only just and some of the jim equipment also, after the heavy rains we had at the bigining of the year the pool is full of sand that was washed down the hills. Must add the accomodation and mess buildings are homes to owls, falcon's and baboons so we can say the legend still lives on, see you guys soon with all the pics

Alfred

[Clive Symes]

Alfred, thanks for the photos, as Malcolm says they all bring memories.

Malclom, I started work as a mining operator in 1969 and was assigned to look after 32G. Sometime during 1970 I was asked if I wanted to get my blasting ticket, took a few trips out to Affenrucken but deceided it was too far from town and the girlfriend at the time so I ended up working at 68G, 100G and at 2U plants.
Otherwise I would have been out at Affenrucken.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hi Alfred & Clive

Thanks for taking more pics - its so easy nowadays with digital cameras.

I actually asked to be transferred to Affenrucken in 1969.  I worked at 66M HMS for a year and was due to go back to No 4 plant so thought I would have a try at Affenrucken just for the hell of it (having heard that it was a fun place).  Such is fate.  All the screening plants were still going in the 60s and they were slowly shut down over a period of years from what I can remember.  I worked in the Screen shop at No 1 plant for about 4-5 years and used to do all the screens and help the vulcanisers with the conveyor belts.  No 1 plant had big problems with the belt from the primary crusher (A1) to the stockpile. It couldnt handle the load and used to snap regularly.  From memory it was a 48 inch belt. I spent many a night threading the belt through all the rollers and pullys.  I learnt to use a front end loader with a cable to do this and save 2-3 hours.
Clive Manthee and Glen Hackart were the vulcanisers then.  Does anyone remember them and where they are now?  Glen's brother was Morris, who die quite young of a heart attack. 

Cheers

Malcolm

[Clive Symes]

Malcolm,
You should remember my Dad, Dennis Symes, he was a fitter working on the mine and later a mechanical foreman.

I think Keith Spackman worked at No 1 plant.

In 1970, I started an apprentiship as a diesel mechanic, and used to work on the eartmoving stripping teams out 10H way ( ducking into Affenrucken for the occasional lunch and game of snooker)

Later I worked at No 4 Plant Earthmoving workshop and was involved with plenty of overtime on the first big bucket wheel  the SH 400.

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Malcolm these pics should tug on your heart strings enjoy the memories.
1st pic passage to you room
2nd pic your room door
3rd pic you room inside
4th pic the jim area

I noticed that there are two nails at each door on the right side what where they used for?
I struggled to find the jim but got the equipment outside tell me was the jim in a building I see there was a cement floor but can't make out the walls?

will send more pics tomorrow internet very slow tonight (dailup)

Keep well Alfred

[Michael Alexander]

Alfie, thanks for the pics, any chance of the helicopter picture, I am lank curious......

And the internet sux today, very slow and I cannot access sites outside of Africa today....ironically this forum is mirrored on a server in Texas......


:yeah7:

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Clive I found it
the Sikorsky

Greetings Alfred

Mike I was busy sending it to clive and you message bombed my reply here goes again

[Michael Alexander]

Unreal...thanks Alfie, anyone know the story behind this chopper?

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

That will be great to know.  Looks like an old Russian type military chopper.  For how long has this been there?  Look at the dumpies on the pictures  -  they don't even make them like that anymore!  And the rust has taken it's toll as well.

Alfie, you're digging up the motherload in memory treasures there with your camera!  Thanks again  -  we really appreciate.   Re those jackall cubs  -  have you had a chance to snap them yet? 

[barb (Fry)]

I know nothing about single quarters of any kind anywhere, but I see the nails you mentioned, and I reckon they were for hanging smelly shoes on.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hi Malcolm these pics should tug on your heart strings enjoy the memories.
1st pic passage to you room
2nd pic your room door
3rd pic you room inside
4th pic the jim area

I noticed that there are two nails at each door on the right side what where they used for?
I struggled to find the jim but got the equipment outside tell me was the jim in a building I see there was a cement floor but can't make out the walls?

will send more pics tomorrow internet very slow tonight (dailup)

Keep well Alfred

Hi Alfred

Great pics.  4B was my room!!!! The A rooms were on the lower levels with the toilets and showers on off the steps to the upper level where the B rooms were. 3B had a guy from Upington who used to snore so badly that everyone could hear him on the upperl evel.  One evening, while he was on night shift, we took his door off and hid it behind the mess.  When he came off shift he walked to his room and hey presto, no door.  We didnt tell him for 2 days and the poor bugger was panicking as he was told that he would have pay the costs of a new door.  We finally relented and told him where the door was and then ran like hell as he wanted to kill us.

I still have my old laundry bag with the Affenrucken name and number on it. I'll try and take a pic and post in the next few days.  We used to send our laundry into town on the Monday and get it back on the Friday.

I dont know what the nails an the right hand side of the doors were for.  It could have been something after I left.

Where you are standing seems to be the spot where the gymn was. It was a corrugated iron hut - all the cladding and roof was probably taken and used elsewhere.

Alfred, many thanks for your effort in taking all the pics - much appreciated.

Malcolm

[Alfred Boehme]

Dalene I have tried to get the jakkel pups bue when I get there they are camera shy I need to catch them before they see me will try later again? 

Malcolm the guy in the pic is not me but one of my work mates we had to go out there to plan reclaiming the old HT lines so we used this time to go and get the pics will send some more and you can give information regarding the pics thanks again for all the stories

Keep well
Alfred

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Malcolm did you perhaps know my husband Stephen Rudd sounds like you were there at much the same time

[Alfred Boehme]

Hi Georg

Look at these pics looks like the dog kennel you spoke abour earlier
1st pic dog kennel
2nd pic flower box in mess room
3rd pic Bridge
4th pic telephone numbers

Malcolm the bridge I don't think we should use it, oops and by the way I did'nt find that guy and jakkel that met in the middle of the bridge

Enjoy

Alfred