Seeking Photos: Welwyn Engineering & the "Magic Roundabout" (1970–2010)

[Mark J]

Hi everyone, I’m putting together a career memory book for my father, Hugh Jefferies, who was an Engineer at Welwyn Electronics for many years.

He is incredibly proud of his work on the factory’s automation, especially a machine nicknamed the "Magic Roundabout." I’m looking for any photos or scans that might help bring those memories to life for him:

• The "Magic Roundabout": Any shots of this or similar assembly/indexing machines.
• The Factory: Photos of the engineering offices or production floor (1970–2010).
• The Team: Candid shots of the engineering department, staff presentations, or old company newsletters.

If you worked at Welwyn during this era or have any old photos tucked away, I would be so grateful for a digital copy or a lead on where to find one. Thank you for helping me celebrate his time at Welwyn! Best regards, Mark J

[threegee]

Hi Mark!

I only ever got into the factory two or three times, and remember the IBM computer doing the wages, and the resistor banding machines on the metox precision resistor line. In fact, I probably still have some of the floor sweepings and production overruns gifted in a large paper bags by Dr Kirby (the head of research) as a thank you for very occasionally helping him with electrical and electronic bits and bobs he required urgently.  Latterly, I also knew John Storey, who worked in engineering there, and was an assistant flying instructor at Newcastle airport in his spare time.

The Magic Roundabout sounds like an interesting machine.  Keen to know more.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

Welcome to the group @Mark J

Although everyone in Bedlington would have known of the Welwyn and people who worked there there has been very little mention on the facotry and staff that I can remember or find photos of.

If you select the Gallery section of this group and enter the one word - Welwyn - into the search box at the far right of the screen you will get a link to every comment that has been made that contains the word Welwyn.

@loopylou created an album - Welwyn Photos - in the Gallery section but there are only three photos that she had fond in her family home but no info with the photos and neither of them were taken inside the factory.

I knowm there are a couple of ex Welwyn workkers who use the Facebook (FB) group, Bygone Bedlington, but I can't remember many photos having been posted within that group. I will havve a search of the FB group and see what I can find and if there is anything that fits what you are looking for I wil ask those that posted the info if it's ok to share with this group. 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

@Mark J searched on the FB group Bygone Bedlington and the only postings on the group about the Welwyn are group photos of office parties among the female workers,

What if I screen shot your first comment and posted that on the Bygone Bedlington site and see what response it gets?

[Mark J]

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) that would be great if you can post this and see if anything comes back. Much appreaciated

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

2 hours ago, Mark J said:

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) that would be great if you can post this and see if anything comes back. Much appreaciated

Posted a screen shot of your initial comment on the Bygone Bedlington group and I will copy any replies that may help you into this topic.

[Dave Cordes]

On 25/02/2026 at 01:17, threegee said:

Hi Mark!

I only ever got into the factory two or three times, and remember the IBM computer doing the wages, and the resistor banding machines on the metox precision resistor line. In fact, I probably still have some of the floor sweepings and production overruns gifted in a large paper bags by Dr Kirby (the head of research) as a thank you for very occasionally helping him with electrical and electronic bits and bobs he required urgently.  Latterly, I also knew John Storey, who worked in engineering there, and was an assistant flying instructor at Newcastle airport in his spare time.

The Magic Roundabout sounds like an interesting machine.  Keen to know more.

Blimey, Dr Kirby & IBM computer, they're blasts  from the past. As for John Storey, I was an apprentice '66 to '72 and can only remember him from the earlier years in the Tech' block.

[Dave Cordes]

9 hours ago, Mark J said:

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) that would be great if you can post this and see if anything comes back. Much appreaciated

Hi Mark, you should be getting some info' forwarded from the post on Bygone Bedlington FB group as I worked closely with Hugh. I've a few photos of older Electronic stuff I was involved with ranging from old Taiwanese winders on which we changed the control systems and converted the feed system to handle much finer wire (Hugh's design). The "Magic Roundabout" in question may have been a twin turreted rig for making fuse cards for Fiat lorries - but there were several things we did that involved a single turret. Hope your dad's OK!??!

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

@Mark J I have sent you a private messgae via the service in this group = envelope in the top right hand corder of your screen. 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

@Mark J this is what @Dave Cordes posted on the Bygone Bedlington group :-