Rationalising the Industry and the War

In the 1930s the tack industry was suffering from the effects of over production and cheap imports. Control of the industry was required in order to prevent any of the tack makers going out of business, and so the Steel Tack Association was formed. Harry Lloyd became the association’s secretary and tight controls were placed on the industry. In 1934 the association’s member companies produced 4,350 tons of tacks and this fell to 4,184 tons in 1935 and slightly rose to 4,253 tons in 1936.

In order to maintain prices, each member of the association would take a number of machines out of production and be suitably compensated. To ensure that these machines were not used, official seals were placed on the moving parts.

Another problem at the time was cheap imports from Belgium, and something had to be done to reduce the effect on the industry. The Steel Tack Association, in collaboration with the Import Duties Advisory Committee decided to levy import duties on Belgian tacks and nails. An agreement on the amount of duty to be paid was made with the Union Trefileries et Clouterie Belge (The Union of Belgian wire drawing mills and nail factories). The duty was as follows:

2 inches in length or over - £4 a ton or 20%, whichever is greater.
Between 1 inch and under 2 inches in length - £5 a ton or 20%, whichever is greater.
Less than 1 inch long - £6 a ton or 20%, whichever is greater.

There was always an annual work's outing to the seaside that was paid for by Jack Lloyd. It was an enjoyable day out that engendered a sense of goodwill and comradeship amongst the workforce. Jack very much enjoyed mixing with people but once back at work it was business as usual, his management style was very autocratic.

A large Lloyd tack machine.

World War II

In 1935 Cyril Haydon went to a trade fair at Leipzig and purchased a grinding machine for the company. A German engineer came over to install the machine and like most of the company's visitors he stayed at the Haydon's family home in Meadow Road. While in Germany Cyril visited a number of engineering companies and quickly realised that the country was gearing up for war and that the companies could rapidly change over to war work. He was so concerned that on his return he contacted the Home Office and expressed his fears to them.

Cyril was very patriotic and tried to join-up at the onset of war, but was refused on grounds of age. He was 44 at the time and was now the Work's Manager. He became a Head Warden in the A.R.P. and would arrive home at 8.00p.m. from work and then go out to do his A.R.P. duties. 

During the war tack production continued as normal because they were such an essential item. As well as servicing the tack shop, the fitting shop undertook war work for other companies.

Cyril and Jack were joined in the fitting shop by Cyril's brother Harold. Harold, like his brother before him came to Crown Nail from Culwell Works, where he was a "union man" and had a reputation as an agitator. He was pleased to leave "The Culwell" when Cyril got Jack to take him on as Assistant Work's Manager.

Cyril Haydon at work in the fitting shop.

Because of Cyril's great contribution at the company, Jack Lloyd often gave presents to the Haydon family such as fresh eggs, which were scarce during the war. Jack also gave pantomime tickets to Cyril's young children and there were frequent family invitations to tea at the Lloyd household in Albert Road, where Rose Lloyd provided the food. Sadly she died before the end of the war.

The busiest time in the fitting shop was often during the summer break when the factory was closed, because all of the annual routine maintenance jobs had to be undertaken that fortnight.

After the war Harold wanted Cyril to go into business with him using the expertise and reputation that they had gathered during the war. Cyril was a careful man who wouldn't take risks, especially as he had a young family to consider and so he turned the offer down.