History: British United Shoe Machinery : Harking back to the days of the great BUSM

Barry Turner joined British United Shoe Machinery (BUSM) in Port Elizabeth in the 1970s, when PE was still a major footwear manufacturing centre and BUSM was the preeminent machinery and component supplier to the footwear industry. He got in touch with S&V last year looking for fellow BUSM old boy Johannes (Hannes) Harding, who, with his daughter, runs FC & T Suppliers in Boksburg, supplying machinery mainly to the tanning industry. He sent a few photos – some recent, some historic – with captions, and some notes on where ex-BUSM people are now. 

The late Dave Tunmer, BUSM Fasteners, then Pop® Fastening Systems of the Emhart operating unit; Dave Cracknell, formerly BU Materials in Johannesburg with Hannes Harding before transferring to Pop® Fastening Systems, also in Johannesburg; Barry Turner, BUSM Fasteners, then Pop® Fastening Systems, in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

BUSM in PE were ahead of their time. This rare photo from the early 1970s shows 13 of the BUSM Ladies rugby team. EP rugby banned emerging women's rugby. So short sighted.

A very early photo of BUSM Head Office in Port Elizabeth. Unfortunately, the senior staff and others are not recorded. This building was on Adderly St (then Main St) till about 1974. Thereafter a move to the next custom built and modern building in Neave Township in Port Elizabeth.

The redesigned head office in Adderly St (then Main St) till about 1974. Thereafter it moved to the next custom built and modern building in Neave Township.

Dave Cracknell, who lives in Johannesburg, worked with Hannes at the Johannesburg office on the Materials Division of BUSM. These days he takes it easy filling his days with whatever he plans. Retirement is the operative word! 

Dave then moved across within the corporate structures to join me at Pop Fastening Systems where I was the General Manager of the Emhart operating unit in South Africa reporting to Emhart Fastener Group. He became my Johannesburg sales manager. 

For my sins I had a dual role of Corporate - Johannesburg Branch Manager reporting to the BUSM Head Office in Port Elizabeth. 

I knew Hannes way back in Port Elizabeth where I had been recruited by BUSM as a Management Trainee. I preceded Hannes by about 2 years. 

In those days we interacted with all the divisions of BUSM being Machinery, Materials and the Trades outside of the direct footwear industry etc. That was the Samco Strong division including press cutting and other products.

I caught up with Hannes again in Johannesburg at BUSM when I was moved there to set up the Fasteners side of the business. 

These days I spend about half my time in South Africa and particularly Port Alfred. The other half I spend in New Zealand.

I’m still active in specialised fastening systems with emphasis on Blind fastener applications.

That in a nutshell is best describing Dave, Hannes and myself. 

Another two names that I picked up from your publication: Tony Jelinski (also BUSM in PE and Durban), and Bill Beckley, who passed away 2000. Bill and I shared our Alma Mater background – Dale College. I knew Bill when he moved back to East London. I headed there when I left Emhart as they were disinvesting from South Africa. 

The USM headquarters in Boston…apparently the city’s first skyscraper.

A recent photo of Clive and June Brunette. Clive is now closing in on 90 years old and lives in Johannesburg. He moved up from BUSM - PE in the early 1960s. He was regional BUSM branch manager in Johannesburg before heading back to PE in the early 1980s and to Durban with BUSM and the divisions that were created.