SOUND ARCHIVE

Title: Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/48
Object Name: Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel
Maker: Mullen, William (Mr) (Primary maker)
Mullen, William (Mr) (interviewee)
Date Made: 22/06/2000
22/06/2000
Description: Sound Recording on Reel: Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Mr Mullen's grandfather, William, worked for Sinton's of Laurelvale before joining Hamilton Robbs in 1895. He remained with the firm for 7 years and then emigrated to New York where he became a very successful and wealthy man. While in New York Mr Robb contacted him and asked him to return to Portadown to manage the factory on his behalf. When Mr Mullen bought the firm in 1934 it was in financial difficulties due to the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Mr Mullen reversed the fortunes of the firm and became a leading businessman in Portadown. He was elected the first Freeman of the Borough, Deputy Lieutenant for County Armagh, and President of the Portadown Chamber of Commerce. Mr Mullen's grandfather was invited to become a Director of a firm called Air Conditioning and Engineering. This company was based in Laurelvale, where William Mullen had first worked. He later bought the firm. Air Conditioning and Engineering supplied extractor fans and other pieces of industrial plant to textile mills and factories. The River Bann runs along the rear of the factory on Gobins Street and barges were used to move goods in and out of the works. Although the interviewee never worked in the factory he spent a lot of time there and set up his first boatyard in the works after it was converted into industrial units. Billy Mullen's impressions are of a happy and homely workforce. He distinctly remembers that his father and grandfather knew each worker by name. Mr Mullen's grandfather was held in great esteem within the works - being a friend and confidant to the workers as well as a boss The main loom shop contained over 100 looms and despite the deafening noise none of the workers wore ear protection. Hamilton Robb was a weaving factory although they also had boiling/bleaching facilities. These rooms were filled with the most enormous vats. The heat was so intense that the workers, all male, were stripped to the waist. Most of Hamilton Robb's their produce was sheeting and handkerchief cloth. They did not finish any of their own cloth and had no stitching department. To the best of Mr Mullen's knowledge, all of the produce was linen - there being no unions woven. A lot of capital was sunk into the firm and Mr Mullen remembers the company re-equipping with modern looms on an couple of occasions. This also entailed the move away from belt driven machinery to individual electric motors. South America was a very important market for Hamilton Robb. Mr Mullen Sr wrote to Fidel Castro shortly after he came to power to complain about the blockade on Irish linen, explaining that he was a great fan of Cuban cigars. The reply from Castro's government, along with a complimentary Humidor of cigars, is still in Billy Mullen's possession. Hamilton Robb was very much of a family firm. The Directors were mostly members of the Mullen family with the exception of Mr Victor Hawthorne who was Works Director and ran the factory on a day to day basis. Despite Hamilton Robb being associated closely with the Mullen family none of Bill Mullen's generation were encouraged to enter the business. Mr Mullen feels that his father and grandfather predicted the ultimate demise of the industry and deliberately steered the family in other directions. William Mullen died at the age of 85 in 1963 having kept an active interest in the firm up until the end. With his passing the other family members decided to sell the company such had been Mr Mullen's personal influence. Herdman's bought the company and ran it quite successfully for a number of years before converting it into an industrial estate. Mr Mullen's father Cecil ran the factory for Herdman's until it closed in 1968.
Catalogue Number: HOYFM.R2000.98
Notes: National Museums NI

National Museums NI holds over a million objects in the collection, as well as this we manage the records and associated images for each object through a working database. The national collection has been almost 200 years in the making, and we recognise that thinking about collecting and collections has evolved over this time and continues to evolve. As a result, some of our records may contain language and views that we now consider offensive and unacceptable, for example, reflecting racist attitudes. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to reviewing and updating our records accordingly. Working with researchers, communities and academic partners we are learning more about the stories behind objects, and we are committed to sharing these with our audiences. We welcome feedback. Please email [email protected]