I started an apprenticeship at an Engineering company in Manchester in the mid sixties , Francis Shaws specialised in making machinery for the rubber and plastic industries.
Francis Shaws won the contract to build American car tyre producing machines for the UK market but also for export to Eastern Europe that Americans wouldn’t deal with . So in the early 1970s we had a very large order to supply Romania with all the equipment to set up tyre production over there.
I think in those days companies went through a overseas government agency in regards to payment , my point being it was all about two way trading .
I just missed out with the chance to go over to Romania to join the crew installing the plant , they were liking like kings out there on our wages .