Spare parts were made for all the local stone crushing plants and for many other industrial concerns. Being a perfectionist and an innovative genius, Monty never reproduced any item without redesigning or improving it. It was not long before Monty created a good name for himself by turning out quality products. Some of the mine jobs were rather intricate and were often rejected by other engineering firms, but with much hard work and optimism the company succeeded in satisfying its customers. The machines in the first workshop were adequate, but very often just too small, for some of the "jobbing" work, so "head scratching", together with loads of initiative, were the order of the day. The workshop was developed from very humble beginnings and consisted of a small lathe, a very small milling machine, a reasonably sized shaping machine, two drilling machines and a medium sized saw.ĭuring the early years, Monty's mother, Olive, and his wife, Marguerite, also played an important role in the company, especially with accounts and administration. The bedrooms, with one window overlooking the workshop, were used as offices. Holton business premises, and consisted of a workshop with an adjoining 2 bedroomed flat which had a kitchen, lounge and bathroom. The first Pratley trading location was situated in Roodepoort on the F.C. He had worked with Monty on the gold mines and remained with Pratley for 42 years. Donald Cock joined Pratley shortly after Sam, as the first journeyman. Pratley purchased a few items of both new and second hand equipment, and with the help of Sam Matlebe, his first employee, he carried out repairs on mine pumps and made fittings and valves for the mining industry. The Pratley Manufacturing and Engineering Company was launched in 1948 in a rented garage in Hillbrow - the company's main focus being jobbing work for both large and very small mines.
He was eventually released in 1942 and joined the 7th Armoured Division in time to take part in the D-Day landings in Normandy.Īfter the war had ended, he was repatriated to South Africa in 1946 and was employed for two years at the Durban Deep Gold Mine on the Reef before starting his own business. When war was declared in 1939 he intended to join the British Army, but as he was employed by the British Thomson Houston Company of Whittle Jet Engine fame, an essential industry as far as the war effort was concerned, this company would not release him. After the death of his father, he used a small inheritance to study at Rugby College of Technology and Arts in England. The founder of the Pratley, George Montague Pratley, or "Monty", was born in Johannesburg on 19 September 1917 and educated at King Edward School and Wits University.
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