The embargo threw ATA into a panic situation. Lindsay had to 'feed' some 250 workers!
The Government helped by offering military and police target range contracts but these would drag on over the next few years.
Lindsay came back from Jordan with a $AUSM20 contract, but it consisted of equipment we never had!
This epitomised Lindsay. He knew it could be done.
Given time I also knew we could do it. Sammy and Audrey Knox moved to Jordan and set up the ATA office there.
I had been trying to convince Lindsay to use UHF radio for target control. Eventually he agreed and in 'gaps' between contract-driven' work Jeff Phillipson and I began to put together a UHF handheld controller.
Jeff had been recruited from UK on my suggestion. Microprocessors were beginning to appear at that time and Jeff was very competent in this area.
The laboratory sort of split into two, those working on Superdart and laned ranges, Robert Phillips led these, and me and the remainder, working on the radio controlled and other target stuff.
Over the next few years many more 'bouncing-balls' were finalised;
There were no sycophants here.
The work was challenging and the team expertly co-operative and productive backed-up by a superb manufacturing capability with competent 'Worker-Staff.'
Lindsay thought of the 'lab' as 'his boys' and seemed proud of this.
Robert generated many Superdart patents for Lindsay but, probably, like me, 'crossed swords' but had the 'get-out' of returning to the UK which he did.
Lindsay was hard to 'drive' if one thought one's perception of an 'idea' was good. This frustrated me no-end and it took me some time to learn how to 'plant the seeds of acceptance' within him. It was his company and the current term 'micro-management' abounded. He wanted to, and tried to do everything himself.
There was one time when I was deep into constructing a pcb and he came and sat beside me, watching quietly for a long time. Finally, he asked how I did it. I replied, 'Dunno, it sort of comes from 'within' and experience'. He smiled and left. I perceived this was what he wanted to do but couldn't.
It didn't matter because, to me he was doing it by providing the opportunity for me to do it. I think he knew this but wasn't satisfied by the knowing. Many of us are like this. It's all a question of 'trust' and this can only come from experience of the trustee.
Lindsay had a penchant for sales trips. This made sense as, apart from Alan Shaw, he was the only salesman.
During one of his trips to UK I suggested he visit Linear Motors. Normally he ignored such suggestions but in this case he was glad he did. As he arrived he saw a linear motor-powered target moving in their grounds.
He returned to Albury with Peter Broadbent, a mechanical engineer, hired, and in a few months we had a 9/10 scale inflatable, linear motor powered tank target installed at the range. The gadget was capable of 50 km/hr and could inflate the 3-D, 9/10 scale 'tank' target in 4 seconds. Some USA tankies visited but it was too advanced for their 'system'. The gadget is the only one in the world and is still installed at his home. (And probably still works!)
Then something called a 'Receiver' moved in, but it wasn't LCK who finally did the 'receiving!.
This was a sad, tearful time.
The Company Lindsay had driven was a very personal one. Each Christmas there was a Company party and each individual received a bottle of 'plonk' and a Christmas cake. We all lined up to shake his hand and get thanked for the work we did.
Once, when Sue was hospitalised for quite a serious operation, Carolyn, Lindsay's daughter, arrived at our house with a cottage-pie she had made for me. I made it last several days.
This was, in the main, the beauty of ATA, providing one never got involved in the 'politics'.
Being only naive and technical, this was simple for me.
The stuff I designed worked!
| The Start | UK Office | Albury Factory |
| Post Iran days | Receiver Cometh | Belvis days |
| HUB days | DART days | ADI days |
| NEW days | The PEOPLE | EXIT |
| The History of ATA |
