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THIS IS PLUMBING
The Museum of Plumbing
By Eamonn Ryan
Andy Rivers has been collecting, with unrivalled passion,
antique plumbing tools and literature for the last 25 years. It
started with a couple of blow lamps and quickly escalated to
any antique tools.
He has an extensive collection of plumbing
tools that have either been donated or he has
purchased when the opportunity arises.
He has made many friends in the plumbing industry
through his amazing tool collection. When Rivers
did his plumbing apprenticeship, nearly 60 years
ago in England, all tradesman were considered for
employment by prospective employers looking at
their toolboxes. A good tool kit was almost always
guaranteed a job.
Andy Rivers holds a soldering ladle in the midst of his
extensive collection of plumbing tools, pipes, fittings
and literature.
After Andy completed his five-year apprenticeship and
City and Guilds qualification, he immigrated to South
Africa when he was 22. In 1974 he started his own
business, mainly in the Johannesburg and Hillbrow
areas. Over the last 46 years he has trained over 100
apprentices, most of whom have gone off to open
their own successful businesses. Since 1994 he made
great strides in apprenticeships and trade tests with
previously disadvantaged individuals. This is something
that he is extremely enthusiastic about and will
possibly continue after retirement.
One of many early plumbing journals in the Rivers’ library. This one was published
in 1938.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
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The cabinet for the library is itself a thing of beauty,
coming from a Freemasons’ Lodge.
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January 2020 Volume 25 I Number 11