A week in the life of.... at Saltrock

Well.... at the risk of being repetitive this week its really been about the weather again....... but ever the opportunist when it comes to shutting down the computer and experiencing the great outdoors this week.... hooray... finally a few breaks in the cloud and some ridable swell.

Huge swells on Monday meant a trip up the coast to Lynmouth. A satisfying if crowded surf followed by fish and chips on the promenade..... Just what the doctor ordered after the summer swell/weather depression! Entertainment provided free as a high tide and rolling seas washed over the seafront giving some unwary seagulls an unexpected dip in the sea!

Tuesday and back to our local secret spot for an early morning dawn patrol. Only a bike ride away and two people on a peak - who needs to go abroad when we still have unexplored waves hidden away in north Devon.

Autumn thoughts are chasing through our heads as Wednesday finds us collecting Driftwood down the boardwalk. Let’s hope the sun comes out in time to dry it out for those winter evenings gathered round the fire after a long tramp round Baggy Point.

Thursday and Friday and we managed a quick outing to the beach.... ice creams and hoodies but at least there was sand between our toes. Rock pooling with our buckets and nets and a few prawns collected for a lunchtime bbq behind the windbreak.

The weekend saw a spot of 'rain snorkelling' at a little sheltered bay we know of. Hard to say where the ocean stopped and the rain began but wildlife spotted include bass, mullet and of course beautiful shimmering shoals of mackerel. At least our beach life seems to be enjoying the last of the summer.

Welcome to the Saltrock Surfwear Blogspot...

Welcome to the Saltrock Blogspot...

We decided to publish some info on Saltrock that you may find of interest. As well as details of new seasons products, new retail stores opening and events we wanted to provide people interested in our brand a window into the ethos of our company. We'll be hoping to keep you updated with what we've got going on and regularly be publishing the musings of some of our team here.

Anyway, to start off with, a brief history of the company - Saltrock Surfwear Ltd.

Saltrock begain it's life in a garage, on a budget of £500. The Thompson brothers reasons for starting was simple...
To stay invloved with the lifestyle they loved... and to make enough money so come the winters they could chase the next perfect wave.

The majority of materials were taken from local skips... Honest!

Can you just check the manual?
Er, What manual?

Stretching and glueing the silk to the frames to make the screens.

If a safe is made to withstand being blown up, I'm sure we can convert one into an oven to cure our Teeshirts...

“And we cooked a few
in the process”

Our pride and joy - one old bank safe - line with tinfoil on the inside, Polystyrene on the outside, heating elements and a thermostat reaching a top temperature of 170°C . It proved a very effective curting uint (although it could only cure two tees at a time).

Angus Thompson with the
Tinfoil Curing Safe

Are you sure we
screwed it in properly?

THE DEVELOPING BULB
This pience of equipment cost us our last penny! But it was necessary to develop artwork to screens.
Also pictured is the highly advanced blackout system otherwise known as a Salvation Army rug.

So if we develop every piece of artwork in exactly the same place on each screen and they all fit in exactly the same place on the print bed we can print the multiple colours... Right?

SO WHO'S GONNA TRY IT THEN?

The virgin print bed and screens

It works..Now how do we
Pay for more Tee Shirts?

The first Screen and print strike offs.

By 1991 the premises had improved and the machinery was better.
But it was a time when 24 Hour shifts and working weekends were common place. At this time the brothers were joined by a highly charged partner - Carl.

And Then there were Three Amegos!!