REGARDING Albert Morris's observations (Letters, December 28) about the 'biro' used by cloth inspectors in the textile industry in the 1930s, I thank him for reminding me of the most miserable time of my life.

I worked at Hindley's in Barrowford -- the mill was generally known as Berry's -- and I, too, worked with the 'biro' pen in 1935 for 10 shillings a week.

When it went wrong, as it did, I had to go to see a chap who had a wooden hut somewhere off Leeds Road.

The 'out lookers' (not 'quality control' in those days) also had a ballpoint pen. The smell of the ink used was awful.

This is just to confirm 'biros' existed in 1935. Mr Morris must be the same age as me -- I saw 80 a couple of months ago.

ALLAN WOODS, St Leger Court, Accrington.