One of the numerous visits to England for husband Pieter J.C. Vedder was as a study for building a Dutch Compost Turner, as they already used in England.
A.G. Linfield Ltd., Chesswood Nurseries (mushrooms) was one of the largest mushroom producers in England.
Harold Linfield, as well as his wife Cecily are also long time friends!
Beginning with this photo, taken a lot later than the actual visit, but it shows the person the story is about.
Husband Pieter J.C. Vedder to the left, at a B'day party of one of his students who joined Campbell Soup's mushroom business here in the US.
The date was August 25, 1984 and to the right is Jan Thielen from Lottum, The Netherlands.
A long time friend of Pieter and I would say, from both of us, as I knew him since my early years at the Training Centre.
Sadly Mr. Thielen is no longer alive but his son is still running the business.
This photo is taken by husband Pieter in 1962 when they studied how to build such a compost turner.
Actually Jan Thielen did, and thus THILOT was born...
In the photo is from left to right: Ben Ambrosius, Pieter Bels and Jan Veerman from the I.T.T. Wageningen (Technical Institute Wageningen University).
Husband Pieter did publish a booklet for the 25th anniversary of the Dutch C.N.C. from where this photo with under title comes.
During the study visit to a compost company in England in 1962. Seated on a compost turning machine, Mr. Veerman, Bels and Ambrosius are philosophizing about the future.
Jan Thielen is not in the picture but he was walking around, for studying the mechanics etc.
Britain from above: showing A.G. Linfield's Chesswood Nurseries (mushrooms) and the surrounding countryside, Thakeham, 1947.
In the 1960s England was way ahead in the mushroom growing business but the Dutch caught on and became the world's leading industry.
This is from the 1986 publication: Moving Ahead in Mushroom Growing
The Industrialization of mushroom growing
Jan Thielen and son Ruud are pictured in front of their signature yellow colored equipment.
The BIG difference between England and The Netherlands was, is, that they started growing in shelf beds instead of the wooden trays used in England and also very much in the USA.
That way, things could be mechanized to the fullest and speeding up the labor.
You can enlarge this English text for reading...
Also seen in a 1983 THILOT HOLLAND ←video click on link.
Jan Thielen from Lottum, hence the combination Thi-Lot, was already producing various tools, just like his father did. Pieter got to know Jan from before ending up in the mushroom growing business.
At one time while still being an Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service, Pieter was specialized in asparagus, and Jan had built for him a special seeding machine, that Pieter designed... so he always remembered his long-time friend.
You can view here a short video with such an original 1930s type seeding machine: Zaaien met een Thilotje just click through.
Son Ruud Thielen now is part of GTL Europe Equipment | GTL Europe
Thilot machines have an excellent reputation in the world of composting and mushroom growing. Even after decades of service, many of these instantly recognizable yellow machines still work every day.
Thilot Holland (founded in 1966, Lottum) has developed over the past 50 years into a successful, professional manufacturer of reliable and durable composting and mushroom growing equipment.
Related links:
Husband Pieter met with Darlington Spawn Makers and Fred Atkins in the U.K. | previous post by me
SO Happy for Having Met Another WRITING Mushroom Wife in the U.K. | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's Fond Relationship with Mushroom Growers in the U.K. | previous post about Pieter's very first visit to a Mushroom Farm in England
