Over the 39½ years I operated H.A. McEwen (Boiler Repairs) Limited, I found that two of the many keys to running a successful business were producing first class workmanship and then carrying out a great deal of PR. 
   

Just after I established the firm in August 1968, subsequent to completing a satisfactory boiler repair job and with my clients permission, we would fix one of our distinctive brass ‘BOILER REPAIR PLATES’ onto the front of the boiler.  
 

Not only was this an excellent way of promoting my business, but the Insurance Company’s Boiler Inspectors also approved of us fitting the plates which included a stamped reference number and date of hydraulic test.  For by using the reference number, when making contact with our office at any time in the future they could receive from us comprehensive details of the boiler repair procedures.  
  

There have been numerous examples over the years where Boiler Inspectors or prospective customers, on seeing our repair plates mounted onto a boiler, have made contact resulting in us receiving some lucrative contracts. 
   

I could never understand why our few Boilermaking competitors never fitted boiler repair plates of their own.  There were often some very quiet times, particularly in winter when jobs were hard to come by.  But there were a number of occasions when the phone would ring from a new customer who had copied our contact details from our boiler repair plates. 
 

With a couple of notable exceptions most of our competitors have now gone out of business but McEwen Boilermakers are still thriving.   Today, our little brass plates have become collectors’ items.