|
|
John Smith Ltd was founded in 1873
by Mr John Smith from Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire. After a short
period in Lozells it moved to the main site of Richard Street in
Nechells, Birmingham. The original products were a range of tongs and
rollers for buckle making, the production being automatic with a
secondary finishing operation along lines probably invented by Mr John
Smith. The entire production was sold to customers in Walsall, when
Walsall was the centre of buckle making and the leather goods trade
including harness and saddlery production. Experimental engineering
enterprises were undertaken from time to time including early types of
bicycle chain, household lighting by acetylene and the supply of the
original tyre moulds to Mr Dunlop. Solid silver items were occasionally
produced for the ceremonial harness of elephants belonging to Indian
princes. Business custom of the time included a specific undertaking by
Mr Smith that he would not operate a foundry and, therefore, not compete
with his Walsall competitors in the production of a complete buckle.
Warwickshire Regiment 1915 John Smith Junior
In 1907 Mr Smith was joined by his son in law and the business of mild
steel wire drawing was started in 1911. There was a further
diversification into light presswork in 1916. During both World Wars
production was almost entirely geared to the national requirement. In
1929 John Smith died. The board then consisted of his son, his son in
law and two grandsons who developed and maintained the business as an
independent private company. The company's major development took place
in the fifties and sixties when production more than quadrupled. During
that period a succession of five years plans of expansion and
development were undertaken.
1953 Jubilee Outing train John Smith Ltd – Eric Williams & George
Littlewood
In 1953 sales were £425,000 and the workforce totaled 185. A major
reconstruction of the factory, offices and frontage were carried out
between 1953 and 1957. The factory was dedicated to wire drawing,
handling mild steel wire in coil and bands, in a wide range of sizes,
with bright, phosphate-coated and copper-coated finishes. In the later
sixties, early seventies development continued with the installation of
new bright and vacuum annealing equipment. The cleaning house was
extended and a new boiler and test house completed.
Aerial photograph John Smith Ltd 1960’s triumphant
Works Football League
1961 Wire department celebration dinner New annealing
plant
Pressure on space at Nechells led to the establishment of a branch
factory at Spon Lane, West Bromwich in 1957 for the development of
existing presswork interests and precision presswork. In 1964 another
branch factory was opened at Woods Lane, Cradley Heath for the
production of metal components. Seventy per cent of the company's
customers were within a 30 mile radius of Birmingham but the company
served industries throughout the country. Customers ranged from the
furniture trade through electronics and the motor car industry to chain
making and heavy engineering. At the time of the company's 100th
anniversary in 1973 plans were continuing for the expansion of
production not only in the existing range but by improving techniques to
widen the range. Opportunities were seen with the Common Market with the
impending reduction of tariffs. It was believed that many of the
products of the component division would be competitive and trade could
be developed with the market. However, by 1978 the company had been sold
to GKN with the West Bromwich and Cradley Heath sites sold to H.A. Light
Ltd.
If you worked for this company or have any information about this
company please conta us on the Email address on the home page.
This page kindly supplied by Sue Behan
|