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Birmingham, it is said, had over 1500 trades, so listing each one is
going to be very difficult. Listing every Industrial company that traded
within Birmingham & Smethwick could be impossible but I would like
to think by 2027 we may have achieved this, yes I did say 2027!
You have clicked a link for a company that is known to us but as yet
we either, have not yet researched this company or we have no information
on this company or we are in the process of writing the page.
YOU COULD HELP, YES YOU!
Perhaps you are interested in this company, you or a relative may
have worked there or you may be related to the owners or even have owned
the company! Whatever the reason for your interest you can help. Even if
you just provide a paragraph of information it is a start. You soon find
that others who are interested in the same company or process visit the webpage and
this is where you can really start increasing your knowledge of the
company. We have had people contact us from around the world about
various companies and have found not only company information but the
things they made. One person even emailed us to say he had a fork lift
truck that was made in Hall Green and he is in New Zealand! (The
Clifford Aerolift forklift truck).
Every week or so I get enquiries asking me why I haven't put so and so
company on a web page but I never get any saying, " I would like to help
by giving you information for a web page". Still 2027 is a long way away
and I live in hope of finding more help!
If you are new to Birmingham Industrial research here are some
pointers that may help you.
RESEARCHING BIRMINGHAM INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Essentials
Open inquisitive mind with great determination and resolve
A large notebook and pens and spare pens
Directions for the Birmingham Reference library in Chamberlain Square
Plenty of Patience
Nice to have
Internet access, plenty of terminals in the Library but get there
when it opens or you will generally have to wait.
Ability to visit other resources such as Warwick, London & Nottingham
depending on what you are researching
First of all keep an open mind, information can come
from the most unlikely places but only if you ask the right question in
the right place, for instance just a brief mention in a local pub can
bring surprising results. I will even go and knock on doors if
necessary. Whatever, the information will not come to you and the more
pro-active you are the more successful you will be
You are never normally get a big chunk of information, it
usually
comes in little pieces but soon you have a recognisable jig saw puzzle!
Never turn down any information no matter how trivial it may seem
because 6 months down the line that might end up being the link you
need and you will regret it and I talk from experience. For that reason keep a dedicated workable file. File every
contact, with their full name, and contact details. Never rely on just a
phone number, always go belt and braces get two methods of contact, if
its the wrong phone number 6 months down the line your snookered. Don't
just record John with a phone number, again 6 months down the line that
wont mean anything, put some detail with it. You must keep meticulous
records otherwise you will get very confused especially when dealing
with Brothers (which one did what?) and you will find with a lot of different
family members involved in some companies and it can get very confusing!
Log every event associated with your research, not on
the back of an envelope but in a proper file. When you have got to the
stage that you are publishing information and putting it in the public
domain you need to know where and who were your sources. Professional
research is always accompanied by a source reference as anyone who has
attended university will tell you! Beware of unattributed information,
the internet is full of rubbish which has been transposed from site to
another, be suspicious of all information and always ask how reliable is
the source. There are many well known authors of Industrial history who
have not taken the time to research and check information and resources
they merely copy directly from others just to knock about a book quickly.
Even authors who spend time on dedicated work make transposition
mistakes. One well know university author has attributed a cycle factory
to Nechells when it is in fact another factory in Aston and it is
amazing how many times this same picture turns up in other works with
the wrong title.
Birmingham Reference Library - Local Studies--Top Floor
Two sides--First nearest enquiry desk
Check all card indexes
for material, catalogues, books anything,
Check index of newspaper biographies, on right of enquiry desks with
other Birmingham history books
Check Trade Directories for entries
Check Chamber of Commerce Directories (reader card and request to
staff)
Check maps for factory location( map draws on way to far side)
Far Side
Check Trade Directories
Check census returns
Check wills(back wall, blue books)
Check Birmingham Post and other Birmingham papers on microfiche (could
take months to go through every paper!)
Just one tip I will give you on researching. If you narrow your research
to everything that you feel only pertains to your own subject you will
miss many opportunities. For instance I know that the man (Solomon
Clifford Joseph) that married Oscar Deutches (Odeon) widow used to
socialise with the Dockers and they used to go to Nice and Cannes. While
researching Sir Edmund Crane of Hercules I realised that Crane bought
the sister yacht to the Dockers yacht and they went to the South of
France too. By that I now know that Joseph must have known Sir Edmund
Crane and that the connection between one of Josephs products (CYMO)
which was Hercules telegraphic address, must have been connected with
Hercules. If I had just confined my research to Solomon Clifford Joseph
I would have never have found that out. I would add that contacting
every Joseph in the Birmingham phone book lead me on the trail to
Josephs two remaining nieces who had lost contact with each other for
over twenty years. I found the last one by just mentioning in casual
conversation while being interviewed on Radio WM that I was researching
Joseph. this was at 11pm at night! 10 minutes later she phoned the BBC
up at the Mail Box. Box!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other sources
Drive around by factory, ask questions, visit local pubs
Motorcycle Industry--- Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC) records Burton
upon Trent
Cycle Industry-- National Archives on internet-- Warwick University and
Nottingham Archive hold most records
Patent Library available on internet ---Did they or the company take out
a patent or improvement?
Specialist museums--such as The Museum of Rural Life.
Advertise in local papers-- I have even tried Bargain Pages!
Local Radio appeal-- I have had successful results from Radio Essex &
Radio WM
Friends Reunited for former workers
Black Country Archive--on internet(one of our members is the manager)
Contact auction houses for information on collectibles produced by
company
Ebay for companies products( you would be amazed how successful this can
be!)
Join THE BIRMINGHAM INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SOCIETY!
Write to any magazine associated with old cycles or motorcycles putting
out an appeal for information. Old Bike Mart would be my starting point.
Others are
Classic Bike
Classic Bike Guide
Also try any club or society that may know of or use the companies
products EG the XYZ Sidecar Club
Try former Cycle Dealers.
Finally do not put research off till another day, I have done that and
when I re-contacted the people they has passed away!.
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