Birmingham Bedstead Factories

[Heartland]

The Birmingham Metallic Bedstead trade is one that requires further publicity as many firms were once concentrated in the city, The exported all over the world and provided key employment for local people. They worked with iron, steel and brass to make the bedsteads that were sold for domestic and hospital use. Metal working skills were key to this trade, although working with wood and paints were also part of the job

 

[Eric Gibson]

One of my old beds has the Vono name on its metalwork

 

[Radiorails]

Vono was a well known Tipton, Staffs bed manufacturer. I am not certain that they are still operating in the UK: it might be they are now based in Malaysia.

 

[alant]

My Mother worked at Slumberland inYardley Birmingham during the early part of WW2. My paternal Grand Father worked at the Hoskins Factory in Small Heath making bed springs. This was between the two World Wars.

 

[rowan]

Parry & Bott Ltd Birmingham, spirit levels. (Possibly connected with Joseph Taylor Bott of Falcon Works, Glover St., maker of brass bedsteads c1900).

Joseph Taylor Bott was my Great, Great Grandfather.

 

[carolina]

On Made in Birmingham 'Streets of Birmingham' they said there was a major bedstead maker at the back of Broad Street. It was on the canal and called Atlas Works which is now Atlas Place. It was called this because it showed an atlas which proved they were sent all over the world.

 

[mbenne]

About Slumberland...

Slumberland was formed in 1919 under the name of Crown Bedding by John Seccombe, a recently demobbed airman using his war gratuity. Originally established in Sherlock Street, Birmingham along the street from his father's drapery store. The first Slumberland products to be produced were feather pillows, straw palliasses and flock mattresses.
At that time their bed bases were formed by stretching a woven wire mesh over a metal frame - when the wire sagged, the tension could be restored by winding it up with a handle!

The Slumberland logo was introduced in the early 1930’s on a range of beds and became so popular that the name remained as a brand and grew into one of the largest bed and mattress brands in the world. In 1940 Crown Bedding is reported to have been producing tank parts and was heavily into Government contracts, which not only involved the making of beds for the military, but also parachutes, emergency rubber water tanks, military webbing, repairing of R.A.F aircraft gantries, and many other types of war equipment.

In 1947 a British Industries Fair Advert shows the company as Manufacturers of "Slumberland" Registered Spring Interior Mattresses. "Slumberland" Registered Spring Interior Divans. "Slumberland" Feather Pillows and Bolsters. "Intalok" Hospital Spring Interior Mattresses. "Intalok" Upholstery Spring Units. "Restola" Registered Upholstery.

In 1970 Duport took over Slumberland Ltd and its associated companies giving the combined group 30% of the UK beds market (including Vono's share). The manufacturing base eventually moved to Cambridgeshire following a buy-out in 2001 by Hilding Anders– the largest bed group in Europe, which also acquired three other bed and furniture firms, including Myers. In 2013 the group was taken over by Steinhoff.

Can anyone throw any light on the slumerland founder - he is allegedly John Seccombe but as far as I know he was always known to employees at the Redfern Road Works, Tyseley as "Mr Jack". By coincidence I came across the below extract from a web search describing the evacuation of a young boy, the son of a Slumberland employee in WWII.

What was Mr Jacks RAF history and who was his RAF pal Mr Beasley?

"In this hall stood a large grandfather clock but more important a wooden aeroplane propeller, which to me was awe inspiring. The propeller, and sadly as it turned out, was from the aeroplane in which the pilot son of Mr and Mrs Beasley had been killed, in the Great War. Mr and Mrs Beasley was a delightful old couple who made us immediately welcome, and by coincidence Mr Beasley had been an acquaintance of Mr Jack Seccombe, the company Chairman of Slumberland in Birmingham and Dad’s supreme boss".

Advert from 1949

 

[Pedrocut]

Redfern Road, Alcock’s Green, Slumberland Ltd. (25 July 1968.)

 

[mw0njm.]

Hoskins and Sewell Birmingham

 

[mw0njm.]

Metallic Bedsteads - Revolutionary Players

Image: Richard and Edward Peyton, Brass and Iron Bedsteads, Birmingham Image from: The New Illustrated Directory Entitled Men and Things of Modern England, 1858 Text: Taken from the original Directory acew branches of manufacture have been more rapidly developed within a comparatively short...

www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk

 

[Vaujanolo]

Parry & Bott Ltd Birmingham, spirit levels. (Possibly connected with Joseph Taylor Bott of Falcon Works, Glover St., maker of brass bedsteads c1900).

Joseph Taylor Bott was my Great, Great Grandfather.

My great grandfather was Ernest Vaughan. I have recently been researching his various businesses, such as Revo, Vono, Duport Steel etc and patents. Fascinating to read about it. A great shame I never met him or my grand father.

 

[madammoi]

I am just starting to research bedstead factories - and I have come across one called "Metal Frame Co" at 60 Gooch Street on the census but can't find anything about it?

 

[RobT]

I am just starting to research bedstead factories - and I have come across one called "Metal Frame Co" at 60 Gooch Street on the census but can't find anything about it?

There is some Bedstead makers listed here from 1839 & 1850,

 

[Vaujanolo]

Vono was a well known Tipton, Staffs bed manufacturer. I am not certain that they are still operating in the UK: it might be they are now based in Malaysia.

Vono stood for Vaughan Only No Others. My uncle Jeremy Vaughan, Ernest Vaughan’s grandson, told me this. He worked for Ernest.

 

[Vaujanolo]

This is one of Ernest Vaughan’s patents, relating to bedsteads.

 

[bordesley bob]

My Great Great Grandfather William Pitt 1819-1895 ran a family company making bedsteads mattresses. In the 1891 census they were based in number 2 Blake Lane, Bordesley Green. After he died a granite obelisk was erected for him in Yardley cemetry, apparently he had invented tools for the trade and was highly respected, employees and employers had clubbed together for the stone. I wonder if he had patents.

 

[Vaujanolo]

Vono was a well known Tipton, Staffs bed manufacturer. I am not certain that they are still operating in the UK: it might be they are now based in Malaysia.

It was was my Great Grandfather’s company (Ernest Vaughan). My late uncle Jeremy worked for him as a young man. Jeremy good me Vino actually stands for Vaughan Only, No Others. He was a very successful man with many businesses, including Revo and Duport Steel.

 

[Vivienne14]

George Ellisons made bedsteads too, for hospitals. Don't know if they were made in the Geo Ellison name but I do remember my dad, who worked for Ellisons, telling me they did this. Must have been around the late 1960s or 1970's.

Viv.

 

[Astoness]

My Great Great Grandfather William Pitt 1819-1895 ran a family company making bedsteads mattresses. In the 1891 census they were based in number 2 Blake Lane, Bordesley Green. After he died a granite obelisk was erected for him in Yardley cemetry, apparently he had invented tools for the trade and was highly respected, employees and employers had clubbed together for the stone. I wonder if he had patents.

thats very interesting bob thanks for the info

lyn

 

[Nicholas]

I've recently come across a rather vague reference to 'Slumberland Bedding Factory', in Birmingham, during the latter half of the 70's. Does anyone know where this would have been, please?

 

[mbenne]

I've recently come across a rather vague reference to 'Slumberland Bedding Factory', in Birmingham, during the latter half of the 70's. Does anyone know where this would have been, please?

Redfern Road, Tysley. I worked in the sales office for a short while, 71/72. The owner, (Mr Secombe?) Nice genuine man. Very frail, used to do occasional walk arounds with an entourage of helpers. Reminded me of the sitcom, Mr Grace in Are you bring Served.

 

[Nicholas]

Redfern Road, Tysley. I worked in the sales office for a short while, 71/72. The owner, (Mr Secombe?) Nice genuine man. Very frail, used to do occasional walk arounds with an entourage of helpers. Reminded me of the sitcom, Mr Grace in Are you bring Served.

Thank you very much mbenne! Much appreciated!

 

[mikejee]

The 1973 Kellys lists Slumberland as on Redfern Road in Tyseley. No number given, but on the south west side next to , or close to the southern junction with Wharfdale Road

 

[Nicholas]

The 1973 Kellys lists Slumberland as on Redfern Road in Tyseley. No number given, but on the south west side next to , or close to the southern junction with Wharfdale Road

Cheers Mikejee!!

 

[Janet Hunt]

My Great Great Grandfather William Pitt 1819-1895 ran a family company making bedsteads mattresses. In the 1891 census they were based in number 2 Blake Lane, Bordesley Green. After he died a granite obelisk was erected for him in Yardley cemetry, apparently he had invented tools for the trade and was highly respected, employees and employers had clubbed together for the stone. I wonder if he had patents.

 

[Richard Dye]

About Slumberland...

Slumberland was formed in 1919 under the name of Crown Bedding by John Seccombe, a recently demobbed airman using his war gratuity. Originally established in Sherlock Street, Birmingham along the street from his father's drapery store. The first Slumberland products to be produced were feather pillows, straw palliasses and flock mattresses.
At that time their bed bases were formed by stretching a woven wire mesh over a metal frame - when the wire sagged, the tension could be restored by winding it up with a handle!

The Slumberland logo was introduced in the early 1930’s on a range of beds and became so popular that the name remained as a brand and grew into one of the largest bed and mattress brands in the world. In 1940 Crown Bedding is reported to have been producing tank parts and was heavily into Government contracts, which not only involved the making of beds for the military, but also parachutes, emergency rubber water tanks, military webbing, repairing of R.A.F aircraft gantries, and many other types of war equipment.

In 1947 a British Industries Fair Advert shows the company as Manufacturers of "Slumberland" Registered Spring Interior Mattresses. "Slumberland" Registered Spring Interior Divans. "Slumberland" Feather Pillows and Bolsters. "Intalok" Hospital Spring Interior Mattresses. "Intalok" Upholstery Spring Units. "Restola" Registered Upholstery.

In 1970 Duport took over Slumberland Ltd and its associated companies giving the combined group 30% of the UK beds market (including Vono's share). The manufacturing base eventually moved to Cambridgeshire following a buy-out in 2001 by Hilding Anders– the largest bed group in Europe, which also acquired three other bed and furniture firms, including Myers. In 2013 the group was taken over by Steinhoff.

Can anyone throw any light on the slumerland founder - he is allegedly John Seccombe but as far as I know he was always known to employees at the Redfern Road Works, Tyseley as "Mr Jack". By coincidence I came across the below extract from a web search describing the evacuation of a young boy, the son of a Slumberland employee in WWII.

What was Mr Jacks RAF history and who was his RAF pal Mr Beasley?

"In this hall stood a large grandfather clock but more important a wooden aeroplane propeller, which to me was awe inspiring. The propeller, and sadly as it turned out, was from the aeroplane in which the pilot son of Mr and Mrs Beasley had been killed, in the Great War. Mr and Mrs Beasley was a delightful old couple who made us immediately welcome, and by coincidence Mr Beasley had been an acquaintance of Mr Jack Seccombe, the company Chairman of Slumberland in Birmingham and Dad’s supreme boss".

Advert from 1949
View attachment 125417

I slept on a Slumberlnd mattress when I was growing up.

 

[bordesley bob]

View attachment 184980

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22374/page/1386/data.pdf on the right towards the bottom of the page...

 

[irinahernandz]

Hello, I am writing to you from the municipal museum of La Vila Joiosa (Vilamuseu) in Alicante, Spain. We have a house museum set in the 19th century and we are doing research on a brass canopy bed that was probably made in Birmingham. We have the patent mark in the shape of a diamond which tells us that it was patented on 28 February 1861. We have searched the British Library and the British Archive documents and have been unable to find any like it. Nor do we know the manufacturer or how it arrived in Spain. We have found similar beds but none like this one.

Please, if anyone has any information, it would be of great help. Thanks in advance.

 

[A Sparks]

Beautiful bed!

 

[bordesley bob]

Magnificent bed.

The Peyton Family

The Peyton Family of Tardebigge and Birmingham

www.phelps-ancestry.co.uk

This tells the history of Peyton family and talks about the Bordesley works who made beds in Bordesley Green. If there was a patent was there any names on the Patent? My great grandfather was born in 1861 same year as that bed, and his father was a bed designer who worked with the Bordesley works and was rewarded with an expensive granite tombstone in recognition of his innovation in the industry., when he died in 1895, he was William Pitt.