Jayell
master brummie
Church of the Messiah
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Ladywood 2
master brummie
An unrecognisable view compared with today. Some may remember the Philip Fyne car outlet (right). For some reason the road looks wider in the 1954 photo, probably the angle or lens used. Or perhaps it was because the road was less dominated by high rise buildings. Everything in view, except for the church (left), seems to have been replaced.
Dionysius//88
master brummie
Viv that was probab;y due to the fact Parker Winder & Achurch lay back about 20 or 30 foot from the kerb, unlike the other outlets which were only a pavement width from the kerb ,
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Lloyd
master brummie
The right-hand pavement now comes about 1/3 of the roadway further out, so it is narrower.
I don't remember Philip Fyne, but I do remember Reeve & Stedeford on the corner of Oozells Street, who were Daimler agents. I had an old Daimler in the late 60s and took it there for King Pin renewal. It was a Consort, like the one parked on the right. The early view is how I remember Broad Street.
So perhaps Broad Street, having once had several car/car parts/accessories related businesses, a place to go if you were a car enthusiast/mechanic looking for parts. And offering a choice of outlets all in one place ?
Lloyd
master brummie
Not necessarily so. Broad Street was a mixture of shops, offices and trades. There was even a BBC radio studio! Car parts outlets were in various parts of town and the suburbs, depending on vehicle make or parts type.
Bespoke Lamp Standards for Broad Street....
In September 1935 the City Engineer asked the Birmingham Civic Society (BCS) for suggestions for the design of Lamp Standards. These were submitted (below) and in February 1937 BCS were told that the designs would be used for a new lighting scheme in Broad Street. The greater part of Broad Street and Victoria Square were apparently equipped with the new Standards by1946:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBCS Lamp Standard DesignxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxStandard Base in situ (Public Works Dept photo c 1946)
BCS Lamp Standards finally in place in Broad Street in the 1950s (pinched from photos above in this thread!)
Ref: Hayward, W. The Work of The Birmingham Civic Society from June 1918 to June 1946, pp 142-143
In September 1935 the City Engineer asked the Birmingham Civic Society (BCS) for suggestions for the design of Lamp Standards. These were submitted (below) and in February 1937 BCS were told that the designs would be used for a new lighting scheme in Broad Street. The greater part of Broad Street and Victoria Square were apparently equipped with the new Standards by1946:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBCS Lamp Standard DesignxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxStandard Base in situ (Public Works Dept photo c 1946)
BCS Lamp Standards finally in place in Broad Street in the 1950s (pinched from photos above in this thread!)
Ref: Hayward, W. The Work of The Birmingham Civic Society from June 1918 to June 1946, pp 142-143
They look like very tall lamps!
Perhaps they were more interested in the lamps than the posts!
But the Public Works Dept never did things by halves then (especially in Broad St) - but it couldn't last....
Maybe there is some complex formula that uses electricity available + wattage of light bulbs+ desired effect = how tall to make the lamp post..
Or perhaps they just go on aesthetics....
I'm sure someone will know!
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Radiorails
master brummie
At that period most of Birmingham's principal roads had tall lamp standards, similar to that as shown in post 939. This may have been because of those used to carry the overhead system required for the city tramways. At that time, 1935, most of Birmingham's tramway system was still intact.