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Foster Brothers Clothing Company Limited

I seem to remember there was one on the corner of Alum Rook Road and Woodwells Road

el-stano said:
Hi,
I went to Saltley G.S. 1959-65 and uniform was compulsory and could only be got from Foster Bros in Alum Rock. Therefore they had a monopoly and from what I remember of parental comments they certainly made the most of it. They also supplied the Cashes Woven Name Tapes which had to be sewn into all your clothes.
Cheers,
Stan
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I worked in foster brothers offices in bradford street.in the post room...around 1962....i remember a man called clive who worked in the warehouse who grabbed me one day and as i pulled away from him he had a sharp pencil in his top pocket and it stuck in my arm.a piece of lead from that pencil is still in my arm today ..another chap was called colin ...i cant remember the girl who worked with me in the post room maybe she was called barbara..her boyfriend had a bubble car..
 
mom and dad used to take my brother and i to the foster brothers on the corner of lozzells road and berners street, to get kitted out for cloths at christmass. when you payed your money they used to put it in a round container then in to the pipe, off to the casher then it would be returned with your change and recite. we thort that this was magic my brother and i, but it was all done on vacuume. oh happy days, sidwho
 
I left Tinkers Farm County Modern Boys School, Tinkers Farm Road, Northfield, Birmingham on
23 December 1957, ten days after my 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Birthday. I knew at that time that I wanted to be involved in the Clothing Industry and some way or other and that is what I did for the next 50 years.

My first job was at Foster Brothers Men’s & Boys Outfitters, from 30 December 1957 until 7 February 1959. Starting wage £3 2s 6d per week. Not quite what I had envisaged but it is what my careers teacher thought I meant.
I was employed as a junior salesman at Bristol Road, Bournbrook, Birmingham. The Manager was Mr Herbert, Senior Sales, Bob Smith, Sales Terry Woodcock. I did have a good time until something better came along.

Clarkie
 
Hello ... I think you are almost certainly right ... my only reference point is my elderly mum (Sydney's younger daughter) ... and that was well before she was born, so I fear family myths might have interfered. I do have a letter here, written by John Foster (possibly a grandson of the founder) asking my grandfather (Sydney) if they could meet to discuss the background of Foster Brothers as they were trying to compile a history. I have been trying to find out if there are any family members that still take an interest to see if a history was ever written. If I get anywhere I will let you know.
 
Hi Angela

Thank you for your comments, I am an Aston boy, went to Burlington street school (around 1955-61) and also worked at 'Blacks of Aston' as 'Saturday boy' from about 1964 for a few years. We lived in Phillips Street ( which is now I believe a 'park' as I have viewed on Google street view)) I remember Black's was on the opposite side of the road to Foster Brothers. but I am trying to looking much further back in history to around 1911 or so, when my ancestor was already the manager. I have looked at the Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Post archives on-line to see if there might have been an article, but without success, but now living in France, I am limited to on-line searches. Any further information you might have would be appreciated.
 
My mom was a store relief manager in the 80's in ward end alum rock road when I was a baby we lived above the shop for a while and then moved to shard end area when I was 7 I loved my childhood x
 
Terri1983 said:
My mom was a store relief manager in the 80's in ward end alum rock road when I was a baby we lived above the shop for a while and then moved to shard end area when I was 7 I loved my childhood x
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I went to Saltley Grammar School like the previous 'poster' and remember the struggle it was for my parents to afford the prices at Foster Brothers. It was a relief when we eventually were able to buy our blazers elsewhere and just sew on the badge from Foster Brothers. We had a hideous summer uniform, available from there, but they also sold the material and my Mum was a good seamstress so was able to make the dresses.
 
I worked as a salesman at two branches of foster brothers, Aldridge from 1963-65. Then the Erdington shop from 65-67 . Worked with some really nice people. Mr Pearson was the manager of the Erdington branch. My name is Richard woodward and was 18 years old.
 
l remember them well used to buy my clothes from them and suits made at Burton's. ......Joe 90
 
Ah! yes...Foster Brothers High St Aston, got my first pair of long pants from there. They were called "flannels". Not sure if it was a general rule but at age 11 when we left junior school, we would switch from shorts to long pants. So, now I think about all that time in shorts, with all the cold weather...couldn't wait to be a grown up!
Dave A
 
Hi Eric, I also remember the overhead wire system for sending the money to the cashier. I lived on the Beeches Estate.
oldmohawk
 
As a child I lived at Hurlingham Road Kingstanding, my own first house was in Birdbrook Road and for nearly five years, 60 to 65 I worked at Brooklyn Garage opposite the Brooklyn Technical College.
 
I remember the Hawthorn Road shop very well having lived in Atlantic Road for 20 years. It was the one shop almost everyone would have used at one time or another either for yourself if male or your male children.

I notice on the window "Sportswear". If you mentioned sportswear to a youngster today they'd immediately think, trainers, sweatshirts etc. But oh no, not in the 1950s. This was I believe the term used for more casual wear, which could include for example sports jackets. It was really the equivalent of smart casual today I suppose. But did it also include cricket wear, tennis wear etc? Or was this 'sporting' goods?

"Outfitters" is another word that's fallen out of use. But what exactly did this mean? Was it outdoor wear like raincoats or overcoats? Viv.
 
I always took it as being people who fitted out their customers with, fitted suits etc
 
Vivienne14 said:
I remember the Hawthorn Road shop very well having lived in Atlantic Road for 20 years. It was the one shop almost everyone would have used at one time or another either for yourself if male or your male children.

I notice on the window "Soortswear". If you mentioned sportswear to a youngster today they'd immediately think, trainers, sweatshirts etc. But oh no, not in the 1950s. This was I believe the term used for more casual wear, which could include for example sports jackets. It was really the equivalent of smart casual today I suppose. But did it also include cricket wear, tennis wear etc? Or was this 'sporting' goods?

"Outfitters" is another word that's fallen out of use. But what exactly did this mean? Was it outdoor wear like raincoats or overcoats? Viv.
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According to a number of dictionaries it was specifically used to describe a seller of men's clothes. It has now moved on to refer to companies that fit out office space with desks, counters etc etc. another sign of how language changes.

Bob Davis
 
We had a Foster Bros in Ladypool Rd Sparkbrook and all the comments made in previous postings also applied. I was most offended when the salesman called short trousers "knickers.
Can only remember going there once but the memory stuck as not being very with it. Maybe it was because of a provident cheque, were these tied to a particular line of outfitters or was there a choice ?.
We later went to a shop in Broad St. toward the Five Ways end, they seemed a bit more up market and also had a ladies shop a few doors further along, towards the city. There name was Sibley and Son if I remember correctly but that was about 1950.
Cheers Tim.
 
Welcome James. Could be about 1940s. How old is the fireplace ? Anyone any other ideas about date ? Any thoughts on when FB stopped using “Foster Brothers Clothing Co Ltd “ ? I remember them being just Foster Brothers in the 1960s, then I think Foster Menswear. I think before they closed down they were just “ Fosters”. Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Welcome James. Could be about 1940s. How old is the fireplace ? Anyone any other ideas about date ? Any thoughts on when FB stopped using “Foster Brothers Clothing Co Ltd “ ? I remember them being just Foster Brothers in the 1960s, then I think Foster Menswear. I think before they closed down they were just “ Fosters”. Viv.
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I’m not really sure how old is he, the house is 1920s, I’m guessing fireplaces in the 60s or 70s, but that’s just a guess.

Here’s a picture of what was under the nice original wood surround
 

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Viv.
Reckon this label would be pre 1960, but Kellys lists it as "Foster Bros Clothing Co in last issue in 1973. However this may well not have been what was over the door on the shops.
 
I think your fireplace looks around 1920s/30s James. It may be as old as the house. The tiles and the iron surround look very 1920s to me. The use of those thinner tiles were commonly in use in the 20s and 30s. Did it have a dark oak mantelpiece? Viv.
 
The very same logo “ The Foster Brothers” was in use in 1937 - as shown on this Albion News programme. So your label could be as old as the 1930s - over 80 years old ! We could probably work out the nearest FB shop too (or the most likely shop) if we can get hold of a list of all the shops . Viv.

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I would date that fireplace as early 1950s, Viv, but, of course, I could be wrong. Just going on what was in the various houses that we had in Aston, Sparkhill & Kings Heath.

Maurice
 
Hard to say Maurice. We had a similar one in our 1930s house with a large oak mantelpiece around it. I don’t think fireplace design changed too dramatically between the 1930s - 1950s. It wasn’t until the late 1950s - 1960s that there were significant changes in design.

Now going to find out how long “The Foster Brothers” logo was in use. Viv.
 
Some great detective work going on here!

The fire surround is original, but someone made the inner parts smaller to suit a little fire I guess. I’ve just knocked it out to its original size today - here’s the surround that I took off and found the ticket behind, in place.

The house is a Streather home on Somerville Road, built in 1928. The building company were based in Four Oaks from what I read a while ago.
 

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