Brush Makers - Summer Lane

[Michael_Ingram]

I found this cutting in an old scrap book my sister just found in a cupbaord. Does anyone remember it of have more information. The caption reads:
'What is probably the oldest and certainly one of the very few factory signs in Birmingham hangs on the office front of a Summer Lane firm of brushmakers. This outsized broom was originally put up in 1856 by the founder of the firm. Apart form occasional replacement of its brass bristles it is still as it was nearly 100 years ago.'
The date would put the cutting early 1950s.

 

[Astonian]

DEAR MICHAEL,I REMEMEBER STORIES ABOUT THE BRUSH FACTORY MY MOM WAS JOYCE IVY JELF HER FATHER, WAS ERNEST JELF IT WAS HER FIRST JOB BEFORE THE WAR , SHE SAID SHE HAD FUN THERE ,WHILST ON THE SUBJECT, ON THE BIG BRUSH THERE WAS ANOTHER BIG BROOM ABOVE ANOTHER STORE ON THE ASTON ROAD NORTH ,HEADING TOWARDS TOWN IT WAS A BIG HARD WARE STORE, AND THEY HAD ONE ABOVE THERE I THINK IT WAS CALLED THE BIG BROOM OR THE HOUSE OF JACK BUILT IT WAS OPP;; ONE OF THE JELF ,S COFFEE SHOP WHEN WE USED TO GO TO MY NANS IN WHITE HOUSE STREET WE WOULD ALWAYS LOOK UP AT IT,AND STARE AND SAT WOW, WE LIVED AT 5/92 LICHFIELD ROAD ,, BEST WISHES , ASTONIAN,

 

[Michael_Ingram]

Many thanks, Astonian. The big hardware store in Aston Road must have had another name; The House that Jack Built was in Newtown Row

 

[sylviasayers]

As far as I know Astonian it was always known as The Big Broom, it was next door or almost next door to a photographers - Purcell & Betts??

 

[Astonian]

yes sylviasayers thats was correct, i was 17 years of age in 50s when i had to go stay with my nan in whitehouse street. while my mom was in hospitial i had to go st. mary school where had cups of coco in morning and small bottle of milk in the afternoon

many thanks


best wishs astonian