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  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
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C brandaurs is saved...

F

Frantic

Guest
I was having a browse around the site the other day and was amazed to see that Brandauers in New John St West was still standing. I used to work there as a Toolmaker in the late sixties. To work at Brandauers was an honour in those days as they paid the highest hourly rate for Toolmakers in Brum. If you wanted more you had to go to Coventry. I had not long finished my apprenticeship and applied for a job at Brandauers. The foreman thought it was a bit of a joke and told me to come back in a few years when I had learned something, just then, the Managing Director came into the room and asked a few questions. The foreman told him that he had advised me to come back later and the MD asked me where I 'served my time', when I told him British Pens Ltd, he told the foreman to give me a job as the MD had also served his time at the 'Pens'. The foreman gave me a really hard time after that, but I learned more about precision toolmaking there than I ever did anywhere else.
 
The name Brandauers brought back memories for me too.
It was way back in 1946/7 when, as an electricians mate (at the tender age of 14) we did contract work there.
I can remember being fascinated by the roll feed power presses that stamped out the pen nibs.
The skilled toolmakers filing out the dies for the press tools.
No spark eroders in them days :!: :!:
The abundance of females working on the hand presses ect.... :shock:
I think it was on one of the upper floors that the gold nibs were processed. A strict no go area. :evil:

I know the factory is still there, but don't know what it is used for now.
Perhaps someone can answer this, if not, I will make a point of finding out the next time I pass.
It won't be making pen nibs I am sure.
 
Brandauers didn't make pen nibs when I worked there in 69-70, however, they did do precious metal pressings. The main work at the time was for computer components, IC's, transistors etc. They were part of the 'Penmakers Federation' however, along with British Pens and a few others that I can no longer remember. Then came along Lazlo Biro and his brother Gorg and stuffed it all up. The pen industry had to rapidly diversify, some made it, some didn't. A totally useless fact: There are 14,000,000 biros sold EVERY DAY in the world! I didn't know that many people could WRITE!! Still, when you use a biro, you don't get T's and Y's mixed up.

Thanks Old Timer for the update.
 
Hi there Frantic,
Would you like to be put in touch with Mavis Bacon :?:
I never make mistakes, even though I type at 20 w.p.m. :!:

Nice to know the Brandauers name is still going.
Thanks from me, also, Oldtimer for the info. Its saved me a journey.

Thanks for the memories. Off now to buy a new quill :!:
 
Recognized this building straight away. The Midland Counties Dairy was just across from it.
It must have been empty for decades and it is amazing it hasn't been demolished but then the City doesn't seem to demolish that many buildings. It just let's them rot. It is going to take a lot of money to renovate this building but it will make much more of a statement than a tower. They have already done this and it hasn't worked that well. It will certainly be convenient to live there if you work in town and I bet the prices for a suite in there will cost a bomb.
 
I didn't know that they had moved.........Is 'Newmans' still in Hospital St? that was my first job.
 
Brandauer's has a listed building preservation order on it. I always feel very sad when I drive past as its a lovely building in such a terrible state. I wonder when something will be done!
 
I took this photo of a lovely old Brandauer pen knib box at the Pen Room last week.
 
It is so sad to see such a lovely building in such a sad state. Now it's up for sale perhaps something will happen.
 
I'm afraid to say this place has been up for sale for a long time, and no-one seems to want a building of this size in this location. There are some great shots about from the inside. One building in Brum I'm yet to see inside for myself!!
 
Hello,

When I left Perry Common Comprehensive in 1976 I went to the Birminghm Group Training Association in Edgbaston to find an Apprenticeship. They offered me 2, one at Brandauers in Newtown, and one at Peerless Stampings in Priory Road Aston. I asked my Mom (who was an old Summer Lane girl) which one to take and she said "you don't want to go to Newtown" so I took the job at Peerless Stampings.

Thinking about it that was a daft thing to do as we lived in Watney Grove opposite the College Arms on College Road. To get to Peerless Stampings I had to walk through the Preefabs (Hurstwood Road) through to Stockland Green, which was about a 45 minute walk and get the 65 bus. If i had gone to Brandauers I could have caught the 42, the 113 or the 107 at the top of my grove and they would all have droped me in Newtown !!!!!!
Mothers who would have them !!!!!! (lost her 15 years ago on Monday and miss her every minute of every day !)

John
 
hi john...and thank you for your memories.....hi ya virusman..i agree that the pics of the inside of the building are fantastic...ive now transferred them all onto a disc but if you do decide to venture into the buiding be very careful as i think its quite unsafe now...

lyn
 
I may have mentioned this before but there is a lot of information on the history of Brandauers at the Pen Room (museum). I always wonder when I find a steel pen maker in the family if they worked at Brandauers. I always pass the building on the way to Key Hill Cemetery it must have been quite magnificent in it's day. Thanks for your memories John. I love the adverts in the early posts on this thread too. Virusman as Lyn said be careful it doesn't look very secure either so you never know who will be inside!!
 
Hi, I'm a freelance film-maker currently working on a series of videos documenting some of the historical buildings that lie derelict and abandonded across the city today.

One of the first in the series will be the Brandauer Factory in Newtown.

We're looking for people with any information on this building, whether it be documents, photos or memories. Perhaps you worked in the building, lived nearby, or know someone that did?

Please do get in touch if you'd like to share any information with us. Any help, big or small is extremely welcome.

Do check out the main thread I've set up here about the project, and get in contact via the forum if you can help us at all.

https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32433

Many thanks,
Michael.
 
Hi

I am the great, great grand-daughter of Mr J L Petit who worked with the original Mr Brandauer and I have only once seen the advert at the desk you posted some years ago - isn't it brilliant. There was a set of them and they are all marvellous. As the Company archivist I am trying to sort out our history as we celebrate 150 years in 2012 and we are still very much going as a Company just around the corner from the original building. Any information or copies of associated documents would be really appreciated as would stories and information. Thank you Marie-Louise
 
The front of the Brandauer factory is to be left standing, the inside is going to be gutted and apartment built on the site. Len.
 
Hi, That is most interesting. However, that is not what I understood from the new owners of the old building built by my great, great grandfather when I spoke to him last week. Thanks for letting me know.
Best wishes
Malp
 
Marie-Louise, I read that about the Brandauer factory in this or last weeks Birmingham Mail it was a very small report in the inside pages. Len.
 
Hi

Yes, I saw an article in the Mail about the factory next door to the current Brandauer factory being turned into a Church. They stated it was Brandauers but it isn't as I have been sent the planning permission for the factory next door in Frankfort Street to be a Church. Brandauer is extremely busy in Bridge Street West. Maybe you have read a different article? I'm delighted that our old factory has been bought (last Wednesday) and look forward to seeing new life spreading through the plot. Thanks ML
 
At least it is properly boarded up now. We went past on Tuesday I find it so sad it's such a lovely building.
 
hi wend..i noticed that also..must have a look next time i go past to see if the back of the building is also boarded up as access to it was so easy..i really fear for this lovely building wend.it was up for sale some time back but not sure if any sale went through..

lyn
 
hi folks..had to go into town today and decided to jump of the bus at newtown and go and take a look at c brandaurs in new john st west to see what state it was in...after taking some pics on the njsw side i walked round into summer lane and noticed that the side entrance to the building was open so hoping for some shots i walked in only to be asked by a man if he could help me so i explained that i was a member of the forum and quite a lot of us have been very concerned as to what will happen to this building...he then told me he was gerald manton the new owner and the contractors are gallypearl and work had now started..well i can tell you i was so relieved. garald is totally dedicated to saving and making good use of listed buildings especially in the jeweller quarter he has also been involved with branston court...92 vyse st and drop forge....the aim is to keep as much of the old bulding as possible and this will include the spiral staircase in the tower..the windows and the caretakers house....it will a long project taking 2 to 3 years to complete and it has yet to be decided on what the building will be used for...have also been given permission to pop down anytime to take pics and get updates on progress....cant thank gerald enough for taking the time out to chat to me and for allowing me take some pics which are to follow..

lyn..
 
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front of the building on njsw
 

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back of the the njsw side of the building..

damage caused by fire a few months back..luckily only one floor was lost...
 

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