Banjo
master brummie
Charles Winn started his business in 1859 as a plumbers merchant. The business ran for 141 years until it's closure in 2000. I had the privilege of working for Charles Winn (valves) Ltd as a Quality Control Inspector for just over 25 years. When I first started in 1974 they were located along Granville St - Commercial St - Washington St with the main entrance being on the corner of Granville St and Commercial St. They also had a holding stores for castings next to the canal in Granville St. The same year I joined, they were taken over by Delta. It was a rabbit warren of a building and you could get lost in it. It even had converted horse stables. In time it became too cluttered and outdated for a modern business model so in 1976 we moved to the old Fisher & Ludlow building in High St Bordesley. We remained there until we were closed down in 2000 and the business was transferred to Hindle Cockburn in Leeds. In the 24 years we were at Warwick St there were a few takeovers, the last one being Tyco Intl. I was the last employee ever to receive a 25yr service gold watch from Charles Winn Ltd, which I received 3 months before closure.
Here is a photo of the Charles Winn annual staff outing to the coast in 1895. The man himself is sitting on the front wearing a flat cap and cloak. This photo was copied from a company news sheet.
Here is a photo of the Charles Winn annual staff outing to the coast in 1895. The man himself is sitting on the front wearing a flat cap and cloak. This photo was copied from a company news sheet.