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James Upton Printers, Great Charles Street, Birmingham.
- Thread starter Kat7272
- Start date
john knight
signman
I worked for them when they were in Barford street.
The 1855 post office directory lists the firm as:
Upton James, printer, wood engraver & stereotyper, 162-164 Great Charles street . The buildings were different by the time of the c1889 OS map, but the position in Gt Charles St is shown in red on that map below, though cannot know shape of building , or how far it went back
Upton James, printer, wood engraver & stereotyper, 162-164 Great Charles street . The buildings were different by the time of the c1889 OS map, but the position in Gt Charles St is shown in red on that map below, though cannot know shape of building , or how far it went back
Kat7272
master brummie
Fab map, thank you. John Knight, great to hear from you, wow, and of course if you have any info, I would be interested to read it.
It's not just family history that interests me, but learning about Birmingham is amazing, I cannot imagine ever running out of stuff to learn!!!!!
It's not just family history that interests me, but learning about Birmingham is amazing, I cannot imagine ever running out of stuff to learn!!!!!
kat you are right there we never stop learning... apart from birmingham in general i have spent the best part of 10 years researching the area of where i mainly grew up ...not just about what was around there when i was a kid but also finding out about what was there many years before that and i still have not finished...happy hunting
lyn
john knight
signman
We used to print LP covers, the only thing I remember is the gaffers name was Sunderland.
Roger Blower
knowlegable brummie
I spent my working life (1966 - 2015) in the print and packaging trade and certainly in my early days, James Upton were well known in Birmingham as one of the big players. As a music fan I was always fascinated by their involvement in the record business as being a major supplier of record sleeves. If the boss was Sunderland, I think John Sunderland, then I believe he went on to open his own business - Sunderland Print. I worked for them briefly in the early seventies in Halesowen. I remember seeing a thread in "Trades" which has more detail.
It was John Sunderland who was my father, he was the managing Director of James Upton for a number of years before he left to start his own printing business called Sunderland Print. They subsequently bought Allday Green & Welburn, Bradshaw Brodie & then the massive mistake of buying Lowe Brothers printers which led to the demise the business a few years later. I can still remember as a very young lad going to hall behind James Upton each Christmas time where Father Christmas would appear for all the children & hand out presents !.
I worked there from 79 till 97 . Best working days of my life . I was a 1st minder on mainly roland favourit B2 presses but also operated the Komori B1 press . Great bunch of guys there
I also worked at uptons from 78 till 97 on the b2 rolands , i went on the brand new B1 komori from day one but i dont recognise who you are ? . I'm johnny stone
In fact . It was installed on the 1st day the super prix was on in bham . I called into work in august 86 on a saturday to watch it being craned in of the wagons . I simply dont recognise the name roger blower ????
Hi John do you remember me Alice xx
Bluebird
New Member
I've just realised that's where someone I knew might have worked. I remember seeing 'James Upton print' on his jumper. Although he may just have got the jumper elsewhere? His name was Colin Groves.
Of course I remember you Alice , you worked in the office but cant actually remember what you did . Do you remember me john stone ? I worked on the roland favourits with Collin groves who committed suicide not long after I left in 97 . the best years of my working life were spent there . Do you remember Collin chatwin and ken dainty ? . well . Collin who went to start uptons up in Swindon died about 9 months ago , im going to his memorial at his bowling club in calne , Wiltshire next Sunday 8th august 2001 . ken dainty died suddenly last Saturday 24th july 2001 . If by any chance you want details of his funeral drop me an email on ..... [email protected] . I only just read your message today 31st july 2001 , I was searching for a guy who wanted someone who knew Collin groves then saw your message , please stay in touch , it would be nice to hear from you . by emailing me , I wont miss any messages that you may send
I knew Collin groves very very well , he was my best man at my wedding in 1975 . he took his own life not long after I left uptons in 1997 , we crewed together on the same press for many years . What connection do you have with Collin/uptons ? , I only read your thread because I had an email alert from the forum . If you want anymore details , its easier to email me on [email protected] . by doing that , I don't need to log on to see if I have any replies or general messages
In fact Alice , I would love to meet up for a coffee/drink one day to talk about the great days I spent there and the characters who worked there . R.I.P to Muddu , steve bridges , solis the fitter , ken Holland the driver , pat atkins who worked with paul baker , pat taylor the assistant , ken dainty , Collin chatwin not forgetting the great barry saxon xxx
I have no idea who Roger Blower is , can you throw any light on him ? he appears to have worked there when I was ther from 78 to 97 but haven a clue who he is ?
Radiorails
master brummie
William Albert Upton, founder, started it seems, in 1852 in Gt. Charles Street. Then they had a press in Cambridge Street known as the Baskerville Printing Works. His son was named James Baskerville Upton. They specialised, at onetime, with theatrical printing. They were involved in printing Midland Red's bus timetables and books.
Radiorails
master brummie
A question was asked for addresses of the family.
In 1861, William born 1860 at Britannia Inn Lander Street, Aston
by 1871 Selly Hill Lane, Northfield, but only the family as William was probably at boarding school
William, living with sister, at 55 Varna Road in 1881.
William married Ada Anne Heaton and is listed at Warwick Road, Solihull.
In 1901 gives the address as Station Road, Solihull.
In 1907 he bought New Berry Hall in Solihull.
His death, recorded as accidental. Birmingham Mail report of 7th. September, 1908.
anyone with access to old newspapers will find this of interest.
In 1861, William born 1860 at Britannia Inn Lander Street, Aston
by 1871 Selly Hill Lane, Northfield, but only the family as William was probably at boarding school
William, living with sister, at 55 Varna Road in 1881.
William married Ada Anne Heaton and is listed at Warwick Road, Solihull.
In 1901 gives the address as Station Road, Solihull.
In 1907 he bought New Berry Hall in Solihull.
His death, recorded as accidental. Birmingham Mail report of 7th. September, 1908.
anyone with access to old newspapers will find this of interest.
I have just logged in for the first time in ages, great to see a reply from you, i remember all the people you mentioned, i went to Swindon to open the new printers with Mark Kevin Adrian Colin and Roger. I will email you later and give you an update on me, hope you are well my email is [email protected] I have no idea who Roger Blower is don.t remember the name at all xx
Hello Everyone. My late dad Bill Bonner worked for Mcneill press in Bermondsey London and Akenmay ltd in hoddesdon Hertfordshire. He used to drive upto Birmingham to get spares for th 1,2 and 4 colour Solna press and heidelberg presses. The companies owned by Maciejewski family. Who had related family interests with My dads mothers side of the family. The Uptons from london and kent areas. I know the Maciejewski family had connections with James Upton press. Printing record sleeves. I grew up with the Uptons and Mcneill press. I believe w.k. Maciejewski was best man to my grandad earnest thomas Bonner who married Jessie Maria Upton. Does anyone remember back in the late 60's to 80's
farmerdave
master brummie
Probably one of the main differences between the census of 1911 and that of 1921 is that the head of household has now a higher chance of being a woman due to her husband being killed in WW1. That certainly applies to my family with grandmother, a widow aged 35, with four children aged between 9 and 14, living in Whitehouse Street, Aston. Her husband was killed at Arras in 1916. Interestingly, the eldest son, aged 14, is already out at work. He is employed with the general printers Messrs Upton, in Cambridge Street, Birmingham. Does anyone have information on this Company? Thanks.
farmerdave
master brummie
Further info on Upton, printers, mentioned as the place of work in 1921 census for my 14-year old relative.
Mick Linehan
proper brummie kid
I worked for James Upton or AGI as it became known from April 79 until it closed in April 07.
Mainly as a Print Finisher putting all the Printers mistakes right. Working on Guillotines and various finishing equipment, I became Bindery foreman in 96 and went on to run the bespoke Tumakon machines making the new DVD packaging from 2001, until the factory was closed down.
Frank Comber Who I learned so much from, Ray Bradley, Trevor Mullen, Joe in the Fitter’s, Sol and his son Paul.
So many good memories of factory life. Joined WMP as a support officer on 2007. Remember John Stone getting a Land Rover stuck in the sand
JasonB1967
New Member
On the 1921 Census I discovered that my Great Grandmother's second husband Richard Obrey (1899-1975) worked at J. Upton Printers in Cambridge Street. He lists his job as Monotype Caster Mechanic (even though it has been transcribed as Monotype Caster Merchant 
). I found this forum when trying to find out more about the company and have found it very useful.
). I found this forum when trying to find out more about the company and have found it very useful.Stoney, with the Sand Rover (would love that now!), Mick and Alice. good to hear from you all, Im putting somethign together about JU for the Civic society. Hope to get as much in as I can. (some museum bits might be useful). shame to hear about those who have passed, Colin was great to the young uns like me as we were coming through. Ken ws a huge shock.
berniesims
proper brummie kid
Happy Happy days. Working at JU was indeed an education. I leant a lot about life in general from fellow employees. The elitist attitude of the ‘Lithographers’, the eclectic bunch of machine assistants who added to the multi-cultural workforce. Great characters and great times to look back upon. I remember Nick Toms (MD) telling us the the “future was in computers” back in the 70s. I don’t think anyone at that time knew what he was asking about. Don’t times change.
