George Burn Ltd.

[stampbuff175]

Can someone please give me some information on the above company. My grandfather worked there as a pipe drawer definitely in the early thirties. I have located two adresses for I believe two different companies. One was in the Rolfe/Rathbone Street area of Smethwick and the other at Moland Street which is just of Corparation Street near the city centre. I believe it is the first one that my grandfather worked for because he won inter-department competitions in welding and moulding in 1934 and 1932 respectively. Any help would be most appreciated. The second company seem to have had something to do with bed frames. Could these both be the same company doing different manufacturing that required similar processes?
Ryan.

 

[mikejee]

Ryan
The following entry from the 1932 Kellys shows it was the same company:

Burn George Ltd. steel tube & welded conduit tube manufacturers &c. City Tube mills, Moland st. (TA "Burnduit,. B'ham;" T N Aston Cross 2655, 2656 & 2657) & Rolfe st. Smethwick

mike

 

[stampbuff175]

Hi mikejee,
Thanks for that. Only question now is which factory did my grandfather worked at. No one will know that unfortunately. Never mind we can't always get the answers we seek.
Ryan.

 

[Dave Hopkin]

Many years later, but... My father worked for George Burns Tubes from 1931 until 1981 with a gap of 5 years over a disagreement from 1939 to 45, the main office was in Rofle St, Smethwick with workshops behind it, I dont recall any mention of works in Aston Cross (but that doesnt mean its wrong), at some stage they relocated to Shirley, Cranmore Boulevard as I recall.
I have collated copies of the Quarterly Works Magazine (called "The Bee") from the 1930s to the mid 50's - as it was a real family firm and they organised a wide range of clubs and interest groups, there was a Cricket and Football Team, a cucling club, gardening club etc. the activities of which were documented in the magazine as was the effects of the bombing in 1941 that damaged part of the works.
I dont know if the next bit is true, its what we were told as kids,,,,, the back wall of the works was called "The French Wall" and was constructed by French Prisoners of War during the Napoleonic Wars, that may well be ledgend, so take it as found!
If you want more info reach out to me

 

[Mal F]

I worked at Burn Tubes Radway Road Shirley 1985 - 1990. Roger Burn son of George Burn was my boss. Was taken over by Rothley Tube a couple of years after I left. The Burn family owned Tapster Manor, and large estate at Lowsonford. When the M40 motorway was built, it cut through their land. Compensation was huge

 

[Dave Hopkin]

I worked at Burn Tubes Radway Road Shirley 1985 - 1990. Roger Burn son of George Burn was my boss. Was taken over by Rothley Tube a couple of years after I left. The Burn family owned Tapster Manor, and large estate at Lowsonford. When the M40 motorway was built, it cut through their land. Compensation was huge

I vaguely remember goinng fishing with dad at near Lapworth, to a lake that was owned by the Burns family? I guess that was Tapster Manor - Cant say I enjoyed the fishing, too boring for a 9 or 10 year old, much more fun playing around the lake and the island!