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Bencraft Ltd ( wheelchair manufacturers )

RRJ

RRJ

Brummie Boomer
My first job when leaving school aged 15 in the summer of 1971. I've long forgotten where the factory was actually situated but would have been a shortish walk after getting the 65 bus into town from Short Heath. It didn't seem much later that the factory moved location even further away down the Stratford Rd (?) which
meant catching two buses to and from work. With bus fares eating into my meagre £6 .28 take home pay I lasted around a month at the second location. Another job at Cuckoo bridge making and repairing Tarpaulins was a better fit.

I know Bencraft is no longer trading, (maybe swallowed by a competitor) but apart from finding an image of a wooden vintage wheelchair in a museum online https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co127556/childs-wheelchair-england-1940-1960 I can find little else of the history of the company or addresses.

Any other employees out there?
 
In 1949 when Bencraft exhibited at the British Industries Fair they had premises in Broad Street. Much later they had premises at The Avenue, Rubery at least until the 1990s. Inabout 1998, I think, they were taken over by Invacare [now a large multinational]. Bencroft was formally disolved in 2019. Sounds like they moved about a bit?
 
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Crikey that factory (Bencraft Ltd) brought memories I'd rather forget. One Sunday morning in the 60s I was a Breathing Apparatus operator on the 1st Pump Escape, turning out from Central Fire Station to a factory fire on Albion Streets patch. On arrival the building was well alight and I was detailed as part of a Breathing Apparatus team (with one jet) to try and save the office block. We got to the 3rd floor and was making good progress when there was a mighty crash, the floor gave way plunging us on to the floor below. Unfortunately for me, I kept going and landed up in the Basement still hanging on to the hose line, which fortunately broke my fall. At this point I was in serious trouble surrounded by fire, thick smoke and debris. One thing in my favour, my BA set was still working, I was rescued in double quick time by another BA team who battled their way in and pulled me out by ladder and rescue line. I remember lying on the pavement soaking wet and shaking with emotions, lucky to be alive. That's what you call team work and the comradeship of fellow Firemen always ready to watch your back, an ethos that existed all the time I was in the job.
 
Firefighters (formerly known as firemen) are made of strong stuff - I am sure you will agree aggie. Very few have served their service without coming across an episode, to a greater or lesser degree, than the one you describe. Given the nature of these events it is surprising that there are few serous or fatal accidents.
I have always thanked my guardian angel! :)
 
Although i retired in 1990 I still keep in touch with my ex comrades (what's left of them) via Facebook. Quite a few are suffering or have died from COPD due to operational conditions in the 50s & 60s when we were encouraged to 'eat smoke' rather than wear Breathing Apparatus, except when it was really necessary, no compressed air in those days only 1 hour proto with all the maintenance required to get it back on the run. I sustained a number of injuries on the fire ground which have come back to haunt me and affect my quality of life. But hey ho, I'm still here drawing my pension so every days a bonus. Regards.
 
aggie2347 said:
Although i retired in 1990 I still keep in touch with my ex comrades (what's left of them) via Facebook. Quite a few are suffering or have died from COPD due to operational conditions in the 50s & 60s when we were encouraged to 'eat smoke' rather than wear Breathing Apparatus, except when it was really necessary, no compressed air in those days only 1 hour proto with all the maintenance required to get it back on the run. I sustained a number of injuries on the fire ground which have come back to haunt me and affect my quality of life. But hey ho, I'm still here drawing my pension so every days a bonus. Regards.
Click to expand...
Did the mines rescue teams use the proto device?
 
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