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BSA Factory 1940s Onwards

Banjo said:
Luckily, I was never initiated. I first worked there on the Beagle Cylinder heads ( strangely, I've never seen a beagle on the road) before moving to D Section working on the A50 /A65 crankcases. I too used to wander around the factory in my dinner time and sometimes also scavenged the scrap site for parts that were damaged. If anything was not too damaged, i.e small dents, chrome plating that had imperfections or any other "seconds" that were suitable, I would take them to the office and pay a token price for them. I don't think I ever paid more than £1. As you can see, I had quite a few "modern" additions to my 1955 A7 combo ( chrome mudguards-twin clocks-chrome headlamp cowls- passenger handrail etc ) before I sold it to buy a car in 1965.
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i too worked on the beagle heads, with a bloke called buster.putting in valves and rockers. dad had a bsa combo. i used to ride it around his works yard of a weekend. shaking my arms trying to steer it.:sweat:
 
mw0njm. said:
great stuff. i started there in 63 and me my number was ba 414. when i started there, you had to be inisiated in our dept. they coverd your wiz in swarfega and washing powder. :mad:did you remember jeff smith in the compt dept. my sister worked in the office when they got robbed when i left school..after my 6d dinner in the canteen i would walk through the crome plant, and have a nose in the final despatch dept. or go over the canal bridge to the club. i alter'd a tiger cub frame and put a bantam d7 engine in it. to play over the cow fields in shard end. my road bike was a trident 750. wish i still had any of them now.
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You must remember FANNY in the canteen, a white haired "mature lady" used to serve the 6d dinners after which I'd also walk through the plating shop, over the canal bridge for a game of snooker in the club house, half a shandy then back to work...........great days. 1960 to 1969.
 
That mature lady Fanny Grosvnor was my nanny my cousins and I use to meet her on the way home from work and she would have make us apple turnovers to eat on our way home
 
rosielab said:
That mature lady Fanny Grosvnor was my nanny my cousins and I use to meet her on the way home from work and she would have make us apple turnovers to eat on our way home
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Dear old Fanny, what a smashing lady, there were many ladies working in the canteen but Fanny is the only one I can remember, not to be messed with but a great laugh and a rather saucy sense of humour. Mid morning break, can of coke and a toasted "hot cross bun" but Fanny flatly refused to toast one on a Good Friday. I can still see her like it was yesterday and will never forget what she called prunes and custard.
 
You described her to a tea she passed away when I was 8 but have fond memories of her she would have a big Christmas tree and cover it with chocolates but us kids couldn't have one until we did a turn e.g. dance sing or read a poem
 
sylviasayers said:
I worked for the BSA in the Export Sales Department from July 1957 just after I got married and
went to live in Small Heath and thought it too far to travel to Norton Motors in Aston!! This was just after the Bernard Docker era and BSA was making the Gold Star a wonderful motorbike. The Japanese were just starting to make inroads into our motorcycle industry then.

I could weep when I think of all the old famous firms which have gone by the wayside as listed by Aston, plus Norton Motors, Sun Cycles, Dunlop (my dad would turn in his grave if he knew what happened to them - he started at Aston Cross when he came out of the army about 1919/1920 moved to Pype Hayes with them, and worked there until he retired in 1966). Also Ansells, M & B, Atkinsons Breweries (my first job) so many. Birmingham was known as the workshop of the world - I dread to think what the future holds.
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My mum ivy Webb / Stephens worked at the nsa factory small heath putting ball bearings in the pedals of the bikes. She told me her and a friend were asked to go outside and have there picture taken with the bike. I think this was in the 50/60’s. She has just passed away aged 90. She also lived in flower road small heath.
 
arthur smith said:
Re, B.S.A.

The far part of the building in the photo posted by Dollyferret was used as the training centre for first year apprentices in the B.S.A. group, and from some smaller engineering companies in brum. this is where I spent the first year of my working life 1970/71.
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I joined Deritend Drop Forgings (Liverpool Street) in 1970/71 as an apprentice tool-maker/setter and we were seconded to that very same 1st year training centre. The only names I can recall of fellow apprentices are. Scott Dunbar and Frankie Franks. The latter used to come in on a 49cc red/white moped! As for the trainer/instructors, there was a Mr Norton (Grinding section... said with a perfectly straight face) and Mr Curry the training manager. Id seriously appreciate some name dropping to jog my fast fading memory of those days!
 
Funrunna said:
I joined Deritend Drop Forgings (Liverpool Street) in 1970/71 as an apprentice tool-maker/setter and we were seconded to that very same 1st year training centre. The only names I can recall of fellow apprentices are. Scott Dunbar and Frankie Franks. The latter used to come in on a 49cc red/white moped! As for the trainer/instructors, there was a Mr Norton (Grinding section... said with a perfectly straight face) and Mr Curry the training manager. Id seriously appreciate some name dropping to jog my fast fading memory of those days!
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Mr Curry eh? he was the foreman in the Model Room when I worked there during my apprenticeship, next door to the Competition shop. My five year apprenticeship took me to many departments and I was rather glad the "training school opened after I finished. Ten years all told at the BSA and I loved every minute of it, don't remember ever having a day off, great place and the people there were the salt of the earth.
My spiritual home.
 
David George Parkes said:
Mr Curry eh? he was the foreman in the Model Room when I worked there during my apprenticeship, next door to the Competition shop. My five year apprenticeship took me to many departments and I was rather glad the "training school opened after I finished. Ten years all told at the BSA and I loved every minute of it, don't remember ever having a day off, great place and the people there were the salt of the earth.
My spiritual home.
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Hi David and thanks for replying!

Sadly, for us outsiders. (not being directly employed by the BSA) We were only into the first year of our apprenticeships and to the best of my knowledge, none of us were able to complete our time because many of the companies we joined didn't have agreements with the likes of Hall Green Technical Colledge which was necessary for the formal qualifications as you know. So we were unceremoniously packed off into the sunset... The only apprenticeship I could get after that, was with an off-set die printing company. Not nearly as varied and interesting but they promised a lot, if I kept my nose cleen. Sadly the postal strike came along and orders fell through the floor. You may recall that many firms deployed the FiFo rule of the day. So, rather than the foreign Legion. I worked as a Chef for the next 20 years.

I did have a few 'drinking mates' who worked for the BSA itself and they were a bloody good bunch for sure, I know I've sadly lamented my short time there, more than once. My spiritual home said it all right there!

Thanks again,

Antonio Ross
 
Funrunna said:
I joined Deritend Drop Forgings (Liverpool Street) in 1970/71 as an apprentice tool-maker/setter and we were seconded to that very same 1st year training centre. The only names I can recall of fellow apprentices are. Scott Dunbar and Frankie Franks. The latter used to come in on a 49cc red/white moped! As for the trainer/instructors, there was a Mr Norton (Grinding section... said with a perfectly straight face) and Mr Curry the training manager. Id seriously appreciate some name dropping to jog my fast fading memory of those days!
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Some of the instructors I remember, Fred Baise, Barry Tallboys, Joe Smith, Harold Naughton and Frank Conlon. Some apprentices, Paul Askill. Gareth Williams, Ansel Pottinger, Colin Roberts, Brian Redden, Alex Blake and Errol Simms.
 
Irishbrummie said:
I was the Training Center Armoury Road 1969-70 circa. It cater for Apprentices from all around the Midlands,indeed, the world, as my best mate then hailed from Mexico City [English father.]
Just three weeks ago I gave a lift to two Yanks up here who'd begin at a BSA bike rally on the Isle Man
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Hopefully Irish you are still active - I was there too - Gary McDonnell from Triumph - I remember Mex too - hated the snow ! What was your name and who did you work for ?
I remember the instructors - Fred Baise on Shaping Etc
 
Funrunna said:
Hi David and thanks for replying!

Sadly, for us outsiders. (not being directly employed by the BSA) We were only into the first year of our apprenticeships and to the best of my knowledge, none of us were able to complete our time because many of the companies we joined didn't have agreements with the likes of Hall Green Technical Colledge which was necessary for the formal qualifications as you know. So we were unceremoniously packed off into the sunset... The only apprenticeship I could get after that, was with an off-set die printing company. Not nearly as varied and interesting but they promised a lot, if I kept my nose cleen. Sadly the postal strike came along and orders fell through the floor. You may recall that many firms deployed the FiFo rule of the day. So, rather than the foreign Legion. I worked as a Chef for the next 20 years.

I did have a few 'drinking mates' who worked for the BSA itself and they were a bloody good bunch for sure, I know I've sadly lamented my short time there, more than once. My spiritual home said it all right there!

Thanks again,

Antonio Ross
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Hi Antonio - Group Midland Training Center - I was there in 69 with Triumph - loved walking around BSA at dinner - Finished working for Triumph Hinckley and then Triumph Australia where I am now
regards
 
arthur smith said:
Joe Smith was indeed the West Indian guy with the missing fingers, tutored on the capstans.
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Forgive me for coming very late to this thread. My late dad, David Davies, was the apprentice school training manager before Bert Curry. Over tea at home when I was in my teens, we would hear about Joe Smith's latest exploit to wind him up. We were in stitches--although dad was not! In truth, I believe my dad liked him alot for his personality, willingness and the example he set. I would love to have been able to share that with Joe Smith.
 
My husband Max Griffiths started his apprenticeship in 1955 in the toolroom. He was in the football team in the year 1958/59 whereby they won two cups and three shields. I wonder if anybody has copies of this which was in the blue mail or any advice where I could get hold of a copy.
 
lmg said:
My husband Max Griffiths started his apprenticeship in 1955 in the toolroom. He was in the football team in the year 1958/59 whereby they won two cups and three shields. I wonder if anybody has copies of this which was in the blue mail or any advice where I could get hold of a copy.
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Welcome to The Forum lmg!
 
That photo posted #225 looks like the frontage when I went there in 1963. The main gates were then situated as shown opposite the middle section but, around 1965 they moved the gates down to the end just before the canal. There is is a photo somewhere purporting to be taken in 1959 which shows the gates by the canal which doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps they moved the gates several times. I worked on the A50 /A65 crankcases in D section which was situated under the ariel sign and I left in Oct 1969 when they ceased production and were winding down.
 
Banjo said:
That photo posted #225 looks like the frontage when I went there in 1963. The main gates were then situated as shown opposite the middle section but, around 1965 they moved the gates down to the end just before the canal. There is is a photo somewhere purporting to be taken in 1959 which shows the gates by the canal which doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps they moved the gates several times. I worked on the A50 /A65 crankcases in D section which was situated under the ariel sign and I left in Oct 1969 when they ceased production and were winding down.
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I went there in 1964 the main gate was in golden hillock rd by the side of A section. i worked on the beagle engines
 
mw0njm. said:
I went there in 1964 the main gate was in golden hillock rd by the side of A section. i worked on the beagle engines
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It would have 1964 ish when I would have seen the BSA site and understood what it was and produced , my next door neighbour used to tell me the contribution the factory made to the war effort. I cannot used some of the colourful terms he used re WW2 and the bombing of Birmingham as the moderator’s would not be very pleased with me.
Thank you for the information
 
Richard Dye said:
It is so very sad that the British motorcycle and car industries are gone and went the same way apparently! Was there a “root cause analysis” conducted to REALLY understand and admit why and not let it happened to other industries?
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Hello,
Happy Christmas to you and yours.
I agree with you about the sad demise of our manufacturing and engineering industries, but the root cause, and contributory factors would be a new thread and attract numerous opinions .
 
Covroad said:
Hello,
Happy Christmas to you and yours.
I agree with you about the sad demise of our manufacturing and engineering industries, but the root cause, and contributory factors would be a new thread and attract numerous opinions .
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Understand...........And it might not be appropriate to go there! I departed from the subject of the thread which I apologize for.
Something about leadership when you do things you need to understand what went right and wrong & WHY!
Merry Christmas!
 
Covroad said:
It would have 1964 ish when I would have seen the BSA site and understood what it was and produced , my next door neighbour used to tell me the contribution the factory made to the war effort. I cannot used some of the colourful terms he used re WW2 and the bombing of Birmingham as the moderator’s would not be very pleased with me.
Thank you for the information
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welcome
 
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