Richard Dye
master brummie
Solihull54, engineering is a very good thing been doing it for almost 60 years, funny though, my children did not care for it
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Canning & Co & Electroplating
- Thread starter TNT
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George Colman
Brummie babby
Hi Maurice, hope this reply gets to you! Very sorry to learn about your brother Roy, he was well respected at Cannings. I will be fascinated to see who else makes contact with me! George
Maurice, thanks for showing these pics, I was involved with Harperizer sales for several years, however I believe these pics were taken some time after I left Cannings as I don't recognise them, they look more advanced than when I was there!Here we go...............
Maurice
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George Colman
Brummie babby
Hi Richard, I worked for 20 years as Export Sales Manager & Director for Purafil inc Atlanta, Chamblee then Doraville. I was based in Sutton Coldfield as more central to travel the globe than Atlanta!
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
George,
Thanks for your condolences and thoughts.
The originals are almost A4 size and the only thing on the back are the references A16-3, 93-4, and A74-9 (same order as the displayed photographs). All I know is that when either Cannings had folded or was about to fold, there was some sort of management buy-out. At that time Roy, who had always very ably played the stockmarket, had 3,000 shares, but insufficient for him to become one of the six directors of the outfit, which carried on for a few years. Then a Sales Director, a salesman, Roy and one of the secretaries went to work for said Sales Director who had set up a new Company and it was basically working from little more than a lockup garage. They were merely supplying former Cannings customers with bought-in consumables and Roy was making a few specialised items for sale to these customers. They only ever saw the Sales Director when he came in to pay their wages weekly.
The salesman was, of course spending most of his time visiting customers, so it was basically just Roy & the secretary, First to leave was the salesman, who had reached retirement age. He was followed later by the secretary, and that left Roy to deal with everything, though he was an accomplished typist from his National Service days in the Army Pay Corps. Eventually, Roy, who had reached retirement age himself, had had enough and the Sales Director said he was putting this Company into liquidation, something he had threatened to do for several years. Roy stayed in Birmingham for a while and then left to be closer to his son in Hampshire.
The above paragraphs are a summary of what I gleaned from Roy on his various holiday visits to my late mother in Poole over the years, and I'm unable to name names simply because I don't think he ever mentioned anything other than forenames, and it was all quite a few years ago now. He'd spent his apprenticeship with an electrical contractor, mainly installing pumps at the bottom of deep shafts, and when that work wasn't available doing "house-bashing" as he called it, rewiring houses for this contractor. During his time at Cannings, he spent two and a half years in Roumania, in charge of the installation of the plating plants at the Lada factory.
Maurice
Thanks for your condolences and thoughts.
The originals are almost A4 size and the only thing on the back are the references A16-3, 93-4, and A74-9 (same order as the displayed photographs). All I know is that when either Cannings had folded or was about to fold, there was some sort of management buy-out. At that time Roy, who had always very ably played the stockmarket, had 3,000 shares, but insufficient for him to become one of the six directors of the outfit, which carried on for a few years. Then a Sales Director, a salesman, Roy and one of the secretaries went to work for said Sales Director who had set up a new Company and it was basically working from little more than a lockup garage. They were merely supplying former Cannings customers with bought-in consumables and Roy was making a few specialised items for sale to these customers. They only ever saw the Sales Director when he came in to pay their wages weekly.
The salesman was, of course spending most of his time visiting customers, so it was basically just Roy & the secretary, First to leave was the salesman, who had reached retirement age. He was followed later by the secretary, and that left Roy to deal with everything, though he was an accomplished typist from his National Service days in the Army Pay Corps. Eventually, Roy, who had reached retirement age himself, had had enough and the Sales Director said he was putting this Company into liquidation, something he had threatened to do for several years. Roy stayed in Birmingham for a while and then left to be closer to his son in Hampshire.
The above paragraphs are a summary of what I gleaned from Roy on his various holiday visits to my late mother in Poole over the years, and I'm unable to name names simply because I don't think he ever mentioned anything other than forenames, and it was all quite a few years ago now. He'd spent his apprenticeship with an electrical contractor, mainly installing pumps at the bottom of deep shafts, and when that work wasn't available doing "house-bashing" as he called it, rewiring houses for this contractor. During his time at Cannings, he spent two and a half years in Roumania, in charge of the installation of the plating plants at the Lada factory.
Maurice
Richard Dye
master brummie
Thank you George, our paths could have crossed I worked at Purolator Filters for 20 years before starting my own filter company, first as a factory automation engineer then becoming Vice president of Engineering & OE sales. Back they we developed blood filtration that was very successful, we eventually sold the business to Johnson & Johnson. We never made our own media but came close a few times.
I was blessed as I am sure were to be able to travel globally for my work which became more of a hobby than work, much to my wife chagrin!
Enjoy the forum I am sure you will!
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
MauriceGeorge,
I'm sorry to inform you that my brother, Roy Sheppard, passed away at the age of 81 on 3rd June. Until around six years or so ago he'd been a very heavy smoker and in his later years suffered from emphysema, though it was a cardiac arrest that finally caused his death. I'll post three photographs shortly, though I don't know the dates that they were taken, nor the names of the other members of staff on one of them.
Maurice
My sympathies, just rereading the thread and just remembered who your brother was as he was I believe the electrics 'boffin' who sorted out the problems that occurred on all the new automatic plating and barrelling units, somedays you almost had to book an appointment to see him
The same as to Maurice, rereading the thread and names and faces fall into place and I remember the new 'publicity' man being brought round and introduced to the 'important' managers (Arthur Knight & Harry Eacock) and also being shown us minions.
How long ago all of that was.
Bob
George Colman
Brummie babby
Yes I think you are correct there Lyn, he also worked with Malcolm McQuirk, they left and started their own furnace manufacturing Co in Tamworth and did very well indeed!hi george me again...hope you received my reply to the private message you sent me...just a quickie regarding oxy...we are both wrong as i dont think it was ian redding think it was keith redding
all the best lyn
Maurice Allen
New Member
Richard Dye
master brummie
Maurice.............welcome to the Forum! A really great place with great and knowledgeable people. I can't help but I am sure there are many very capable who can & will!
Maurice Allen
New Member
Will just explain .... my name is Jo and I’m Maurices daughter. Putting these messages on for him
Richard Dye
master brummie
Hello Jo, nice to meet you. That's fine.............I am in the US, Franklin TN on central time. Its might be a little late in the UK but I am sure you will hear something tomorrow.
Just saw this as I only drop in from time to time. I worked for Harry from about 1975. I felt that I got on with him as we were both bikers. He had an old Velocette.
At the time there was also Phil Weston, John Gravenor, Peter Longfield, Paul Hartford. Technical clerk, Jim Stevens superseded by a chap call Yassin who in turn was replaced by a bloke who's name I can't recall.
I transferred from Harrys dept in abt 1980. Some other names Alan Randall, Frank Round, Keith Staples.
The engineering bit moved to Pitsford Street in abt 1981 and was only there until mid 1983.
Maurice Allen
New Member
Hi, I got an email notification telling me that you had replied to the post about my dad Maurice. It’s so good to hear from you and I will show dad your reply on Friday when he comes over to us for dinner.
I can then post his reply to you. I know you said you only occasionally check the forum
but I know dad will be really pleased to hear from you.
Solihull54
master brummie
My dad was at Cannings from about 1954 to 1960 so might have known him, shame the way old Birmingham engineering companies all disappeared, Cannings, Lucas, etc...my dad was in the offices as advertising/publicity manager, he left to join Beatties in Wolverhampton in 1961.
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Solihull54
master brummie
Hi Bob, it was Jeffrey Dry, he worked in the offices and knew Sir Ernest...was only young then he would ave been about 33 in 1957, it was his 2nd job after leaving London University. Died now I'm afraid!.
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Knew him slightly, certainly knew of him, but not someone I was in constant contact with. I was in the engineering order office.
Bob
Solihull54
master brummie
Small world isnt it Bob, my dad died in 2019 in Redditch but stayed in touch with a lot of his old colleagues and enjoyed chats about his "old times" at work and growing up in Moseley in the 1920s & 30s..thanks for saying you knew him at Cannings...Cheers, Tony
Ray chancellor
proper brummie kid
There was a thread on Cannings but it does seem to be missing. This from the Internet:
[h=3]W. Cannings & Co. - Page 6 - Birmingham History Forum[/h]birminghamhistory.co.uk › ... › History & Nostalgia › Factories & Offices
Sep 23, 2009 - 15 posts - 8 authors
Is there anyone out there that worked at Cannings on Gt Hampton St. I started work there when I was 14 that was in 1941 and left in 1953.
Ray chancellor
proper brummie kid
My mother and two aunts workedthrought the war and upto1950sThere was a thread on Cannings but it does seem to be missing. This from the Internet:
[h=3]W. Cannings & Co. - Page 6 - Birmingham History Forum[/h]birminghamhistory.co.uk › ... › History & Nostalgia › Factories & Offices
Sep 23, 2009 - 15 posts - 8 authors
Is there anyone out there that worked at Cannings on Gt Hampton St. I started work there when I was 14 that was in 1941 and left in 1953.
Thats how I recall Roy Shepherd. I didn't work with him but I would see him from time to time.
The engineering part of Cannings went bust in 1983. They were in Pitsford Street at the time. Two new companies sprang up out of the mess. Harper Canning focussed on the polishing equipment side and ESP concentrated on the plating equipment.
ESP meant Engineering Services for Plating. It was headed up by Ken Reid, Harry Eacock, Gordon Wilde, Alf Taylor, Trevor Brown, Chris Bird and Roy. All of them equal share holders as I recall. There were a few employees also, a design engineer (an older bloke), a secretary (young lady), a guy who worked mainly on spares (young chap) and probably some others. I have a vague memory that an accountant from a company in Stratford was also involved. After a few years still resident in Pitsford Street, they moved to New Town Row. It wasn't anything like a lock up garage. On the corner of Brewery Street, now occupied by Prestige Print. I had dealings with them whilst they were in Pitsford Street and in New Town Row but I eventually moved to other things. Over a period of time, the folk in charge (the ones who new the business and the people in it), either left, died or retired, and the accountant ended up owning all the shares, as they frequently do. With all the expertise gone, and another move, all he could do was wind it all up. That was about 1993.
PoJo
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
PoJo,
Many thanks for your reminiscenses about my late brother, Roy. From what I remember, the accountant came around once a week towards the end and the salesman retired about six months before it folded leaving just Roy and the secretary. It gave Roy an interest and when it folded he used to avidly play the stock market and always came out on top. Of course, when the big crash came in 2008, he said it was becoming more and more difficult to make a steady profit and he gave it up.
Maurice
Many thanks for your reminiscenses about my late brother, Roy. From what I remember, the accountant came around once a week towards the end and the salesman retired about six months before it folded leaving just Roy and the secretary. It gave Roy an interest and when it folded he used to avidly play the stock market and always came out on top. Of course, when the big crash came in 2008, he said it was becoming more and more difficult to make a steady profit and he gave it up.
Maurice
Stapes
proper brummie kid
Photo of the Polishing D.O. around 1971, 1. John Gravenor, 2. Maurice Allen & Keith Staples, 3. Rob Dovey, 4. me again, have a few stories of Maurice
Attachments
coleighf
proper brummie kid
Hi everybody. I am Colin Leighfield and I worked at Cannings from March 1963 to November 1972. They were wonderful years that have always stayed with me and set my life’s career route. I joined on the trainee scheme at 16 1/2 years old, having been introduced to the idea by Bryan Jarvis, who was my Flight Lieutenant in 425 Sqn. Air Training Corps. He worked for Ron Beebee. Barry Morris took me on, a great bloke. From 1964 I worked in the Works Office with Ron Sigston and Arthur Pearce, under Pat Dewar. In my last couple of years I was on the road as a polishing materials specialist around the country, but also became more involved in the chemical side and spent a lot of time in Scotland. In 1972 John Thomason introduced the idea of Product Managers and I was one, covering mechanical finishing and Bill Lloyd-Smith covering the rest. That came at a difficult time in my personal life that lead me to leave and move on, but with many regrets. I felt that I’d let John Thomason down, because he’d shown faith in me. It all worked out eventually and I’ve had a successful career, but looking through these posts I see so many names that I remember with great fondness. There are many more that I could mention and still think about. I don’t know if this is of any interest to anyone but I’d love to compare notes and perhaps renew acquaintances. Stay safe everyone.
Hello Everybody I have just found this site while trying to find current Canning family members since I have a book from the old Canning library that was closed down at the end of Robert Allens' reign as Publicity Manager. I spent 16 years at Canning from 1965 to 1981 working with Jack Dove (great bloke), Big Cedric Clifford, Keth Rogers,Pete Stamper (now Dr. Stamper) all the reps including Barry Comelio,Don Haynes (in France) Lionel Lane, Peter Narey (in Germany),Ted Hansell and more.Starting in the laboratory I worked through to products marketing manager when marketing was just coming in to the UK. I launched Envirozin, Gemini Nickels, Cleaners, Nickel booster etc. always backed up with brilliant art work by Bill Wood(s) in publicity.John Thomason was my boss and our paths crossed when after leaving I became a consultant in the metal finishing industry working with paint companies, JCB,The Home Office, Thomas H Gee and many others.So good to learn that Canning folk are in touch with each other. I remember driving Norman Thurston to work once to twice from Burntwood, having many evenings at John Cheatles' flat in Harbone with my wife who was really good company. Sorry to go on so long but many memories coming back. Save some for later!