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E.T.Willows

chocks2

master brummie
Hi
This is my first post.
Can anyone answer the following questions regarding E.T.Willows.
When did the Handsworth factory close?
Were any other products manufactured after the demise of the airship?
and finally,some sources claim Mr Willows was Brummie born to welsh parents and others claim he was born in Cardiff has any evedence been proven as to the truth.
 
In 1891 Ernest T willows is in Cardiff age 4 born Cardiff with parents
Joseph T age 32 b. Hull yorks Dentist
Eveline age 33 born Bath Somerset.
 
Cheers Alberta
This kind of confirms my understanding of his birthplace but it raises more questions Thanks for the info.
 
hi chocks..i cant help with any info on willows but there are some old pics on the forum somewhere of villa road...i will have a look as there may be a pic of the factory....

lyn
 
Thanks. Any help accepted.
I do know a lot about the man and his machines but finding any info on his Birmingham factory is proving to be a nightmare

Chocks
 
We're getting there! Here's a snippet from www.madeinbirmingham.org -

"In 1910 the Midland Aero Club started flying from Billesley Farm (the Midland School of Flying was also at Billesley) in Kings Heath but by May 1912 the club had moved to playing fields at Castle Bromwich and had established a landing ground which was to become first official airfield in Birmingham and in Warwickshire. It was 1100 yards long and 400 yards wide. A shed or hangar was also provided for Ernest Willow who built airships, having previously been based at Hanwoth."

I think it's fair to say for 'Hanwoth' read 'Handsworth'. I wonder if the Villa Road address was just offices, because to build even a small airship requires a huge space.

Big Gee
 
i agree big gee although if they were offices they would have been quite big to take up the numbers 24 to 32...im still searching

lyn
 
Probably not much use, but E.T. Willows was listed at villa Road i kellys in 1915, but had gone by 1921
mike
 
thanks mike..ive just posted a request on the maps section so i can get me bearing when looking for pics of this place...not sure which end of villa road it was..

lyn
 
hi chocks..just a bit more info for you..a map of where 24 to 32 villa road was situated...it seems willows was not the only co occupying this site so may well have been their offices..

thanks to mike for the map...

lyn
 
Last edited:
Below is a large scale map of 24-32 c 1889 and one dated c1902, by when extra buildings seem to have been built.
When reposting the maps i also reposted the map from # 17 above
mike

24-32_villa_road_1889.JPG


24-32_villa_road_1902.JPG


map_1917_showing_position_of_24-32_villa_road.jpg
 
thanks mike..the only problem i have is if willows was not on the front of villa road finding pics of it would be difficult...i will keep looking chocks..

lyn
 
His first airship was 78 feet long - small for an airship even in 1906. No way could such things have been built on Villa Road - it would have been impossible to transport them to Castle Bromwich, where I think he flew from (not sure about this). Looking at photos of his later airships they were indeed rigid, which would dictate the use of a large hangar or shed for their construction. I find it a bit odd that he should have established his company in Birmingham anyway, which in those days had very little in the way of aviation industry; but there must have been a reason. This is a very interesting subject...........

Big Gee
 
hi big gee..yes its a very interesting topic..especially for me as villa road is my neck o the woods..bit to late tonight but i think tomorrow i will delve more into it...doubt if i can find out more than some of you experts but you never know...

lyn
 
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