Here are a few more pictures generally from when F&L left Rea Street for the Albion Works in Tyburn Road, Castle Bromwich which I believe was in 1950.
We had moved from the top of Ladypool Road to Castle Bromwich around the autumn of 1952 which was probably when my dad moved to the new offices to the right of the main gates facing Tyburn Road occupying an office on the front left corner facing the security gatehouse. After demob he returned to what was left of the F&L offices and factory at Rea Street and worked there until 1952.
He worked at CB throughout the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's working his way up the greasy pole costing most of the vehicles that were produced by the then Austin and Morris, Standard and Triumph and in latter years British Leyland after the Press Steel Fisher years.
I was fortunate to see the very early ADO14 Mini prototype shells in the making when the panic over Suez focussed attention on the need for small economic cars.
Dad found the uncomfortable truth that the first Minis went out the gates at a loss on every sale which wasn't good news to deliver to Sir Leonard Lord over at Longbridge.
Thankfully the 1100 made good profits.
We even had prototype Bendix washing machines in the house care of F&L which my mom had to document the performance of each load. Some I recall leaked like sieves.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10882#top_display_media
The aerial view shows the site which was constructed during the war as a shadow factory and famously built Spitfire and Lancaster assemblies. These were hauled across the A452 Chester Road on the left for final assembly at Castle Bromwich airfield to the east. Running east to west is the Derby railway line and the red brick Castle Bromwich station is visible on the road bridge. Out of frame would have been the Birmingham Industries Fair buildings along the south side of the railway.
In the top right is the edge of Hodge Hill estate with the A452 curving up to the Clock Garage in the middle whilst at the top left is the old part of Castle Bromwich village with the Hall on the ridge.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10883#top_display_media
During the war years F&L were heavily targeted including some of the shadow factories such as Tile Hill near Coventry where production had been relocated and the nearby Coventry Radiator plant at Canley.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10884#top_display_media
The Albion Works Tool Room with very little in the way of safety guarding or yellow paint on the floor!
There appears to be some form of visual hierarchy determined by the colour of your overalls or did one make a style choice when dressing first thing?
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10885#top_display_media
One of the small press shops which formed, pierced and raised the myriads of small pressings that went into a car body. Even on a Saturday morning when I went there as a child the noise was deafening. In another shop I recall be dazzled by the spot welders that married the various widgets into something recognisable like a right hand rear wheel arch for an A30.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10886#top_display_media
Here is were big presses stamped out the large components like wing, door and roof skins etc. When one of these presses closed there was often sparks and smoke as the oiled surfaces of the virgin steel sheet became suddenly heated by closing dies and combusted.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10887#top_display_media
The noise from some of the big daddy presses could be heard from top of the Water Orton Road if the wind was in the right direction and inside the plant the whole building and ground shuddered as the dies struck and closed.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10888#top_display_media
The sick bay with a chappy having his eye brows plucked, a lady with a poorly finger following a serious typing accident and a chappy with his legged propped up on a special poorly leg stool whilst the nurse in the vignette is about to administer an all purpose Aspirin to all of them. Possibly a staged picture.
https://images.birminghamhistory.co...=lastup&cat=10449&pid=10889#top_display_media
Finally a few cuttings showing the Social side of life at F&L, the man with the cigar is Arthur Keates who was the big cheese in those days and had an office next door to my dad's though considerably bigger and a whole lot plusher.