furniture/cabinet makers/upholsterers/french polishers

[sheri]

I have been searching for years for the connections with the above trades to my Blackham/Hayward family
with no luck up to now.

I came across in 1904 Birmingham (The) Furnishing Co. at 80 Spring Hill - House furnishers
(was/is Spring Hill near or in central B'ham then)

Robert Hayward furniture dealer at 37 High St. Kings Norton (my family has connections in K.N)

Would either of these had a shop in or near New St. Anything you can tell me would be so helpful and appreciated.
Sheri

 

[lencops]

Sheri, Spring Hill & Summer Hilll are near to the City centre it is in the district of Ladywood i lived there for a couple of years, lots of small & large business`s traded around there all the way down the hill towards City Hospital aka Dudley Road Hospital, and the Furnishing Company could have had a showroom in the City. Len.

 

[sheri]

Hi Lencops, thank you - the time I'm looking for is between 1881 onwards - I've been looking for years - can't get a clue anywhere. Than k you for your help - its appre ciated.
Sheri

 

[mikejee]

Sheri
The Birmingham Furnishing Co was not in existence in 1903 and was extinct by 1908. It had no other branches listed. In 1905 there was a Birmingham furmishing Co at 62 Broad St, but it is distinguished in Kellys from Birmingham (The) Furnishing Co at Spring hill
Robert Hayward 1899 - 1915 (not 1897 or 1921) no other branches listed.
I don’t know if these are of any interest. They only seemed to last a short time:
1899-1904 (not 1897 or 1912)
Blackham Francis, cabinet maker, 27 St. Luke's road
1908 (not 1904 or 1912)
Hayward Charles, cabinet maker, 81 (back of) Bradford st
mike

 

[sheri]

Hi Mikejee, thank you for the information - its very nice of you to help. Francis Blackham I know about - she's my gt.aunt. The company I am looking for must be from the 1880's on wards - my grandparents married in 1908 had very nice funiture and I know my parents married in 1937 bought their furniture from a 'family connection' of my father's - so it's there somewhere!!!! I've been looking for years - maybe I should give up.
Sheri

 

[Snowball]

Good evening sheri from a windy night just outside Sydney Australia.

My aunt Rose Baldwin, nee Marklew, was by trade/profession a french polisher. The family lived in Bordesley, Birmingham and for most of her life Rose worked either in the city or close to it in her chosen profession. I think the name of the Company that she worked for was called "Crane's" or something like that. Rose was born in 1911 so she would have been working in this field by 1927 or thereabouts. I know she was considered one of the best skilled artisans on their payroll and would often bee called out to repair expensive pieces of furniture, typically grand pianos, in some of the more prestigious city stores and showrooms. We too had a number of bits of furniture that, I think, came from the places she worked. My mother Winifred also worked at this same place with her sister Rose when it was her turn to leave school and find employment, unfortunately my mother developed some form od skin rash as a result of her exposure to the various varnishes etc. used in the trade and she was forced to find alternative employment. My mother is still alive and a sprightly 91 years of age. I will ask her if she knows of any other businesses that Rose worked for in addition to Crane's and will get back to you later.

Regards, Snowball.

 

[sheri]

Hi Snowball, sorry not to reply before - haven't been on line for a few days. I am grateful for any help I can get with these french polishers/upholsterers. My father said the name of the company was on a wall in New St - it would have been before about 1960 as we moved then and before all the changes. Why didn't I ask what the name was!!!!!
Many thanks
Sheri