Longbridge Factory

[Les Gammon]

I sometimes think of my time in South Works Die Shop and remember all the other apprentices including Cliff Henry. He had a Triumph Cub 200cc m,cycle and an Isetta bubble car. I had an Ariel 350cc. I was the youngest Die Shop apprentice.

 

[Vivienne14]

Drivers who transported employees to/from the Longbridge works at the close of WW1. Some (or all?) of these men must have been exempt from military service.

Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

A couple of older photos taken at the Longbridge factory in the 1920s/30s.

Viv.


Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Pedrocut]

Buying Office, Austin, Longbridge, 142.

 

[Pedrocut]

“In 1905 Herbert Austin bought a derelict factory where he started his motor car manufacturing business. He tested his first car on the Lickeys in 1906. The company struggled to survive at first but by 1910, the Austin company employed over a thousand workers. During the First World War the factory switched to munitions work and the work force rose to 20,000 but the company was almost bankrupt. He saved the situation with a new car - the Austin Seven.”

From the book A Postcard from the Lickeys, (1989)

 

[Richard Dye]

“In 1905 Herbert Austin bought a derelict factory where he started his motor car manufacturing business. He tested his first car on the Lickeys in 1906. The company struggled to survive at first but by 1910, the Austin company employed over a thousand workers. During the First World War the factory switched to munitions work and the work force rose to 20,000 but the company was almost bankrupt. He saved the situation with a new car - the Austin Seven.”

From the book A Postcard from the Lickeys, (1989)



View attachment 177412

Is there any information on Austin’s pre the 7?

 

[Pedrocut]

Not in this book which is mostly postcards with short descriptions.

 

[Eric Gibson]

There's a good history of the company here: http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-4/index.html

 

[Richard Dye]

There's a good history of the company here: http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-4/index.html

Inspiring story of success only to lead to failure!

 

[mikejee]

The success was when people who knew about the product were in charge. Failure when the financial and management-trained people took over

 

[mw0njm.]

The car factory where time has stalled

With unfinished cars left to rust on the production line, these eerie photographs show how the Longbridge plant in Birmingham has been left deserted.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Richard Dye]

The success was when people who knew about the product were in charge. Failure when the financial and management-trained people took over

Absolutely!

 

[Pedrocut]

Another from A Postcard from the Lickeys (published 1989)

 

[Richard Dye]

The car factory where time has stalled

With unfinished cars left to rust on the production line, these eerie photographs show how the Longbridge plant in Birmingham has been left deserted.

www.dailymail.co.uk

And this story repeats itself over and over with BSA, AJS/Matchless etc etc.

 

[Pedrocut]

Mass meeting of Austin workers at Colton Park 1950.

The People's century : Birmingham 1889-1989. Publication date 1991.

 

[Vivienne14]

This 1956 photo is labelled as being Longbridge. It's a Metropolitan car. According to Wiki:

The Metropolitan was designed in the USA by William J. Flajole, for Nash Motor Division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. Fisher & Ludlow, Ltd., built the body and the mechanical outfitting was done by Austin Motor Company, Ltd. Both companies were in Birmingham, England.

A charming little car ! A modern colour photo attached too - gorgeous little car.

Viv.

 

[Eric Gibson]

Although it's pretty it was actually not a very nice car to drive.

 

[Richard Dye]

Although it's pretty it was actually not a very nice car to drive.

Yes, it was not a very safe car to drive!

 

[Brummie a long time ago]

Yes, it was not a very safe car to drive!

Looks like the front wheel arches would have limited the turning circle.
Andrew.

 

[Richard Dye]

Looks like the front wheel arches would have limited the turning circle.
Andrew.

It did & tire changing was a bear! The spare wheel holder was also difficult for one person.

 

[mw0njm.]

 

[Godber]

The most frustrating thing about the death of MG Rover is that it happened when they finally had decent Union/Management relations and were producing good cars. In fact, the 75 was an excellent motor. The new models they had in the pipeline looked very promising, too. Such a shame we lost the “Bostin’ Austin”.

For those who are interested in Austin Rover I thoroughly recommend this excellent website https://www.aronline.co.uk/

 

[Richard Dye]

View attachment 182295

Very cleaver!

 

[mikejee]

Yes. But rather risky advert as some wag might add that a broken down car does use less petrol and would help prolong the ration

 

[mw0njm.]

This 1956 photo is labelled as being Longbridge. It's a Metropolitan car. According to Wiki:

The Metropolitan was designed in the USA by William J. Flajole, for Nash Motor Division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. Fisher & Ludlow, Ltd., built the body and the mechanical outfitting was done by Austin Motor Company, Ltd. Both companies were in Birmingham, England.

A charming little car ! A modern colour photo attached too - gorgeous little car.

Viv.

View attachment 180899
View attachment 180900

i thought it looked very tinny looking

Nash Metropolitan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Nash Metropolitan History

Learn your Metropolitan history by reading this literature. We have studied and found all the historical information you could ever read. Designed in the USA by William Flajole.

www.shopmetropolitanparts.com

 

[mw0njm.]

Yes. But rather risky advert as some wag might add that a broken down car does use less petrol and would help prolong the ration

yes there are a lot of wags about

 

[Richard Dye]

i thought it looked very tinny looking

Nash Metropolitan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Nash Metropolitan History

Learn your Metropolitan history by reading this literature. We have studied and found all the historical information you could ever read. Designed in the USA by William Flajole.

www.shopmetropolitanparts.com

Nash/Kelvinator made cars and refrigerators. The Metropolitan looks like a smaller version of an American car crossed between a refrigerator. Seriously Nash designs we very radical and certainly not successful . They merged with American Motors who was just as bad. The only thing the new company had was the Jeep brand. Chrysler under Lee Iacocca purchased everything to get the Jeep brand which produces great designs. The original Willys jeep design has now been tricked up as a cool (some think) fashion statement. I think they are noisy , uncomfortable and noisy and high demand globally. Not sure I really understand that!

 

[mw0njm.]

the engine i thought was the best part

 

[FortyFour]

My grandad, Bertie Fred Bolton of Halesowen worked at Longbridge for many years as a press tool maker, sadly dying as a result of a work accident in 1954. I've found some family photos, two were presumably taken at the Longbridge plant. The others are of two cars (one with my grandad in the passenger seat) - which I am assuming would have come off the production line at Austin? The other is if my grandad in a group of people which I think could be a works outing. If these last 3 are off topic I'm happy to remove, but I don't really know why they exist as they were in a box of photos we found in the loft. Posting as would like to share with anyone who is interested. Of course, if anyone can offer any information about any of the photos, these would be greatly received.

 

[Pedrocut]

Great pictures thanks for sharing.