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Metal Spinners

  • Thread starter Thread starter harborne
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harborne

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My father was a metal spinner and used to work at Bunch & Haselers in Branston Street. His name was John Burgess and he was the last of the Burgess line of metal spinners. There must be someone out there who has information about the Birmingham metal spinning industry...? I'm looking for any information at all that will help me with my research. It's as if this industry never existed as I've tried all other avenues without success. Please, please, please, somebody, help! :crazy2:
 
Cromwell steps in again, PM me and I will tell you all you want to know
 
Where do I get your PM address Cromwell, I'm not very good at this. I got Sos's earlier because his website address is there, but can't find anything for you.

ChrisB
 
I'm sure that Cromwell will give you a lot more info than I ever could, but I do remember when I was a kid in Frederick Rd Aston, there used to be a metal spinners not far from where I lived. It was at the back of a yard in a large house and a family by the name of Cerone lived there. The number would have been around 212 to 216 Frederick Rd.
 
Harbourne, there are still hundreds of metal spinners still all over Birmingham
Now the best way I can explain it to you how its done is like this
If you imagine a cannon ball and then you place an old 78 record on the top and hot it up with an hair dryer it will slowly fold over the cannon ball then when its cold the record will be shaped like a bowl
now
Imagine instead of the record you have a disc of copper or brass etc the ball is clamped in the lathe with the disc next to if and the lathe is switched on so its spinning at a speed
The Spinner then takes a long pole with a flat polished end and starts to force the metal over the Ball bit by bit till he ends up with a bowl.
It is a skilled job and takes about 2to3 years to learn all the various techniques in ya Dads or grandfathers day it was very dangerous as the lathes were belt driven and one slip and you would be pulled in to the lathe because you force the spinning metal towards the machine.
Its Complicated to explain here and really you need a couple of pics or to see a film
 
Ugh! What a way to go. iget the picture though. From what I can remember they were still using belt driven laths in the 1960s? Youre right a film would normally be good but even if that were possible I think it would set my teeth on edge. My forbears would be ashamed of me - I don't even use sharp knives! Would you have said they made lots of money or were they all on the poverty line? What was the schwarf from, cutting the edges off the 'bowls'?
 
In the old days they never made a lot of money but 60's onwards pay was quite good and if you were a good spinner you could get a job anywhere in the trade, the swarf was metal that came off when you trimmed and sized the item
 
It must have been pretty grim in earlier days, as this picture shows, and this is from 1972. :-\ (c) Carl Chinn
 
Nice one postie.. in the photo as the lathe was spinning as that one is, the mans left hand is holding a tallow cloth to grease the metal so the tool he is using does not mark the metal
Very dangerous in the old days if the rag snatched you would be pulled into the machine.
The wooden handled tools were called planishing tools and came in all different sizes made himself by the spinner who took them from job to job as he moved about
 
Has anyone heard of 'air-spinning in respect of metal spinning?

ChrisB :smiley6600:
 
Harborne, Are ya trying to spin us a yarn ? Air Spinning's is to do with the yarn trade different process alltogether
 
No seriously Cromwell. I think I've been spun a yarn though; never could tell whether our dad was winding us up or not! :tickedoff: It's a good job I can't get me hands on him now; talk about flippin' gulllible! Well that's cleared that up, anyway. Thanks for that.

ChrisB ;D
 
Nice Photo Cromwell my Uncle did that he lived in Sydenham Road B'ham 11 is there any Factories near there that did this type of work?

By the way I started my working life at the London Aluminum Company Witton as a Sheet Metal worker in 1951 and they did a lot of Metal spinning there.
 
Alf the nearest factories that used a lot of spinned stuff was the BSA as most of the bottom half of the large shells were spun out of brass the small one's were pressed and drawn
 
Must have been as all of his family worked there from time to time O0
 
I worked for a Spinning company in early 70s called EdwinTaylors , they were situated in Pemberton Street Hockley .
Ragga  :)
 
:smiley6600: Does anyone know if Buncher & Haseler is still there; I think they were in Branston Street?

Chris
 
Nick thanks for that. I thought afterwards if I'd just looked on the net or in a phone directory... but I was convinced they would have long gone anyway. Might be able to get some history from there, you never know.

:) Chris
 
Hi Brummie Nick and Harborne, I have just looked at the link to Buncher & Haseler, Norton Street, and I am wondering whether this was the previous name of Samuel Groves & Co.Limited, who also made kitchenware but for the catering trade etc. I worked there for 8 years until 1986 and it was the only large factory in the street. Opposite used to be a bakery which was closed down - it may have been Scribbans, but during my time at Groves it was let off into various units and was then cleared out. It seems too much of a coincidence for two companies to manufacture the same goods in such a small street. About 1984 Samuel Groves was bought out by an American company called Zero Corporation.
 
Don't know anything about that I'm afraid Sylvia. Only one I know of is the one in Branston Street - right old factory with rickety old floorboards.

Thanks anyway.

Chris
 
Hi there. I have only just found this Fred so many apologies! Please look at my website and history page et cetera. I will attach a couple of photos here but I am open for any photos if anybody wants any or if they require any information? Cameron
 

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i try'd it in the late 60s making pots and pans

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/G._W._Pearce_and_Sons
:grinning:
mw0njm.

Thread 'GW Pearce & son,158 Chester St.'

Battle Brand, G W Pearce & Sons Ltd., 158 Chester St., Birmingham 6, from c1900 to c1995, holloware manufacturers, makers of good copper cookware for home, commercial and industrial uses. Other metals also used.

Any one remember this company, it took over the old pashley bike building in chester st aston. it made, pots and pans kettles.
and stew pans. etc. for companies and the gov.
1549822762874.png1549822794503.png
  • Appreciate
 
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