• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

OLD BIRMINGHAM PHOTOS FROM STEVEBHx

I've been studying the workshop photo more closely and what a fascinating photo it is. I see hints of the human side of the workshop: the forgotten Christmas star decoration still hanging from the ceiling and the picture of the soap sud covered lady on the wall as well as the already mentioned Nescafe tin. Wonder if it contained coffee for their break-time cuppa, or key bits and pieces for the job? The place is screaming 'unsafe' with all the dangling wires, the old cast iron fire, the cardboard shade attached to the hot lamp, the functional non-ergonomic stools (must have played havoc with their backs) and the bottles of (flammable ?) chemicals all over the workbenches. What an informative snapshot in time !

Viv
 
Vivienne14 said:
I've been studying the workshop photo more closely and what a fascinating photo it is. I see hints of the human side of the workshop: the forgotten Christmas star decoration still hanging from the ceiling and the picture of the soap sud covered lady on the wall as well as the already mentioned Nescafe tin. Wonder if it contained coffee for their break-time cuppa, or key bits and pieces for the job? The place is screaming 'unsafe' with all the dangling wires, the old cast iron fire, the cardboard shade attached to the hot lamp, the functional non-ergonomic stools (must have played havoc with their backs) and the bottles of (flammable ?) chemicals all over the workbenches. What an informative snapshot in time !

Viv
Click to expand...
Did you notice the distinct differences between the colour and B&W photo's of the same workshop?, in the B&W photo the window shade cloths are hanging loose (summer?) but tied back in the colour one (winter?) The counterbalanced lights are pushed higher up and are turned off in the B&W but are lowered and turned on in the colour. The soap sud lady is not there in the B&W but looks like a photo of a dog
Those photo's could be taken six months or even years apart but nothing much else changes as we see the what appears to be some ( but not all) of the same men in the same positions in both photo's.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I dont think theyre too far apart in timing as some of the men are in both photos and they don't seem to have aged much. The B&W photo has 3 pin-ups on the office partition, one looks like a calendar and she's wearing a Santa's hat ! In the B&W photo the senior gentleman in the foreground has a packet of Polo's on the work bench - maybe he was trying to give up smoking ? I notice no females at the workbenches, only one female in the partitioned section - possibly a female secretary/admin employee in her office.

I like the workbenches with their shaped section for the worker and his specific tools. These must be unique to these workshops. Are the horizontal pipes on the workbenches something like a bunsen burner ?

Viv
 
Running to the last few slides now - apologies but another view of the Rotunda taken from Manzoni gardens direction,
This view does has not have any advertisments around it, not sure which year these would have started. I always felt this area was a meeting place for "couples" as there always seemed to be man around!
Test307 1.jpg
 
Next we have another view of the workshops in the Jewellery Quarter, again I am not sure if this shot has been posted before, they all merge into one - as far as I am aware the picture is the right way round. As said previously this is a Health and safety nightmare, open jars, unlabelled bottles, tools , gas taps, there are also a selection of the mundane mugs glass cases and the newspaper left on the side. I presume this is taken in an evening or a late winter afternoon, the only light is coming form the lamps over the workspaces.
Test353a.jpg
 
The next couple of pictures are close ups of buildings in the rear of this image https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...ingham-photos-from-stevebhx.52814/post-780080
There is a heraldry overload with shields and motifs on various frames and there are also a number of statues, there are also a number of arches, posts pinacles and window frames in a variety of styles, the red brick looks good against the stone work as well as the various patterns of leaded glass in the windows
Test422.jpg
 
The second picture is to the right of the first on the image on https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...ingham-photos-from-stevebhx.52814/post-780080
There is a difference to this build with no shields or statues but points on the two towers, again there is a balustrade and the carving of the various windows is very ornamental, again the red brick shows well and perhaps didn't hold the dirt as much as the stonework. I have also just noticed the head on the top of the columns too.
Test444.jpg
 
This aerial view over Birmingham shows the redevelopment nearly complete , the left hand side of the image has the most work going on with the construction of Alpha Tower and the central Library just started and the demolition of buildings for the School of music still taking place. Apart from that the image shows a recognisable City Centre for many until the redevelopment that took place at the end of the last century.

Test433 1.jpg
 
As I am coming to the end of my slide scans ( don't worry I have 100+ more to scan and tidy plus a few more black and white images) I have saved what I think is one of the best to nearly the last. This is an iconic corner shop with jars of sweets and adverts for Typhoo tea and Cadburys in the window although you may be forgiven for thinking this is a tobacconist with every other surface cover with adverts for tobacco products. I personally feel the St. Julien sign is the best, ( if you are not aware signs like this worth £600+ these days). Also note the lamp post on the corner - there is a bike propped again the wall on the left and note the gent leaving the shop with his newspaper. Further up the road to the right are children playing on the pavement and a gathering of moms. The houses line the slope with some have entries between the doors some not and you can just make out a brick arch by the pavement. If someone can help with a location - there is no road sign on this corner and a poor image on the left hand road , but I am sure someone will tell me where F.R and R Cutler had their shop

Test451.jpg
 
SteveBhx said:
As I am coming to the end of my slide scans ( don't worry I have 100+ more to scan and tidy plus a few more black and white images) I have saved what I think is one of the best to nearly the last. This is an iconic corner shop with jars of sweets and adverts for Typhoo tea and Cadburys in the window although you may be forgiven for thinking this is a tobacconist with every other surface cover with adverts for tobacco products. I personally feel the St. Julien sign is the best, ( if you are not aware signs like this worth £600+ these days). Also note the lamp post on the corner - there is a bike propped again the wall on the left and note the gent leaving the shop with his newspaper. Further up the road to the right are children playing on the pavement and a gathering of moms. The houses line the slope with some have entries between the doors some not and you can just make out a brick arch by the pavement. If someone can help with a location - there is no road sign on this corner and a poor image on the left hand road , but I am sure someone will tell me where F.R and R Cutler had their shop

View attachment 178244
Click to expand...

If you look at the 1870s Kellys F.R,& R.Cutler is 374/376 Court Oak road , harborne, which obviously cannot be it. however , going back to 1965 they also had a shop at 34 Clement St. however that is not on a corner, but 4 buildings from a corner . however in 1962 their shop was at 54 St Edward's Road, which is on the corner with Clement st, close to the shop at 34 Clement Stno 54 is shown on the map in pink

map 1950s showing 54 King Edwards St.jpg
 
It's striking (to me) how very plain the architecture of the houses are in post #3244. No keystones, nor pillars or variation in the brickwork. In fact a definite lack of decorative ornamentation. They have deeply recessed window frames. Maybe these houses were built to a very tight budget.

F R & R Cutler had a milk licence number (I think) 1285.
 
SteveBhx said:
As I am coming to the end of my slide scans ( don't worry I have 100+ more to scan and tidy plus a few more black and white images) I have saved what I think is one of the best to nearly the last. This is an iconic corner shop with jars of sweets and adverts for Typhoo tea and Cadburys in the window although you may be forgiven for thinking this is a tobacconist with every other surface cover with adverts for tobacco products. I personally feel the St. Julien sign is the best, ( if you are not aware signs like this worth £600+ these days). Also note the lamp post on the corner - there is a bike propped again the wall on the left and note the gent leaving the shop with his newspaper. Further up the road to the right are children playing on the pavement and a gathering of moms. The houses line the slope with some have entries between the doors some not and you can just make out a brick arch by the pavement. If someone can help with a location - there is no road sign on this corner and a poor image on the left hand road , but I am sure someone will tell me where F.R and R Cutler had their shop

View attachment 178244
Click to expand...
smashing photo steve...looks like a little doggie is walking in the shop as the man is coming out..

lyn
 
SteveBhx said:
As I am coming to the end of my slide scans ( don't worry I have 100+ more to scan and tidy plus a few more black and white images) I have saved what I think is one of the best to nearly the last. This is an iconic corner shop with jars of sweets and adverts for Typhoo tea and Cadburys in the window although you may be forgiven for thinking this is a tobacconist with every other surface cover with adverts for tobacco products. I personally feel the St. Julien sign is the best, ( if you are not aware signs like this worth £600+ these days). Also note the lamp post on the corner - there is a bike propped again the wall on the left and note the gent leaving the shop with his newspaper. Further up the road to the right are children playing on the pavement and a gathering of moms. The houses line the slope with some have entries between the doors some not and you can just make out a brick arch by the pavement. If someone can help with a location - there is no road sign on this corner and a poor image on the left hand road , but I am sure someone will tell me where F.R and R Cutler had their shop

View attachment 178244
Click to expand...
As Drew Pritchard would say - "this is a belter!"
 
Astoness said:
smashing photo steve...looks like a little doggie is walking in the shop as the man is coming out..

lyn
Click to expand...

SteveBhx said:
As I am coming to the end of my slide scans ( don't worry I have 100+ more to scan and tidy plus a few more black and white images) I have saved what I think is one of the best to nearly the last. This is an iconic corner shop with jars of sweets and adverts for Typhoo tea and Cadburys in the window although you may be forgiven for thinking this is a tobacconist with every other surface cover with adverts for tobacco products. I personally feel the St. Julien sign is the best, ( if you are not aware signs like this worth £600+ these days). Also note the lamp post on the corner - there is a bike propped again the wall on the left and note the gent leaving the shop with his newspaper. Further up the road to the right are children playing on the pavement and a gathering of moms. The houses line the slope with some have entries between the doors some not and you can just make out a brick arch by the pavement. If someone can help with a location - there is no road sign on this corner and a poor image on the left hand road , but I am sure someone will tell me where F.R and R Cutler had their shop

View attachment 178244
Click to expand...
The milk licence is 1285.
I think if you look above the "Will's Flag sign" can I see a street sign? can't read it. On the left of shop is a street sign I also can not read.
I remember when I was 10ish (1962) the gas lamp outside our shop was removed. The car going up the hill is a Austin A60 I think the number plate is numbers first so it would be before 1962.
The bricked up windows was this not due to the "Window Tax ?"

Nick Phillips
 
Last edited:
If anyone you know wants to spend a pleasant afternoon reminiscing about mid-20th century Birmingham, point them in the direction of this thread. What a wealth of photos and information in its 162 pages! Thank you (again) Steve and to all those contributing information and memories.

Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
If anyone you know wants to spend a pleasant afternoon reminiscing about mid-20th century Birmingham, point them in the direction of this thread. What a wealth of photos and information in its 162 pages! Thank you (again) Steve and to all those contributing information and memories.

Viv.
Click to expand...
Vivienne, One thing I love about this site you can ask the most impossible question that no one will know the answer and from the corner of someone's memory comes the answer.

"You can't learn while you are talking you need to listen"

Nick Phillips
 
Last edited:
Nick Phillips said:
Vivienne, One thing I love about this sight you can ask the most impossible question that no one will know the answer and from the corner of someone's memory comes the answer.

"You can't learn while you are talking you need to listen"

Nick Phillips
Click to expand...
I have often said that the photos mean nothing if it was not information and comments that members add to complete the "picture" so to speak. Thanks to everyone for their contributions and for those who just come to view.
 
Last edited:
Brookfields Lad said:
An update.

I have found the following info that confirms that this is the building in the original posting.
A company called 'Hydrapower Dynamics Ltd' purchased the building in 1996 (still trading).
The original picture was taken in 1958 when the owners were 'John R Lee' decorator's merchants.
The site was originally the 'St Mark's Church and School'.
Click to expand...
You are quite correct. This building was acquired by Hydrapower Dynamics Limited in 1996. It was refurbished and we moved into the building in 1997. Subsequently, we bought the car park from the City Council and later the building which fronts Summer Row which was a disability centre owned by Birmingham City Council. We also purchased land behind the building. Fronting St Marks Street which was accessed from King Edwards Road and built an extension to the factory to accommodate a new tube bending facility. I was Managing Director of Hydrapower Dynamics Limited from 1983 and then Chairman until retirement in 2006. Hydrapower Dynamics Limited manufactures high pressure hoses, tubes, aircraft test equipment and represents a major swaging machine manufacturer based in Finland. It is now part of a large American corporation.
The only other information I know about the building is that before it was occupied by John R Lee, it was a paint warehouse and has very thick solid walls, presumably for preventing the spread of fire. It may have been connected to Dockers Paints who became PPG in Ladywood.
 
SteveBhx said:
Okay I give up I recognise the location but the direction of the cars is throwing me!! Is that City Arcade to the right which makes it Union Street? (Ignore me just seen the street sign above Englands) Totally unrecognisable apart for the Arcade, traffic everywhere, proper shops, and a newspaper kiosk - I have mentioned before the posh ones that kept it all dry.
Two Ford cars Escort first then a Zephyr behind it. looks like a lot more people when you cram them on the pavement!!

View attachment 169568
Click to expand...
My Mom worked in the England's shop in the Seventies, it changed to Lennards later on. I'm sure the City Arcade was derelict and boarded up mid Seventies.
 
SteveBhx said:
This is 25- 27 Formans Road in 1975, all a man requires chip shop and bookies and a couple of classic cars. Plenty of changes going on if you look about sign height. Some brickwork painted, some windows replaced and is Joe Corals two shops knocked into one? The lady in the fish and chip shop seems to be taking great interest in the photographer!
Note also the racehorse prints in the window of the Turf Accountants - sounds much better !

View attachment 158907
Click to expand...
mikejee said:
In the 1973 Kellys no 25 was Bill Cutler, turf accountant, and 27 was F. Holder, butcher. I guess when Corals took over they decided to expand
Click to expand...
 
SteveBhx said:
This is 25- 27 Formans Road in 1975, all a man requires chip shop and bookies and a couple of classic cars. Plenty of changes going on if you look about sign height. Some brickwork painted, some windows replaced and is Joe Corals two shops knocked into one? The lady in the fish and chip shop seems to be taking great interest in the photographer!
Note also the racehorse prints in the window of the Turf Accountants - sounds much better !

View attachment 158907
Click to expand...
Great phot, I grew up in the shop to the left. It was Barbara’s wool shop then. Not sure if that is Thegla that you can see in the window of the fish and chip shop. They were a lovely family
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top