Hi Folks, my home during the 50s was in Heaton St, the Palladium, of course being my local cinema - if you, like me, went to many a Saturday Matinee there you will probably remember the small factory opposite (on the junction, I thought, with South Road but on checking an old map it appears to be Claremont Road) and how tempting it was to run across its roof - so easily accessed by going up the hill towards Handsworth a little, it was then an easy step onto the roof. Anyway the factory was occupied by a company called Messer Bros. - 3 bothers who were skilled toolmakers for the motor and other trades, my mother was employed as a general workshop assistant there and she remained with them for many years including the relocation of the enterprise to an industrial estate on the College Road, Gt Barr, opposite the Lucas Sports Fields in the 60s.
I remember asking my mother if she could get a dovetail gauge made for my woodwork class, the teacher at Harry Lucas School, Mr Flemming, had one made of wood, when I showed him my Rolls-Royce version made by a skilled toolmaker in steel he was green with envy!
(Did it help me to get a good CSE Woodwork Grade? - The less said about that the better!)
Peg.