I'm researching an essay on Sir Oliver Edward {Edit - Edwin] Simmonds who served as an MP for Birmingham's Duddeston ward from 1931 through to 1945. A fascinating bloke who "reinvented" himself many times. He served as a fighter pilot in World War One, then trained as an engineer and did pioneering research on high-speed flight. He joined Supermarine and his design input helped win the Schneider trophy. Then he started up his own company to build aircraft and had modest success before it was combined with SARO company. As an inventor and entrepreneur, he built up this world-spanning "Simmonds Aerocessories". - It was once said that every aircraft flying in the West during the 1950s and 60s contained parts made by the Simmonds group. Any engineers out there will be familiar with the "Simmonds Nut" used as a locking nut (called a "Nylar" nut in the USA and increasingly here). After WW2, he sold his business interests and set himself up in the Bahamas. I think I've trawled everything easily found on the internet about him. I wondered if there was anyone out there who could add anything about his time as a MP for Duddeston, or his association with the Accles and Shelvoke company of Birmingham?
Last edited:
