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Soho Foundry

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Where did you obtain these very interesting photos.having worked at Soho for 46 years I have never seen these before
Have you any more gems?
J H

I came across the pictures in “The Sphere” magazine on the National Archives online Newspaper site, just searching for anything to do with Birmingham. It was under the title “How big cables are tested” and is probably a one off.

I will have a search to see if i can find any more.

The small section at the start of the post is added material
 
its good to see that soho foundry is one of the 4 buldings on the list to save



 
Hello, I have just found this thread, I saw someone mentioning Charles Farrington, I think he was my moms uncle by marriage, his brother was Harry Farrington, married to my grandads sister. My grandad was also a long serving Avery employee by the name of Bill Tyler, he passed away in 94 and always had a large retirement certificate from Averys on the wall.
 
I don't know if this is the best place to post this, it's more Avery related than specific to Soho Foundry. It's the Avery Magazine for May/June 1974 with a piece about the 1750 scale. I was a student apprentice there from 1973-1975, I kept the magazine because I worked in many of the departments that contributed to the 1750, from fabrication of the aluminium case to the paint shop to V1 (electronics).

It's too big to upload here, so I have put it here: https://cw50b.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/avery-magazine-may-jun-1974.pdf
 
This does belong here: Whilst searching for the fabled tunnel to Matthew Boulton's house, I was allowed access to the vaults below the Foundry & managed to take a few photographs. I was told that during WW2 the 'firewalls' in P1 were built for the handling of high explosives. The sign on the left of P1 reads "it is a LEGAL OFFENCE for ANYONE EXCEPT WARDEN ... unreadable ... TO TOUCH THIS SWITCH". Note also the chalked comment above the entrance.

Of course, no tunnel to Soho House was found!

P1.jpgP2.jpgP3.jpgP4.jpg
 
Enjoyed reading the 'Avery newsletter ' I did my apprenticeship there, starting in 1978, so this was just a bit before me! What a difference from employers today!
Are any more of these available to view?
 
its good to see that soho foundry is one of the 4 buldings on the list to save



That is really very good work that group is doing for historic preservation!
 
Enjoyed reading the 'Avery newsletter ' I did my apprenticeship there, starting in 1978, so this was just a bit before me! What a difference from employers today!
Are any more of these available to view?
Sorry Elmo, this was the only issue I have.
 
This does belong here: Whilst searching for the fabled tunnel to Matthew Boulton's house, I was allowed access to the vaults below the Foundry & managed to take a few photographs. I was told that during WW2 the 'firewalls' in P1 were built for the handling of high explosives. The sign on the left of P1 reads "it is a LEGAL OFFENCE for ANYONE EXCEPT WARDEN ... unreadable ... TO TOUCH THIS SWITCH". Note also the chalked comment above the entrance.

Of course, no tunnel to Soho House was found!

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fantastic photos biscayne...what year did you take them...

lyn
 
fantastic photos biscayne...what year did you take them...

lyn
Hi Lyn, IIRC it was 1975. As part of my HND at Birmingham Polytechnic we were required to do 'Liberal Studies' (to this day I still don't know what that meant), so a group of like minded spelunkers thought we would do a project on 'Underground Birmingham', a subject with very little scope in reality. I also have some photos taken in the tunnel that lead from Snow Hill Station to Moor Street Station. I will scan them and post them on the appropriate thread.
Steve
 
Hi Lyn, IIRC it was 1975. As part of my HND at Birmingham Polytechnic we were required to do 'Liberal Studies' (to this day I still don't know what that meant), so a group of like minded spelunkers thought we would do a project on 'Underground Birmingham', a subject with very little scope in reality. I also have some photos taken in the tunnel that lead from Snow Hill Station to Moor Street Station. I will scan them and post them on the appropriate thread.
Steve
look forward to seeing those photos steve

lyn
 
Hi Lyn, IIRC it was 1975. As part of my HND at Birmingham Polytechnic we were required to do 'Liberal Studies' (to this day I still don't know what that meant), so a group of like minded spelunkers thought we would do a project on 'Underground Birmingham', a subject with very little scope in reality. I also have some photos taken in the tunnel that lead from Snow Hill Station to Moor Street Station. I will scan them and post them on the appropriate thread.
Steve
Steve, I went through the same thing “liberal studies” a little before your time in the US. It was/is supposed to make sure that us Engineering types are aware you the rest of the world around. What I never understood was why liberal arts and political science majors never had to take engineering or technical courses :). Other than my father in law who was a navel architect everyone in our family is non technical & it shows :cool:.
 
Steve, I went through the same thing “liberal studies” a little before your time in the US. It was/is supposed to make sure that us Engineering types are aware you the rest of the world around. What I never understood was why liberal arts and political science majors never had to take engineering or technical courses :). Other than my father in law who was a navel architect everyone in our family is non technical & it shows :cool:.
 
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