Vickers Cartridge Works - WW1

[gonenorth]

Hello Everyone,

I have attached a photo of the staff at Vickers Limited, cartridge works, 62-66 Weaman St (between Bath St and Steelhouse Lane). The photo was taken during or shortly after the First World War. My husband's grandfather - Samuel Colman - was an engineer there and is seen holding the camera at the front (probably his last day as he returned to Australia after the war). Coincidently, my grandfather (who was also an engineer in Birmingham) is in the back row of the photo - second from the left. His name was William Scaysbrook and he worked at Hollings & Guest Hydrolic Engineers in Thimble Mill Lane before and after the War. Vickers Cartridge Works seems to have been set up or used specifically for the war effort. My questions are ... Does anybody know anything about the company and where I could obtain a staff list and does anybody else recognise any of the workers
Photo unfortunately lost

 

[sylviasayers]

How lucky you are to have such a wonderful photo including both your grandfather and your husbands grandfather. I wonder what odds bookies would place on that happening.

 

[gonenorth]

It certainly is extraordinary that they were both engineers and both happened to be there during WW1. William Scaysbrook was a Birmingham lad but Samuel Colman was visiting from Australia and just in town for the war years. My husband and I met 60-odd years later in Australia and only discovered the Vickers connection a few years ago. The wonderful thing was then to discover the photo that confirms they were both there together. As you say, the odds on that happening would be very long indeed.

 

[lencops]

gonenorth, The Government set up many ammunition factories all over GB WW1, i found no Vickers cartridge works in Brum the nearest to it i think was in Eyre St where they made artiliery shells, all the factories were at the end of the war absorbed into Nobel Inds.

 

[boomy]

Hello Everyone,

I have attached a photo of the staff at Vickers Limited, cartridge works, 62-66 Weaman St (between Bath St and Steelhouse Lane). The photo was taken during or shortly after the First World War. My husband's grandfather - Samuel Colman - was an engineer there and is seen holding the camera at the front (probably his last day as he returned to Australia after the war). Coincidently, my grandfather (who was also an engineer in Birmingham) is in the back row of the photo - second from the left. His name was William Scaysbrook and he worked at Hollings & Guest Hydrolic Engineers in Thimble Mill Lane before and after the War. Vickers Cartridge Works seems to have been set up or used specifically for the war effort. My questions are ... Does anybody know anything about the company and where I could obtain a staff list and does anybody else recognise any of the workers

A few years too late; but this works in Weaman Street was actually part of the Electric & Ordnance Accessories Co. Ltd., owned by Vickers and their main works was in Cheston Road, Aston. The Cheston Road works later became the factory where Timken bearings were produced, and then BLIC magnetos.
Boomy

 

[CyrilG]

Any suggestions as to how to trace employee listings during WW1 at Weaman Street and/ or Cheston Road??

 

[Pedrocut]

A few years too late; but this works in Weaman Street was actually part of the Electric & Ordnance Accessories Co. Ltd., owned by Vickers and their main works was in Cheston Road, Aston. The Cheston Road works later became the factory where Timken bearings were produced, and then BLIC magnetos.
Boomy