What records exist for historic businesses in Birmingham?

[TonyQ]

I'm interested in a couple of Printing businesses in Birmingham in the early 20th century. What records might I find about ownership, for example, and where might they be, please? I only know of trade directories at present t, and they say very little.

 

[pjmburns]

You could try a newspaper search to see if it yields any information.
If you post the names of the companies we can help in a search

 

[TonyQ]

Newspaper searches have so far revealed little. Ah well, that's the joy of family and local history! I feel a visit to Birmingham is needed soon...

 

[Pedrocut]

For business the first port of call would be Grace’s Guide. What businesses were you interested in ?

 

[pjmburns]

For business the first port of call would be Grace’s Guide. What businesses were you interested in ?

post #1 says "printing"

 

[Pedrocut]

With the reference to two printing businesses, amongst possibly many, I assume there may be more info as to their name ?

 

[TonyQ]

I hadn't come across Grace's Guide before - it's a mine of information. Thanks for the pointer to that. Sadly, neither of the two businesses seems to be listed there online. [Ne (in 1921) is "Green A Welbourne, Legg St, Birmingham" - maybe Green & Welbourne, and clearly Legge St - and the other (in the late 1930s) is Sellers Printing Services, 17 Spiceal St, Birmingham.

 

[Pedrocut]

Green & Wellburn at Legge Street exist in the 1915 Kelly’s.

May also be Allday Green & Wellburn…..taken over in 1979 by Sunderland Print of Halesowen. (Legal and security printers)

 

[Pedrocut]

1940 Kelly’s show Sellers’ Printing Service at 17 Spiceal Street.

What do you actually want to know about these firms ?

 

[TonyQ]

1940 Kelly’s show Sellers’ Printing Service at 17 Spiceal Street.

What do you actually want to know about these firms ?

I also have a newspaper advert from them in 1938. Was it a small company? Who were the directors or partners (rumour has it there were only two)? When was the business started?

 

[Astoness]

1940 Kelly’s show Sellers’ Printing Service at 17 Spiceal Street.

What do you actually want to know about these firms ?

newspaper snippet dated 1924 for no 17 and according to the 1950s map the bulding of no 17 was still there

lyn

 

[Pedrocut]

The 1940 Kelly’s shows 17 Spiceal Street as Alston Buildings with 11 business occupants, including Sellers’.

 

[TonyQ]

The 1940 Kelly’s shows 17 Spiceal Street as Alston Buildings with 11 business occupants, including Sellers’.

Interesting. The building appears to have been damaged by a bomb during WWII and family rumour is that the owners got compensation... but no proof or detail is known.

 

[Pedrocut]

Around 1964 there was a Green Wellburn ltd in Cuckoo Road.

 

[MWS]

There is mention of a fire at Messrs Green & Wellburn printers Legge St in the Bham Daily Post 7 Jul 1925.

 

[Astoness]

Interesting. The building appears to have been damaged by a bomb during WWII and family rumour is that the owners got compensation... but no proof or detail is known.

its quite likely no 17 was damaged by a bomb blast as st martins church was right opposite and the church was heavily damaged...you may be aware of this useful map site but if not click on the link below which shows the church and no 17..then move the blue dot to the left the map will fade out and show you what is there now..hope this helps

lyn

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

 

[pjmburns]

There does seem to be a change of footprint between 1937


and 1951

 

[pjmburns]

I also have a newspaper advert from them in 1938. Was it a small company? Who were the directors or partners (rumour has it there were only two)? When was the business started?

1940 Kelly's

 

[pjmburns]

I assume you have looked here about possible compensation

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1035

 

[pjmburns]

They aren't in 1933 directory but 1936 has this entry

 

[BrummieGeoff]

Interesting. The building appears to have been damaged by a bomb during WWII and family rumour is that the owners got compensation... but no proof or detail is known.

Kelly's 1939 Directory lists the following Spiceal Street addresses in this row :
15: Smarts Butchers
17: Sellers Printing Service in shared "Alston Buildings"
17A: Timpson Shoes
18: Morton Shoes
19-20: Jones Outfitter
21: Brown Shoes
The first photo is post WW2 and shows that the properties at 15 and 17A survived the bombing, but 18, 19-20 and 21 were severely damaged.
There is a doorway between the Smarts and Timpson shopfronts that might provide access to Alston Buildings??
The second photo is from 1940 and shows the damaged properties at 19-20 and 21.
If 17:"Alston Buildings" is above 17A:Timpson's, it appears to have survived .... but may well have been damaged.