At the time of writing, a total number of 1,300 men and girls are employed, the factory working 24 hours a day in three 8 hour shifts.

The factory is chiefly engaged in the manufacture of pneumatic tyres and tubes for motor cars and motorcycles, and giant pneumatic tyres and tubes for both passenger and goods transport vehicles.

In this connection it is worthy of note that Goodyear introduced and pioneered the giant pneumatic tyre in Great Britain, which type of tyre has played such an outstanding part in the development and progress of passenger transportation by bus and coach in this country.

The ideal of Goodyear quality is kept prominently before the attention of all employees by means of printed notices "Protect our Good Name" posted in all the shops and offices throughout the Goodyear plant.

Social and sports activities and other forms of welfare work are recognised as being particularly conducive to the maintenance of friendly relations and co-operation between all sections of employees and the management, and these activities are consequently given every possible encouragement.

Guy Motors Limited, Fallings Park, Wolverhampton

With a factory equipped with the latest and best that scientific works management can provide, covering 12 acres and employing 1,200 men, producing a range of commercial motor vehicles meeting practically every road transport need, from 25cwt. light express delivery vans and 20 seater buses and coaches to 7 ton six-wheeled goods vehicles and 72 seater six-wheeled double deck buses, the well-known Fallings Park firm of Guy Motors Limited has grown to its present size and importance from quite small beginnings.

In March, 1915, a start was made at Fallings Park with a factory covering approximately half an acre employing about fifty men, producing one model only, a 30/40 cwt. commercial motor vehicle chassis. Towards the end of 1916 the factory came under the control of the Ministry of Munitions, and commenced the manufacture of engines for tanks and lorries for the Government, and at the end of 1917 the output was fifty per week. Depth charges to cope with the submarine menace were also manufactured, the output being two hundred per week. In 1917 the company built a small number of experimental aeroplane engines of the "wasp" type. In the following year they built the first experimental "dragon fly" aero engine in a world record time of twenty four days. As a result the Government placed a large contract with the company for aero engines, which were in course of production when the armistice came. 1919 saw the reorganisation of the factory to a peace time basis for the manufacture of commercial motor vehicles.

We will pass over the terrible slump period which succeeded the hectic and artificial boom following the armistice, by saying that the company, like all the other British commercial motor vehicle manufacturers, had a very hard time, with a market flooded with re-conditioned war-worn vehicles, and it was only the ingenuity and resource of a capable management that enabled the company to pull through.

Progress and expansion has since been rapid. About two years ago the company introduced the rigid six-wheeled motor vehicle, which like all innovations, had the usual prejudice to overcome.

That the three-axle vehicle was sound in principle, giving safety, smoothness of running and economy on a scale hitherto impossible with the conventional four-wheeled method, has been proved by the large number of GUY six-wheelers, both goods and passengers, now to be found in service all over the British Isles, not to mention the colonies and other distant parts of the world.

The firm's well-known slogan "Ten years in advance of the times" is no idle boast, as they have always been distinguished for their enterprise in reaching forth for the best.

Cannon Iron Foundries Limited, Deepfields, Coseley

This well-known firm has already entered its second century's existence, having been founded by Mr. Edward Sheldon in 1826, and it is interesting to note that the present directorate are direct descendants of that gentleman.

The well-equipped works cover an area of twenty acres, and further extensions are in progress. Situated on either side of the L.M. and S. Railway, Birmingham to Wolverhampton line, adjacent to the Deepfields goods and passenger stations, and also served by the Birmingham Canal, there is every facility for the prompt despatch of goods to any part of the country. The firm's fleet of motor lorries enables deliveries over a wide area to be expeditiously made, and the Birmingham to Wolverhampton new trunk road runs within a quarter of a mile of the works.

For several years the firm has specialised in gas stoves for cooking and heating, including gas cookers and grillers, gas fires, gas radiators, gas washing boilers, gas irons, etc., all so essential to the up-to-date labour-saving home.

Their latest high-grade cookers with enamelled exteriors and interiors meet the most exacting demands of modern housewives for efficiency, hygiene, and convenience.

Adolphe Crosbie & Company Limited, Walsall Street, Wolverhampton

Prominent among Wolverhampton firms stands the name of Messrs, Adolphe Crosbie & Company, of Wolverhampton, which has been making marine paints and compositions for many years, which by sheer merit, have gained a world-wide reputation. All of this firm's products are marketed under the brand name of Wulfruna, and the entire range covers practically every type of paint or protective material in use, so that obviously, mention can only be made here of a few outstanding items.

In catering for the shipping industry, Messrs. Adolphe Crosbie and Company produce anti-corrosive composition, anti-fouling composition, boot-topping, and odourless white enamel for holds, etc., finest white and coloured enamels for cabins, etc., and all classes of varnishes and oxide paints for ship's use.

The anti-corrosive composition is a first-class material for preventing corrosion; it dries quickly, and it can be supplied in three colours - dark red, chocolate and purple brown, and is used by many of the leading shipping companies.

The problem of boiler incrustation is one that has to be dealt with in almost every branch of industry, and for this reason Messrs, Crosbie produce a highly efficient boiler composition, which is so successful in the prevention of scale and incrustation that it is recommended by boiler insurance companies, engineers of high standing, water companies, and steam users in every branch of trade, while Messrs. Adolphe Crosbie & Company have a list of upwards of three thousand firms in all trades who are constant users of this composition.

Other manufactures of this Company include Crosbie's pure quality ready mixed paints, which are guaranteed to be manufactured from pure pigment, genuine linseed oil, and the correct proportions of driers and turps. These paints have an exceptional covering capacity, a super-durable glossy finish, and are specially prepared to withstand the strain of severe climatic conditions; at the same time, they are most suitable for inside decorations.

Mander Brothers Limited, varnish and paint manufacturers, Wolverhampton

Brief Survey covering one hundred and thirty seven years – 1792-1929.

The firm of Mander Brothers, Limited., printing ink, colour and varnish manufacturers, Wolverhampton was founded in 1792 by Benjamin Mander, who was the great-great-grandfather of the four present junior directors and great-grandfather of Sir Charles Mander, Bart., the head of the firm. The business, originally that of Japanner and tin plate worker, and since 1803 as varnish maker, is carried on at the same spot, though on a greatly extended scale, as 137 years ago, and during all that period the partners and directors have always been Manders and direct descendants of the founder. Probably few other firms can show a similar record of continuity, and as the four juniors have each one son, the succession is likely to be maintained.

In addition to the St. John Street Works, where printing ink, varnish, paint and enamels are made, there are the Townwell Works nearby, engaged in the production of dry colours. At a distance of about 2½ miles are the Wednesfield Works, conveniently situated on the canal and railway, where the manufacture of printing ink is carried on. Large new works are now being developed at Heath Town, where a tin can making factory and a paint and enamel works have been laid out on the most up-to-date lines, and are now in operation.

From small beginnings, the firm has obtained a leading position in every part of the world for its well-known products. As the business grew and developed, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the personal relationship between employer and employee which had been traditional; and with a view to re-establishing this, a welfare scheme was started in 1920, which has made remarkable and rapid progress, showing the wealth of goodwill which is available where human beings are associated together in business, if proper steps are taken to evolve it.

The welfare executive committee consists of the directors and twelve representatives from the various departments, with five co-opted members, and deals with many different aspects of entertainment, recreation and education.

There are in all twenty sub-committees covering the following subjects - finance, journal, bowling, entertainments, bagatelle, holiday fund, chess, gardening, cricket, tennis, football, canteen, hockey, coal club, library, dramatic, swimming, dressmaking, catering and saving certificates.

There is a recreation ground covering over five acres, comprising at present, football, hockey and cricket grounds, two bowling greens, two hard and two grass tennis courts and a pavilion, where whist drives, dances and concerts are held. There is also a canteen in a separate building.

In all cases the capital charges of playing fields, etc. are borne by the firm, and the maintenance and running expenses are borne by the employees through weekly contributions and profits from various entertainments.

There is also in operation a contributory pensions scheme. Each workman contributes one shilling a week, and on reaching the age of 65 becomes entitled to a pension of 35/- a week for life.

Besides this, £10,000 of preference shares have been set on one side for the workpeople, and the holders of these shares are entitled to a fixed dividend of 7% and a proportion of the profits.

Chubb & Son's Lock & Safe Company Limited, Railway Street, Wolverhampton
Also Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton and 128, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4

Jeremiah Chubb patented his first lock, known as the Chubb Detector Lock, on February 3rd, 1818. Subsequent improvements were devised and patented in 1824 by Charles, brother of the original inventor, and, with certain modifications, the principle introduced by Charles Chubb survives today. The number of patents granted to Chubbs since 1824 is very large, many of the improvements being of considerable technical interest.

The first Chubb locks were made in a small workshop in Portsea, Hampshire, but their manufacture was quickly transferred to the great lock making centre of Wolverhampton. Charles Chubb soon disposed of his hardware business at Portsea, and moved to 57, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, E.C. confining his trade there to the selling of his patent locks.

Safes, strong rooms, and safe deposits were subsequently added, and since the removal to 128, Queen Victoria Street, London, in 1877, this latter branch of the business has grown to large dimensions.

In 1908, Chubb's Safe Works situated in the south of London were sold, as at that time the desirability of concentrating all manufacturing operations under central control became increasingly apparent, and in addition to extensions for safe making being provided at the large Wolverhampton Lock Works, new and extensive buildings for the manufacture of safes, strong room doors, treasuries, strong rooms and safe deposits, were erected on a ten-acre site at Wednesfield Road, near the lock works.

Various considerations influenced the concentration of Chubb's works at Wolverhampton. In addition to being a great centre of the hardware and metal trades, it offered better and healthier housing facilities for the workers, while rents and rates were considerably lower than in London, a fact which weighed favourably with both employers and employed.

The wisdom of making Wolverhampton the manufacturing headquarters of the company has since been amply proved, whilst the products of The House of Chubb have become famous throughout the world.