| Springs
There were once more than 30 spring manufacturers in
West Bromwich, selling products that were well known
throughout much of the world. The demand for springs
rapidly increased with the development of the
motorcar, aeronautics, wireless, electricity and engineering.
The
variety of springs manufactured in the town is remarkable, and the
range covered an astonishing number of uses from single springs for heavy
rolling stock, weighing as much as five hundredweight each,
to
others, so
minute that they were handled only by delicate
instruments.
Hardened and tempered springs and springs made from
the best hard drawn steel, phosphor bronze and brass
were turned out in great variety and numbers. Modern
upholstery made large demands upon the industry,
along with the manufacture of spring seats and
squabs for the motor and furniture trades, spring
interiors for theatre seats, three-piece suites,
etc., along with cone springs
for the mattress trade and tension springs.
Special springs were made to customers'
specification from drawings or patterns and the local
spring makers could design new kinds of springs to suit any particular
innovation.
The Churchfields Spring Company Limited.
"One, One Dozen or a Million" was the eloquent
slogan of the Churchfields Spring Company, spring and
spring washer manufacturers, Bank Street, Hall End,
West Bromwich. The vast business of the
firm consisted of the mass production of springs and spring
washers, pressings and wire work, of every description.
Vast quantities of every type of
spring for use in the electrical and mechanical trades
were produced.
The Crown Spring Company Limited.
The Crown Spring Company Limited., of Littleton Street,
was
associated with the production of helical and volute
springs for heavy industries, rolling mills, pipe
supports and valves etc. Other products included valve springs to fine loading limits, diesel
engine valve springs from specially prepared materials,
upholsterers' springs for furniture and tension
springs for the mattress trade.
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An advert from the
mid 1950s. |
The
Dart Spring Company Limited.
The company was founded in 1895, when the manufacture of springs took place in a stable in Overend
Street, where the later factory was built. In
the early days, both partners were engaged in
the manufacture of the springs, from the taking of
orders through to the delivery. Due to their hard work
and enterprise the
factory grew very rapidly. By 1914 the Dart Spring
Company was recognised as one of the most important and
enterprising spring firms in the country.
Unfortunately, both founders, Mr. Griffin and Mr.
Wilson, passed away in 1938, and the management was
taken over by their sons, Mr. G. A. Griffin and Mr. D.
W. J. Wilson, as Joint Managing Directors, under whose
guidance the company has been very successful. A new
three-storey factory was built and a fourth storey was
later added.
By the end of March, 1956, the
company employed over 700 workers. A new Canteen and Social Club
was added, with a bar and billiards tables. Customers
included most of the main electrical, car, and
aircraft manufacturers in the country.
The firm survived until the 3rd February, 1999 when it
went into liquidation.
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