Anyone worked at Firth Browns?

Hi Brian,

 

Ignore my post 635, I was certainly confused that day.

 

The side and back of the Victoria Hotel can be seen on this pic snapped on Norroy Street on 18 April '66. It's beyond the Nelson Hotel, which is right of pic, then past Greystock Street where the street light can be seen at the junction, then there the Vic is further along, at the junction of Savile Street East. Firth Brown Head Offices are facing us across that street in the distance with 36 gate being just out of shot to the right.

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s18375&prevUrl=

 

Peter.

----------------------

Hi Peter, Thanks for the picture i bet plenty of men from Seimans melting

shop did lots of drinking in both Victoria and Lord Nelson, i rememer when

i worked in the hammer shop men were always taking there drinking

cans to the pub for a re-fill. Good clear pic of the pub black/white on

Sheffield pics. Yours Brian.

----------------------

Hi Peter, Thanks for the picture i bet plenty of men from Seimans melting

shop did lots of drinking in both Victoria and Lord Nelson, i rememer when

i worked in the hammer shop men were always taking there drinking

cans to the pub for a re-fill. Good clear pic of the pub black/white on

Sheffield pics. Yours Brian.

Hi Brian,

I think that during my time at FB, between 1959 and 1966, men working with molten steel were still allowed to drink plenty of beer at work due to the hot conditions . Your comments about men from Siemens shop frequenting the Victoria and Nelson have jogged my memory. I recall one particular day in 1961 when I was 17 and was crossing Savile Street East walking towards Norroy Street from 36 gate to pick my Alpino scooter up (see pic below) from where it was parked under the railway arches on what is now Fred Mulley Road, (that part previously Corby Street), I saw a group of men with flat caps and sweat scarves also crossing the street but from the direction of Siemens shop and walking in the general direction of the Victoria and Nelson. Funny what sticks so clearly in my mind from all those years ago .

Pic of Princess Street in the foreground about to disappear under railway bridge, Norroy Street on right (where I would walk to from the opposite end at Savile Street East) and Corby Street ahead, with entrance through the brick wall on left to arches and where my scooter was parked, past the lamp post and a few yards along......

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;a01375&prevUrl=

Pic of me and my Alpino in 1961.....

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh629/peterlaurence/MyAlpino_zps098db4e2.jpg

Peter.

Hi Brian,

 

I think that during my time at FB, between 1959 and 1966, men working with molten steel were still allowed to drink plenty of beer at work due to the hot conditions . Your comments about men from Siemens shop frequenting the Victoria and Nelson have jogged my memory. I recall one particular day in 1961 when I was 17 and was crossing Savile Street East walking towards Norroy Street from 36 gate to pick my Alpino scooter up (see pic below) from where it was parked under the railway arches on what is now Fred Mulley Road, (that part previously Corby Street), I saw a group of men with flat caps and sweat scarves also crossing the street but from the direction of Siemens shop and walking in the general direction of the Victoria and Nelson. Funny what sticks so clearly in my mind from all those years ago .

 

Pic of Princess Street in the foreground about to disappear under railway bridge, Norroy Street on right (where I would walk to from the opposite end at Savile Street East) and Corby Street ahead, with entrance through the brick wall on left to arches and where my scooter was parked, past the lamp post and a few yards along......

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;a01375&prevUrl=

 

Pic of me and my Alpino in 1961.....

 

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh629/peterlaurence/MyAlpino_zps098db4e2.jpg

 

Peter.

------------------

Hi Peter, Yes i remember all round that area of your pics and thanks

for putting them on.

I also remember the men going to the pubs in between shifts i believe

it was a concession the had from manager. Brian

Just wondering if anyone remembered Bill Peatfield who went to Central Tech until 1946. He then did his apprenticeship at Davy United followed by National Service in Malaya. He worked at several firms including Firth Browns before becoming an instructor at the Rehabilitation Centre at Handsworth. Bill sadly died recently and we were trying to trace people who knew him.

Hi Brian and All,

Here's a link to a previous post.

It's a bit fiddly but if you can pause this 1948 film at 1 minute 12 seconds, the hotel I mention can be seen at the junction of Saville Street East and Norroy Street. It's the Victoria which we have discussed in recent posts. It's just past the big clock on the opposite side of Saville Street. I couldn't remember the name at the time of my previous post. The big advertisement above the doorway says 'Liquor and Ales'. The brand name is too small to make out even when I use the zoom facility on my computer.

https://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11641916&postcount=595

Peter.

---------- Post added 07-09-2017 at 11:13 ----------

Just wondering if anyone remembered Bill Peatfield who went to Central Tech until 1946. He then did his apprenticeship at Davy United followed by National Service in Malaya. He worked at several firms including Firth Browns before becoming an instructor at the Rehabilitation Centre at Handsworth. Bill sadly died recently and we were trying to trace people who knew him.

Hi KathS,

Sorry I can't help and I hope someone responds with the information you are seeking.

Firth Browns was a massive place with several thousand employees. Time has moved on and sadly only a few people respond to this thread now.

All the best, Peter.

Hi brian1941 and All,

Below are pics of an old envelope which I have recently aquired for my personal collection of Firth Brown memorabilia. It would have been franked in the post room at Firth Browns Head office on Savile Street East on 15 Feb 1954.

In the early '60s I used to dictate letters when I worked in Forgings Sales office, which was near to the post room.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qCzN6kcTyaVuhOwf2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qIxLtrz0VJE2Atgk2

I'll add to this post later as I'm just coming to grips with Google pics

Meanwhile, here are two links to Picture Sheffield showing the Head Offices snapped on 5 Aug 2005, as they are now, the President Buildings office park...

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;c01487&prevUrl=

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;c01484&prevUrl=

Peter.

Hi brian1941 and All,

 

Below are pics of an old envelope which I have recently aquired for my personal collection of Firth Brown memorabilia. It would have been franked in the post room at Firth Browns Head office on Savile Street East on 15 Feb 1954.

In the early '60s I used to dictate letters when I worked in Forgings Sales office, which was near to the post room.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/omjyfBD1lmdWTDMs2

 

I'll add to this post later as I'm just coming to grips with Google pics

Meanwhile, here are two links to Picture Sheffield showing the Head Offices snapped on 5 Aug 2005, as they are now, the President Buildings office park...

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;c01487&prevUrl=

 

http://picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;c01484&prevUrl=

 

Peter.

---------------------

Hi Peter, Thats an old letter and what year would that stamp mark be.

Thank for pictures of them good old days, Brian

---------------------

Hi Peter, Thats an old letter and what year would that stamp mark be.

Thank for pictures of them good old days, Brian

Hi Brian,

The stamp mark in the middle of the three shows a date of 15 Feb 1954. It has the day and year in Arabic numerals but the month (middle one) in Roman.

To add to my post number 643 and in particular to the buildings shown on Picture Sheffield, here are the same buildings which I snapped in 1990. Click on each pic to enlarge....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1On7n14bTCcVSksc2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KoJTh21Gopzl2cwx1

Here's a pic I snapped a few months ago of the rear of the President Buildings, behind Savile Street East. My car is standing on the spot where there was another building a few metres across a yard, accessed through 36 gate (the dark area to the left of the tree). I snapped the pic on a Sunday, hence no other cars. I first started work aged 15 in Feb 1959 at Firth Browns in the Progress and Planning Dept which was in that building, now long demolished.

Just out of sight in the block on the pic, at a right angle, is a doorway to a corridor. This led to the post room where the envelope mentioned was franked by the ladies there just 5 years before I began work across the yard!

This takes me right back to those times.

Click on the pic to enlarge....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UAGoYlC4DLMfKns22

Peter.

Hi all,

I recently acquired, shown below, a further two items to add to my small personal collection of Firth Brown memorabilia. The box would have contained ground thread taps, presumably in an insert that has since disappeared over the years. The tap shown was acquired separately and may not have been the same size as originally in the box.

The items are marked Firth Brown and NOT marked Firth Brown TOOLS. I'm assuming that they would not have been marketed but used at Atlas works as shown on the box.

Does anyone know which departments, if this is the case??

It's good to handle some good old FB items.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CNnSrdbHcvwLYV8R2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1l3PS3l4QHQoWoJT2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rlI70xsB23fmbEyi1

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QzIPop72fYhHlaMU2

Peter.

Hi all,

 

I recently acquired, shown below, a further two items to add to my small personal collection of Firth Brown memorabilia. The box would have contained ground thread taps, presumably in an insert that has since disappeared over the years. The tap shown was acquired separately and may not have been the same size as originally in the box.

 

The items are marked Firth Brown and NOT marked Firth Brown TOOLS. I'm assuming that they would not have been marketed but used at Atlas works as shown on the box.

Does anyone know which departments, if this is the case??

 

It's good to handle some good old FB items.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CNnSrdbHcvwLYV8R2

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1l3PS3l4QHQoWoJT2

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rlI70xsB23fmbEyi1

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QzIPop72fYhHlaMU2

 

Peter.

I think Firth-Brown products were Atlas this or Norfolk the other. Firth-Brown Tools -a separate company but also on Carlisle Street East-sold it's wares under the 'Speedicut' brand.

I think Firth-Brown products were Atlas this or Norfolk the other. Firth-Brown Tools -a separate company but also on Carlisle Street East-sold it's wares under the 'Speedicut' brand.

Thanks for that input stpetre.

I have in the past seen on online shops old taps stamped with any of Firth Brown, or Firth Brown Tools, or Speedicut. Here's an advert for Thos Firth and John Brown Ltd taps which shows that, contrary to my previous thoughts, they were indeed marketed and not used just internally. I dealt only with much bigger products when I was in Forgings Sales 1961 to 1964...

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im194411AE-Firth_Brown.jpg

Further research shows that the public company Firth Brown Tools was formed in 1946 for the purpose of acquiring from Thos. Firth and John Brown Ltd., the tools dept., which had been established in around 1900. See here....

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Firth_Brown

Peter.

Thanks for that input stpetre.

 

I have in the past seen on online shops old taps stamped with any of Firth Brown, or Firth Brown Tools, or Speedicut. Here's an advert for Thos Firth and John Brown Ltd taps which shows that, contrary to my previous thoughts, they were indeed marketed and not used just internally. I dealt only with much bigger products when I was in Forgings Sales 1961 to 1964...

 

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im194411AE-Firth_Brown.jpg

 

Further research shows that the public company Firth Brown Tools was formed in 1946 for the purpose of acquiring from Thos. Firth and John Brown Ltd., the tools dept., which had been established in around 1900. See here....

 

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Firth_Brown

 

Peter.

I get a bit confused sometimes, if Firth-Brown's made their own tools, as opposed to Firth-Brown Tools making them, what premises was this done in ?