Brass Foundries in Birmingham Area

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Everyone,
A couple of my ancestors have their fathers' occupations on their wedding certificates noted down as "Brass Founder".  Can someone please tell me where I could read about what went on in a 19th century Brass Foundry in the Birmingham area.  Would these premises have been much smaller than an Iron Foundry, for instance?
Very best wishes,
Keith

[Biker]

Hello,

Would suggest perhaps checking out: http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

Have had a quick look and they have 19c Birmingham Commercial and Trade directories which list brass foundries and  you can search online.

Good Luck
Jonathan

[Keith Sherwood]

Jonathan,
I hadn't thought of that, to see how many of them occurred in a particular area, so I'll give it a try.  Every time I look at that site they seem to have added even more directories...
Thanks again,
Keith

[Martinwootton]

Hi, Everyone,
A couple of my ancestors have their fathers' occupations on their wedding certificates noted down as "Brass Founder".  Can someone please tell me where I could read about what went on in a 19th century Brass Foundry in the Birmingham area.  Would these premises have been much smaller than an Iron Foundry, for instance?
Very best wishes,
Keith

[Martinwootton]

Hi
A connection of mine was from the brass founder firm of Wootton and Powell in the mid 19thC. They made gass chandeliers and their fittings. Later it became Wootton and Morrall when a son took over. Any link??

[Dancing Master]

British Small Arms   (BSA) in Birmingham was the famous foundry.


Matthew Boulton probably.   Brass foundry. at Soho, Birmingham.


http://www.birminghamuk.com/go/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=239;start=msg273#msg273


http://bobmiles.bulldoghome.com/pages/bobmiles_bulldoghome_com/moremboulton.htm

[jim1]

Hello Keith
Brass founding was a common trade in B'ham.The process of manufacturing brass as we know it today was invented in B'ham in the 1820's and quickly became the new material taking over from iron.Foundries came in all sizes the biggest being Matthew Boulton's Soho Works.There were smaller ones who found a niche in the market such as pen nib makers.Many people worked in the trade as a second job,I have one who was a licensed victualler & brass founder.

jim

[Colin Y]

Hi

I have been reading my Great Great Grandfather's Indenture binding him as apprentice to William & Thomas Powell Brassfounders of Birmingham '.. in the 55th Year of the reign of King George III...!" i.e. 1815 for 7 years!

His Dad was listed as Charles Parker the elder and he was Charles Parker the younger. They were said to have been 'of Lint House, Hill Top near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire'. Lint House or 'The Lint House' was, it seems, a Pub as his father was elsewhere said to have been a Victualler!

Can't find The Lint House later, though 'Hilltop' is part of the one time parish (?) of Lickey and various later maps show Linhouse Lane, later named Linthurst Lane as it is in now, in Blackwell.

I hope this may help you in your search but equally does anyone possibly have any foundation for me to support the above 'information'?

I know Charles went on to be a Brass Founder and Military ornament Manufacturer of 42 Cherry Street, Birmingham. He also patentent a whistle and made brass buttons as Merry Parker & Merry! He died in 1852 at his home on Gravelly Hill, Erdington.

Colin

[willow154]

Hi Keith,

There's are a couple of  books (full view/limited view) available on google books, which tells you all about the early history of brass foundries in the Birmingham area:

The Early History of Brass and the Brass Manufactures of Birmingham ... By W. C. Aitken

This is less specific, but an interesting read:
Luxury and Pleasure in Eighteenth-Century Britain By Maxine Berg

They might help - hope so.
Paulene