Business directories for Worcester 1940s and 1950s

[Jamie H]

I am trying to find a violin maker with the name Abraham [someone] who worked in Worcestershire during the 1940s and 1950s. Can anyone give advice or help as to how to go about this please? Would there be any online sources I could access?

My Tudgey relatives referred to him as "Uncle Abe". But he could be a Wilks or a Young.

Thank you.

[CaroleW]

Have you checked the 1939 register?  Quite a lot of entries but if you know his wife’s name it may help to narrow the search

Are you sure he was a biological relative and not just a close family friend known as uncle?

[Eastbury]

Hi Jamie H
I’ve looked through Kelly’s Directory of Worcestershire 1940, the "private residents" section and there isn’t an Abraham Wilks/Wilkes or Young, nor is there anyone living in the county who calls himself specifically a violin-maker. The only Musical instrument Maker listed is Thomas Vincent Raymond Casey 12 Edgar Street, Worcester who was in his 80’s, but he did call himself a violin-maker in 1939.

Unfortunately the Special Collections at Leicester
http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/map/collection/p16445coll4
doesn’t have any Worcestershire directories for the 1940’s or 50’s.

There are Birmingham and Evesham, Worcestershire newspapers for 1940-1960 in British Newspapers on-line but no mention of a Wilks or Young as a violin maker, so if "Uncle Abe" was one he must have worked for a company although I didn't spot a reference to any companies in Worcestershire.

Jack
PS There weren't any Tudgey violin makers

[Jamie H]

Thank you very much Jack and CarolW for your replies to my post. I hope this message goes to both of you – I'm rather rusty. 

I don't know if "Uncle Abe" was a family friend and not a blood relative, but what you say is relevant, CarolW. I used to introduce family friends to my small children as "uncle" or "aunt" and one day, out of habit, I called their father "uncle" ! Oops.

And, thanks Jack for looking up all those sources for me. It remains a mystery.

Jamie H

[[Ray]]

?
Absalom Taylor Tudge ? ( mmn Taylor )

b1909  m1940         d1996     
Bolton  Birmingham  Wiltshire     

1939 (ER) is living in13 Watt Road, Erdington     

[Jamie H]

Ray - thank you very much. That looks like an interesting lead. I'll follow it up.