by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 28 Dec 2025 | Pointing
This process puts the points on the end of the needles. 1) A view of the Pointing Mill, showing Hubert (Dick Jones) Hemming, Leslie Tyldesley (almost invisible behind Hubert Hemming), Christopher Webb, Charles Suter, Oliver East, Harold Coon, James Hemming, Ebbr Cooke...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 27 Dec 2025 | Stamping
Here you can see the process of ‘stamping’ or forming the needle eyes. Image 2 (below) shows mechanised eyeing machines which worked just like the old kickstamps, but one machine could produce 5-6 million needles per week. 1) The power press shop. The wall at the far...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 26 Dec 2025 | Eyeing
This is the process of punching through the eyes of the needle. 1) The eyeing shop. This building was converted in 1941 into the canteen. Shown are Lizzie Wiggett, Horace Davis, Kate Smith, Frank Cox, Ada Wilkinson, Bill Aspendale and Jimmy Davis. 1925 2) The Hand...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 25 Dec 2025 | Heading and Grinding
The heading and grinding of the needles process removed the excess metal from around the eyes which occurs when the needle eyes are stamped (Heading). Also, after the needles are broken in two, the tops of the head of the needle need to be smoothed and rounded off...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 24 Dec 2025 | Hardening
The needles are now hardened and tempered, which brings back a bit of ‘spring’ to the needles. 1) George Charman is pictured quenching a pan of needles which have just been heated in one of the coal-fired furnaces. These furnaces were used before gas-fired furnaces...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 23 Dec 2025 | Scouring
This is the process by which needles are cleaned and polished. 1) The new scouring mill, built in 1947/48 and first used when it was loaned to Brabant Needle Company in January 1948 because their own mill had broken down. The machinery was built by Llewellyn & Co....
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 22 Dec 2025 | Old AG Workshop
Located in Victoria Street, Redditch, showing ‘papering and wrapping’ – which is making the packets, pasting labels on to them and then putting the needles into the packets. 1) Image shows Hilda White, Jessie Mills, Vera Batchelor, M. Malins, Elsie Simons, Daisy...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 21 Dec 2025 | Cloth Sticking
The needles are ‘stuck’ into cloth strips prior to being put into packets. This process was originally done by hand, but later a machine did the job. 1) A ‘Schumag’ Automatic Cloth Sticking machine, operated by Barbara Young. 1946 2) A close-up view of a ‘Schumag’...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 20 Dec 2025 | Packing
Inspection, weighing and wrapping of the needles. Note how the needle cases are made by hand. 1) The Needlecase making department. During the Second World War, this department was turned over to the manufacture of fuse points and other small articles. The operator...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 19 Dec 2025 | Gramophone Needles
The British Needle Company was very well known for the manufacture of high quality gramophone needles. 1) The Gramophone Weighing Shop. Shown are Margaret Young and Gertie East.. 1946 2) A newspaper article describing how grampahone needles were made, after a visit...
