by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 18 Dec 2025 | Tool Room
The Tool Room was an essential part of any needle factory, being responsible for the repair and maintenance of the needle making machinery, and to make any specialist tools as required. 1) This image shows three small lathes in the Tool Room which, during the Second...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 17 Dec 2025 | Distribution
Despatching the needles to all parts of the world. 1) The ‘Rusty’ Warehouse. Shown is Miss Deakin (born in 1877) and who joined the Company in 1928. 1947 2) The ‘Bright’ Warehouse. Shown are Mrs Jackson, Iris Pinfold, Mrs I Rogers, Jessie Blick and Mrs A Rogers. 1947...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 16 Dec 2025 | History
The British Needle Company was founded at the end of 1918 by Mr Frank Hawker, MBE, of Handsworth Birmingham, who had previously established the Carpathian Silver Company in Birmingham in 1886 – a firm which gained the reputation of being the world’s largest...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 16 Dec 2025 | Premises
External photographs of the building and its development from 1925 to 1959. 1) Before the British Needle Co. existed, the Victoria Street factory was owned by Henry Lewis and Son, Needle and Fish Hook manufacturers. 1884 2) Called ‘Argosy Works’, this...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 15 Dec 2025 | Office Staff
Some of the office and clerical staff who worked at the British Needle Company. 1) A view of the General Office, with Mrs Thornton and Mr Lee. 1946 2) A portrait of Fred Lee, the Cashier, who was with the Company from its inception in 1919. Sadly, Fred died some two...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 14 Dec 2025 | Social Activities
Images showing aspects of the company’s social activities. The Managing Director, Mr E W Keesey, and his wife lived in a large house at Bidford-on-Avon and every year the workforce was invited there for a party. 1) Canteen Corner. The single storey building in the...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 13 Dec 2025 | WCNM
The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers is one of the ancient London Guilds and was given its charter by Oliver Cromwell in 1656. The Livery Company is still very active today, their charitable work supporting organisations and individuals associated with the use of...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 12 Dec 2025 | Products
The British Needle Company over the years developed some very interesting solutions to that age old problem of threading a needle. In the 1920’s they were experimenting with the wonderfully named ‘Marian Darner’ (see images 1 and 2). Despite being easy to use –...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 11 Dec 2025 | Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret visited Redditch and was given a tour of the British Needle Company on 23 October 1962. The firm’s Sales Director, Mr C Buckle, conducted the tour where the Princess met: Mr Harold Coom who was pointing needles – he had been with the firm for...
by adtj15-5Mnw2X | 10 Dec 2025 | Human Resources
This section contains a number of documents that give a real insight into what it was like to be a part of the British Needle Company ‘family’. Wages and Hours of Work Looking at the wages documents (below) from 1957 what is notable is how many people have been with...
