George Wilson Gas Meters

Anybody remember anything about Wilsons Gas Meters in Foleshill Road?

Was there not a Wilsons Gas Meter factory on the corner of Livingstone Road and also one in Lythalls Lane?

The last time I saw the building it was being used as a temple...

I remember it quite well, I believe the gas men paid the money in there after doing their rounds, they used to use the 'Livi' pool cafe to count the money, in little piles, we used to knock the tables as we walked by. One of them went to the same schools as me, for anyone interested his sister ran the chip shop in A/Green Rd. Just inside Broad Street on the right, there was a small chapel and the chapel house, holds some hair-raising party tales for me. But I am surprised the street looks exactly like it was back in the fifties.

As a choir boy in the late 1950's, I was invited to sing a solo at the wedding of the daughter of the owner of George Wilson's Gas Meters. It took place at Barford church and I sang 'Oh for the Wings of a Dove', though my voice was about to break and I couldn't hit the top note. I was given a lift to the church and the reception (at the Welcombe Hotel, Stratford) in an Austin Healey Sprite and my fee was a guinea plus all that I could eat at the reception.

I had a nice friend who worked at Wilsons. Not seen her in 20+ years though. She moved to Burbage. Lovely lady

I remember that my mum told me that George Wilson was Dutch. The Wilsons lived on Knoll Drive. I remember they also had a Rover P4 in the '50's.

The former George Wilson Gas Meters building on corner of Livingstone Rd/Foleshill Rd taken in 2014

George Wilson founded the business in Holland and in 1904 his son James Henry Wilson came to the UK and opened a factory in Coventry. James Henry Wilson died 6th October 1945 aged 64. His son W D Wilson (Chairman) spoke about his father at the 9th Ordinary General Meeting. James Henry Wilson served in the Special Constabulary from 1914, in 1941 he became divisional commander of "B" division. During the second world war the company went into aircraft maintenance and other war work.