Francis-Barnett

I found on the web that Lea Francis Engineering (1937) ltd took over the Triumph factory in Much Park Street in 1937. History of Lea Francis Edited by Foxcote, 20th Jan 2013 9:55 am (Inserted a Link for easier access.)

Thanks for that Annewiggy, even more info for my small brain

Hi Catshed, no problem, I know you wasn't being critical. That photo you put up, along with Annewiggy's, shows perfectly where the factory was. Dutchman, thanks for the info, excellent as always. Annewiggy, thanks for the photos, and the last link, I haven't seen that one before.

Yet another lovely building consigned to the history books / websites.

Here's a photo showing demolition of the building - sometime before December 1964 according to the caption. Taken from J. R. Davy's excellent Standard Car 1903-1963 book, published in 1967

Great photo Greeny There seems to be some sort of 'board' leaning on the road sign but I can't make out what it says. So I wonder if that building is what Normk was demolishing?

I was going to post 'Why-O-Why' but I could repeat myself a thousand times within the forum

Nice photo greeny, this does not seem to be the same building Annewiggy posted earlier.It is much smaller, and I dont mean because it is being demolished.

That's because it's the Midland Brewery on the opposite side of the street! The building being demolished is the former Charlesworth body works which was taken over by Lea-Francis after the war so at one point they occupied premises on both sides of the road. The original factory and office block were on the east side, the later addition was on the west side. The latter was demolished a few years before the former.

Thanks for that info Dutchman, I was still trying to place it.

Thanks Dutchman - I must admit I was trying to reconcile the obviously Victorian building next door in the demolition photo with the half timbered building in the other photos. So many engineering firms squeezed into various buildings and courts in the same street, often only existing for a few months before being taken over or moving. So fascinating but massively confusing.

This video starts at a subsidary factory in Earlsdon but shows a fleeting glimpse of the Lower Ford Street factory. Petrol tank being fitted to a 'Falcon 74' in 1956

Foxcote, thanks so much for the link to the photo of the Cruiser. You've caused much excitement over on the Francis Barnett forum. We have found maybe 20 pics of bikes that were probably taken at the factory. Some are brand new and therefore invaluable for seeing what a bike was supposed to look like, rather than what it looks like now after a lifetime of fettling by various owners. None of these photos were known about by the club. Many thanks again. Steve.

Thanks Steve 1966, so pleased to hear that my searches prove useful to the folks out there. I'm definitely not an expert on Bikes, Buses, Trams or Trains or Cars but I'm not bad at finding old photo's. If I come across anything else, I'll certainly post it on here for you