Humber / Hillman / Rootes / Chrysler / Peugeot

This makes interesting reading - a postcard sent from Coventry in 1908, referring to a dispute at Humber which resulted in physical violence!

The person that the workforce were lying in wait for was Thomas Charles Pullinger (incorrectly spelt in the postcard text) - who was works manager of the Beeston factory at the time. He joined the company in 1902 as Works Manager - after working for several years on the design staff at Darracq in France. In 1903 the company introduced the Pullinger designed 10/12hp model, powered by a 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder, water-cooled engine, with a normal running speed of 800 r.p.m. He went on to drive a Beeston-Humber vehicle to 5th place in the 1906 Isle of Man TT (automobiles) race - photo He no doubt had the unenviable task of informing his workforce of the impending closure (due to financial difficulties) of the Beeston factory - which I guess they didn't take kindly to!

Thanks for that Tony - I must admit I didn't know about the Beeston factory I like the idea of waiting for the manager to arrive to give him a good thrashing, though - I can think of quite a few managers worthy of such treatment!

Just lifted this from wikipedia : The Beeston factory employed over 2,000 people around 1900 and went on to produce the exclusive 'Beeston-Humber'. It was closed in 1907/1908 after financial problems, after Humber moved the whole operation, including 2-3,000 people, to Coventry

It appears Thomas Charles Pullinger didn't hang around long! In 1909 he jumped ship and went to work for a company called Arrol-Johnston (maybe he had a problem with the workforce?) where he "...swept out the old range in favour of the new 15

I had a ride in one once Foxcote, I was sitting on the wall outside Coventry & Warwick Hospital, I had just had a blood test and was feeling faint and it stopped and gave me a lift to the Navi. That's service for you. Offering them a drink would have been out of the question.

Here is one for you all. It's no good asking me if you are right or wrong on this as I don't know. It is from an old paper that I photo'd but missed the details of the pic. I think it may have been a bomb intended for the Morris works, but I only think so. Any takers?

A dear old lady that lived and worked in Hinckley, Told me the story of 1944. She was working in one of the textile factories in Hinckley when a number of men came around and pointed out herself and other workers , and told them they would be working at the Rootes no.2 Factory in Coventry the next day. She arrived at the factory on the Monty Bus that came from Nuneaton and picked up worker from Hinckley, Burbage, and villages on route, to the factory on the A.45. She was put in charge of a Cincinnati machine that produced screws for the Bomber engines that were being made there. The Bomber engines were tested in a tunnel, somewhere on site, but she remembers it as being Rootes No. 2 factory. She said that her sister was based at Coventry Airport dealing with wires for controlling aircraft.

My grandfather worked at the Humber all his working life and as a child I used to meet him out of work, I have stood for hours outside the factory, and sometimes, because the gateman knew my grandad he would let me wait in his hut just inside the gates. It was so sad to see this picture. O happy times!

I'm sure all you railway buffs will know the answer to this one! Was there a rather substantial railway bridge on Humber Rd, with separate arches for cars and pedestrians? I remember - as a little kid - being very impressed by the echoes in the pedestrian tunnel, as well as the drips from the roof after rain. And was the bridge built of a very strikingly coloured (dark blue??) brick?

Hi Baz. I just came across your photo in the ' COVENTRY'S BLITZ' it appears it was the Humber factory in Humber Road, where a bomb had hit a shelter.

This is a keyring I found beneath the staircase in my gallery, does anyone know when the company was called 'Humber Limited'

Hi NormK, I found a link about the Humber origins, it seems the company was registered as 'Humber Limited', 27th March 1900 but to be sure about it, check the link to confirm it. The History of Humber

Thanks for that Foxcote. I knew that keyring had some age to it, but blimey not that much! Thanks for your time.