Old Coventry firms

Anyone heard of or got any information about a firm called the Lincoln Street Foundry? It is said that T.G. John, the founder of the Alvis car firm, bought this firm just after the first world war to add its facility to his new business to make cars at Holyhead Road.

Alvisnick. Just been reading the Motor Manufacturers of Coventry, and noticed there was a firm called ACME in Lincoln Street in 1919, could this be the one you are asking about?

Supercar F Geo Robinson Swan Lane

Great find Morgana! I did know of Supercar but have never read any details about them before now. I think they also made other fairground rides besides the ones shown in the article?

Thank you Dutchman, glad you enjoyed the read, at least it shows we have a bit of fun in us here in Coventry, shame the first idea of the teenagers driving to learn to drive has nt stayed here, it should be re invented here.

Very interesting Morgana, you learn something new every day ! I never knew dodgem cars were made in Coventry. It brought to mind a little picture I have of my mum in a car my grandad made for her in 1927 when she was four. He called it a "Morgan Baby"

How sweet that little Morgan baby is Anne, I bet your mum was proud to have such a car back then.

I think it was Glenn's roof I fell through in 1954? during sweet rationing I was knocked out but the other kids climbed down and got me out They sampled a few sweets as well - a pandora's box for kids of Bond Street!

Does anyone know what happened to W. Lant? They sold (and made, I believe) soft drinks and sold them throughout the Coventry area. I can't remember if they sold door-to-door but I think they probably did. The works were in the street (road) that ran more or less parallel with Corporation Street - was it King Street?

It was Bond Street. Have a look earlier in this thread which discusses the company at some length

Thanks very much.

As a kid, I remember Lant's pop being sold all over Coventry. Their factory was at the bottom of Hill St, or somewhere near there. Many moons ago, at a firm in Coventry, worked a gentleman who had left school aged 15 and his first employment was at Lant's. In those days, PC, H&S and all that stuff was unheard of, and it was the practice for a new young starter to undergo some sort of initiation ceremony, which usually meant being the victim of a practical joke. In his case, he related that the factory was full of big, muscular, unfeminine, rough-as-you like women, and that a gang of them took him by surprise, frogmarched him into the toilets, and while two of them restrained him, one of the others pulled his trousers and pants down, whilst another got a brush and liberally coated his male parts with Shell Alvania grease which was normally used to lubricate the machines, to the great amusement and laughter of all the women. He said it was the most embarrassing moment of his life, and that they left him there, and it took him ages to wash off the offending grease. I doubt if the incident made the CET. There is a road called Lant Close, which is relatively new, just off Duggins Lane. I have no idea if it is connected.

Slim asked "There is a road called Lant Close, which is relatively new, just off Duggins Lane. I have no idea if it is connected." Yes Slim, census records show the Lant family living at Nailcote Hall in the middle of the nineteenth century and from what I have read seem to be have been a long-standing Berkswell family. Lants, towards the end of the 19c, also had farms in the Broad Lane area of Westwood parish. I think I picked up this information from documents held by the Coventry History Centre but extracts available online.

There was an old factory on the corner of Lythalls Lane and Bedlam Lane, Rubber and Ebonite I think it was called. It made a spongy substance, rolled it out into big sheets like lino, then cut it in pieces then moulded it into objects like bottle tops, put the articles in a huge heated drum, inside the drum were long trays that revolved inside the drum, while the articles baked. I only worked there for about three months when I was fourteen. I remember little about it.

Directory of Coventry Manufacturers is an interest read if you're looking for "old Coventry firms" It includes a listing for: COVENTRY EBONITE & RUBBER CO., LTD. (THE), Bedlam Lane, Longford, Coventry. Products Manufactured: Ebonite, also Ebonite and Synthetic Resin Mouldings.