Industrial Development of Birmingham and the Black Country, 1860-1927; with an introduction by J F Rees

Notes:

Scholarly work first published 1929 and drawing on the writer's doctoral thesis. Of enduring importance and at time of publication covering a neglected area of historical research. The base line of 1860 is provided by the published survey in 1866 of Birmingham's industries by Samuel Timmins. Covers two major areas: 1] an account of change in the industries of the area, and 2] aspects of the accompanying change in industrial organisation - methods of manufacture and marketing; in the scale of production; in the relation between individual business units; etc. Structured in five parts, viz: 1] 'Introduction' reviewing economic development to 1860; 2] 'Birmingham and district in 1860' dealing with industries, scale of industry, productive methods, general features of industrial and commercial organisation; 3] 'Prosperity and decline, 1860-86' - chronological review; 4] 'The new era, 1887-1914' - old industries, new industries, changes in scale, new marketing methods and 'decline in industrial individualism'; 5] 'War and postwar, 1914-27' - war and its effects, adjustment postwar, 'recent tendencies in industrial organisation'. Has much on individual sectors: bicycles; brass & copper products; buttons, chains and cables; edge tools; glass products; hollowware; jewellery; iron and steel; engineered products; nails; motor vehicles; needles; locks and keys; writing instruments; small arms; japanned ware