ROYAL MAIL ROCKS

Stamps celebrating 'classic' British albums are to be released on 7th January 2010.

Designed by Studio Dempsey, the stamps showcase covers including the Rolling Stones' 1969 album 'Let It Bleed' by Robert Brownjohn and David Bowie's 1972 album 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' by Main Artery.

SCRAPBOOK PT. 5

A CHRISTMAS FILM, MADE IN ENGLAND

CADBURY SHOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT

The conservative councillors of Bournville believe that Cadbury should remain independent.

'Cadbury is one of the last remaining great British manufacturing companies. The company has made a huge contribution to the social history of Britain and, over the last 100 years, has made an incalculable contribution to the improvement of working conditions in this country,' a petition sent to local residents states.

Councillors Dawkins, Huxtable and Evans believe that Kraft has little interest in Bournville, citing the American monolith's takeover of Terry's of York as reason for concern. 'In 1993... they made many promises about future employment and production. In 2005 Kraft closed the historic Terry's factory and moved all chocolate production to Slovakia.'

Pictures from the wonderful Cadbury Dairy Milk flickr resource.

ERCOL, THEY HAVE A BLOG

We are glad to see Ercol putting some effort in to its public relations through its blog. Other manufacturers looking to do the same should take note of Ercol's mix of new product features alongside more in-depth, historically noteworthy items.

Above, the company's founder, Lucian R Ercolani OBE and his son, Lucian B Ercolani, DSO DFC are shown giving an interview to the BBC on 25th April 1966, demonstrating the bending of Windsor chair backs - the same equipment is still in use today.

TUNNOCK'S - MORE THAN 5,000,000 BISCUITS MADE AND SOLD EVERY WEEK

HAPPISBURGH LIGHTHOUSE PT. 2

ESTABLISHED AND SONS, NICE SITE

Thanks to It's Nice That for bringing the new Established & Sons site to our attention.

The products featured above are the De La Warr Pavilion chair by BarberOsgerby and the M5 table by Frank.

*File under, 'Unaffordable Beauty'

SCRAPBOOK PT. 5

ROULEUR VISITS REYNOLDS

We were delighted to see that the esteemed cycling magazine, Rouleur, recently visited tube manufacturer Reynolds. In an article that spans fourteen pages, Guy Andrews reveals a great deal on the company's history and manufacturing process.

The birth of Reynolds stems back to 1841 when Mr. John Reynolds started out as a nail manufacturer in Birmingham. By 1898 the predecessor to today's bicycle tubing company was formed, The Patent Butted Tube Co., Ltd.

During the second World War Reynolds made tubes for Spitfire fuselages and employed more than 2,000 people. The 531 steel tube set, first produced in 1935, is still being made today.

Keith Noronha, managing director of Reynolds, reveals how the quality of tubing being produced today by the company is directly related to the power of the factory's equipment which was developed in the 1960s. 'We're lucky to have the background and the hardware - we're very pleased that one worked out,' he tells Andrews.

Click on the title to visit Rouleur's site. The magazine retails at £9/$20/€15.

Many thanks to Messrs Hall and Huddlestone for bringing the article to our attention.

BLETCHLEY PARK RADIO EQUIPMENT WITH ANGLEPOISE LAMP

HAPPISBURGH LIGHTHOUSE PT. 1

Made in England, 1790. The only independently run lighthouse in Britain. M&I had the pleasure of a tour from Happisburgh Lighthouse Trust on a crisp winter's afternoon. During our short visit we learnt about the skilled craft behind the glasswork, the reasons for lighthouses' unique paintwork and how Anneka Rice came to help the village.