DIGEST: HOPS, VISIBLE MENDING, SILK WEAVING IN MACCLESFIELD, HORN BUTTONS, THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

"Present at each stage of production are the standards and inimitable know-how accumulated over the last 150 years. Over that time, a few things have changed — some faster than others — but it’s still the precise same product off the line, same portraits of the founders in the entrance-way, and the same name above the door."

A characteristically well put together piece on the last horn button factory in the UK, in the West Midlands, from S.E.H Kelly. I sometimes struggle to keep up with their output, so I suggest you peruse their site's 'Makers' section in its entirety.

(Picture above from S.E.H Kelly)

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"The project was inspired by an attraction to the aesthetics of these workplaces, but also by an interest in what the practices of fixing, mending, repair and renewal could reveal about the way people value things, and each other."

I came across this site, Celebration of Repair, a little while ago. Delighted to see the research is now available in book form, entitled Visible Mending

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Are British hops the new grapes? (SIBA)

Though, according to this excellent radio programme, there's only 60 hop growers left in the UK (BBC Radio 4)

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"In this two part series, Steph McGovern looks at both the bigger story of silk production, but also takes a close look at how silk shaped one particular town - Macclesfield in Cheshire. Here, silk has been processed, woven and printed for four centuries, and had a profound effect not just upon the built environment but also the social world in which its inhabitants lived."

Another great bit of radio here, on silk weaving (jump to 22.28 to hear about the goings-on at RA Smart near Macclesfield) (BBC Radio 4)

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"Sheffield is one of the best places in the world to get a sense of how new thinking allied with clever technology and global marketing can transform traditional industries"

An insightful article by Peter Marsh on The New Industrial Revolution (The Global Journal)

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An aptly named retail site that highlights where things are made (Provenance)

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An interview with Adam Atkinson of Cherchbi (Grey Fox)

WEEKLY DIGEST

A master shirtmaker in Kent (S.E.H Kelly)

Tools for Everyday Life from Northumbria University (Sight Unseen)

Information on Birmingham Made Me, a showcase of products made in the West Midlands (Pashley News)

Scotch is big business - Diageo said to be investing £1bn (FT)

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Photo from S.E.H Kelly

MARTIN PARR VISITS TEDDY GRAY'S SWEET FACTORY, DUDLEY

Excerpt from Martin Parr's Teddy Gray Film from Multistory on Vimeo.

WEEKLY DIGEST

Some great photos of Bentley's factory in Crewe (Selectism)

Margaret Howell's top 10 product designs (Guardian)

Apprenticeships in the spotlight on Radio 4 programme In Business (BBC R4)

Jaguar Land Rover to open new plant in Wolverhampton (Telegraph)

ACME WHISTLES

With the football season underway in Britain, it seems fitting to be featuring the whistle of choice for referees the world over.

A recent article in The Green Soccer Journal portrayed the whistles of Birmingham based Acme Whistles beautifully. We got in touch and they kindly agreed to let us share the images with you.

Acme Whistles was founded by Joseph Hudson, an inventive toolmaker from Derbyshire who had moved to Birmingham in the Industrial Revolution.

According to the Acme Whistles website, 'in the wash house at the side of his end of terrace home in St Marks Street he made many things to help increase his family's income. His early products were snuff boxes, cork screws and whistles'.

The business was officially founded in 1883, the year that Hudson invented a novel whistle for The London Metropolitan Police who were looking to replace the cumbersome policeman's rattle.

Since then Acme Whistles have been used on the Titanic and in the World Cup final of 1966. Thanks to the company's expertise and commitment to innovation the whistles are used by many professional bodies today, including FIFA, NATO and the UN.

The company is still producing whistles from its Birmingham factory on Barr Street, 128 years after it was founded.

Thank you to James at The Green Soccer Journal for sharing the images

Photography by Alastair Strong

WEEKLY DIGEST

A fruitful week of M&I related news. Some great interviews:

"The likes of Burberry have gone off to China, us lot, the small guys are keeping the factories going," says Oliver Spencer in this video interview

"We don't have a manufacturing base any more." Kenneth Grange in the Financial Times

Some good news:

Eco-friendly trains to be made in the UK

And some bad:

Rising duty on beer 'will cost 2000 jobs in West Midlands'

And a whole bunch of fighting talk:

A case for making in the UK from the founder of Bulldog skincare, Simon Duffy

Manufacturing the 'only real answer' to rebalancing the UK economy says Alan Rudge at Cranfield's second National Manufacturing Debate

Manufacturing 'not finished' says Roger Bootle, a leading economist

MIDLAND MANUFACTURING GROUP IN PLEA TO PM

Over the last few months M&I has had several conversations with people involved in UK manufacturing - from heads of trade bodies to factory owners to designers. Time and again the same issue arises; if the UK is to play a strong role in the global economy then more support is needed from the government.

'For small, medium and large enterprises, there has been little reform to boost manufacturing, training and growth in the UK since the General Election,' Ian Williamson of The Midland Manufacturing Group, told The Kenilworth Weekly News.

'There has also been a significant trend regarding the sale of our larger companies to overseas competitors. The UK is now reliant on them for ensuring the research and development of high-value, high-skill jobs remain in the UK.'

'If we lose our manufacturing base we are never going to get it back,' warned Williamson. 'The West Midlands is the heartland of our manufacturing and we need trading conditions to allow it to prosper.'

The Midland Manufacturing Group includes industrialists and professional bodies and is seeking to reverse the trend of job losses in the area. Members include Automotive Products in Leamington, and Arden Products, Clarke Clulley and Norgren Martiner in Kenilworth, as well as the region’s automotive industry.

Williamson also told The Kenilworth Weekly News that he is in talks about holding a debate on reform needed in Midlands manufacturing in early 2011 - we look forward to hearing more about this.

Illustration of Mini & 1100 engine from Austin Memories

FESTIVE CHEER : HIGHGATE BREWERY, WALSALL

An enjoyably positive story to kick off December here. The Highgate Brewery in Walsall has been saved (for the time being) and is hoping to benefit from customers drinking at home over the Christmas period after a surge in demand for its five litre festive cask ales.

The wonderfully named Joanne Toon, spokeswoman for Highgate, told the Birmingham Post, 'It is keeping us afloat after a traumatic time, but we are determined to be able to supply everyone.'

A quick online search for a retailer selling the festive ale proved fruitless. However, there's some nice merchandise available here on the Friends of Highgate Brewery site.

Photo from Express & Star