Report - Noirit non ferrous founders, Walsall

[dweeb]

Well what can I say, if this was being posted up a month ago it may have been on a par with Parker or Jabez Cliff, sadly I was too late. Years of waiting and I took my eye off the ball at the wrong moment. As it happens I'll have to show you what I did get to see...

Funny place this, they cast all manner of things in brass and bronze. There were some very interesting anchor patterns lying about. They also made shooting sticks which tied it into the Walsall leather trade.

Under demo with a row of Georgian houses which had been put to use as leather works (another for that book I must write one day!) and a public house.

There are some extremely old industrial buildings on this site, a pity a few could not be put to another use, but that's Walsall through and through...

The pub, quite a snug twee affair in it's day I'm sure

 

[Mwright]

I've been looking into the history of E&A Noirit with reference to an antique golf club I have from the hickory era. I only had their name and Walsall with a stamp mark B&T. I was trying to find the connection. To cut a long story short I've been going back and forth in discussion with John Griffiths who has been invaluable with references from Walsalls Red Book business directories archives. One reference was for Broadhurst & Co. a metal foundry incorporated into the Noirit business in the early 1930's. It turns out they were Broadhurst and Thompson - the B&T on the head of the club. Problem solved - and a whole load of photos into the bargain. The Tirion (Noirit backwards) company still make shooting sticks today. (John Griffiths http://walsall.life)

 

[Caro1]

Hi
This is great to read. I’m just sitting with my father, Mr John Noirit studying the photos of his family business. We’ve just had a trip down memory lane.

 

[Mwright]

Hi
This is great to read. I’m just sitting with my father, Mr John Noirit studying the photos of his family business. We’ve just had a trip down memory lane.

Is your father able to give any more insight into the company's production of the golf clubs? I've seen, and owned, a few different designs of putters which all had lead inserts on the faces. I would be particularly interested if he could confirm the origin of the B & T registerd mark. Thank you - Martin Wright

 

[Caro1]

Is your father able to give any more insight into the company's production of the golf clubs? I've seen, and owned, a few different designs of putters which all had lead inserts on the faces. I would be particularly interested if he could confirm the origin of the B & T registerd mark. Thank you - Martin Wright

Is your father able to give any more insight into the company's production of the golf clubs? I've seen, and owned, a few different designs of putters which all had lead inserts on the faces. I would be particularly interested if he could confirm the origin of the B & T registerd mark. Thank you - Martin Wright

Hi Martin
Putters were manufactured by B&T but became of the complexity of measuring the amount of weight in each putter it wasn’t viable so they ceased making them. My father is sadly unable to recall the origin of the B&T trademark. He’s now 91.
Apparently my grandfather purchased Broadhurst because it was manufacturing malleable horse furniture such as stirrups and bridals. In 1947 Noirit Ltd incorporated Broadhurst &Co and became a limited company focusing on malleable iron, brass fittings and seat sticks.

 

[Mwright]

Hi Martin
Putters were manufactured by B&T but became of the complexity of measuring the amount of weight in each putter it wasn’t viable so they ceased making them. My father is sadly unable to recall the origin of the B&T trademark. He’s now 91.
Apparently my grandfather purchased Broadhurst because it was manufacturing malleable horse furniture such as stirrups and bridals. In 1947 Noirit Ltd incorporated Broadhurst &Co and became a limited company focusing on malleable iron, brass fittings and seat sticks.

Many thanks for your time - that's very interesting. The Walsall historian had suggested the 1930's for the purchase of B&T which was at the very end of the hickory shaft era, when early steel shafts were becomming more popular. 1947 is late for hickory shafts - though one or two companies did continue to produce them as speciality items. Another small piece in a huge history jigsaw !!

 

[dweeb]

Hi
This is great to read. I’m just sitting with my father, Mr John Noirit studying the photos of his family business. We’ve just had a trip down memory lane.

Hi. Very interested to learn more about the final days of the firm if you can shed any light on the latter days.

 

[Caro1]

Hi
What would you specifically like to know?