We had known about this place for a very long time, years in fact. But dont you always find you overlook the stuff that is close to you!? Anyway, National Standard was built in the 1930's, and produced wire bead for the inside of tires. In the 1990's it was taken over by ROM wire, who shut the works down in 2001.
The works itself was pretty empty, and very derelict. The nice finds were to be made in the work's offices and labs. The offices were typical of the period, from a time when engineers were gentlemen, and their surroundings reflected that. Large fireplaces and paneled doors were the order of the rooms. As with GKN and other similar companies no expense was spaerd for the comfort of the works' top brass.
The laboratory was completley intact and fully stocked of chemicals, glassware and test equipment, and there is little else to say other than it was amwsome!!
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The works itself was pretty empty, and very derelict. The nice finds were to be made in the work's offices and labs. The offices were typical of the period, from a time when engineers were gentlemen, and their surroundings reflected that. Large fireplaces and paneled doors were the order of the rooms. As with GKN and other similar companies no expense was spaerd for the comfort of the works' top brass.
The laboratory was completley intact and fully stocked of chemicals, glassware and test equipment, and there is little else to say other than it was amwsome!!
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