| Description | 300-341 not listed.
342 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 1. Henry Hope & Sons Ltd. Smethwick. The main entrance. (This factory was engaged in making metal window frames)
343 — Smethwick Dispersal. B.S.A. No. 2. A Close up View of the entrance to the B.S.A. shop.
344 — Smethwick. Dispersal B.S.A. No. 3. Grinding Browning firing pins, 20 at a time. this operation used to be done one at a time by skilled men, now this girl finishes more pins than four men used to turn out.
345 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 4. Polishing Browning flash eliminators prior to chrome plating. They are plated to prevent fouling.
346 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 5. Miss Marion Gibbard, now 40 and a B.S.A. employee since she left school at 14, multi-turning firing pin points on a B.S.A. multi-tool lathe. 19 stone viewer Bill Sydenham inspects the work.
347 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 6. Charlie Few, ex stable-boy who has worked his way through many parts of the world, now acts as labourer in the grinding section and is seen replenishing the suds supply.
348 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 7. An operation in the hardening shop, nitre-tempering Browning barrel extensions.
349 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 8. Fitter Albert Maxfield setting up for a milling operation.
350 — Smethwick. Dispersal B.S.A. No. 9. Fitter Albert Maxfield impersonates Max Miller at a lunch-hour concert in the works canteen.
351 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 10. The pianist at the lunch-hour concert.
352 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 11. He forsakes his piano and gives a turn on the saxophone.
353 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 12. At the lunch-hour concert. The conjurer - "nothing up my sleeve".
354 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 13. The conjurer makes a "Magic" omelette.
355 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 14, The Female audience enjoys a joke at the concert.
356 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 15. And the male gives keen attention to the performance.
357 — Smethwick Dispersal B.S.A. No. 16. Some of the staff enjoy a game of darts in the recreation room.
358 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 17. The entrance to the B.S.A. shop at the rear of the Co-operative Wholesale Society's factory, Hall Street Dudley. This factory was engaged in the production of enamel and hardware goods.
359 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 1S. A rear view of the B.S.A. shop showing the huge fans which had to be fitted in order to maintain a supply of fresh air. One end of the shop is built against rock and some months after production was 'in full swing it was necessary practically to close the place for a fortnight while the special ventilation system was installed owing to the number of workpeople who were being taken ill.
360 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. 19. Machining (and gauging) a H.V. Shell nose on a capstan lathe.
361 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 20. Inspecting and clock gauging H.V. Shell Nose
362 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 21. Operator F. Keech, 25 years service with B.S.A., grinding Browning Gun barrel extensions on a Norton Grinder
363 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 22. In the view-checking and gauging the barrel extension.
364 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 23. A grinding operation on the adjusting screw for Spitfire rudder control.
365 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 24. Four "old timers" whose combined service with B.S.A. exceeds 150 years: Alf Dovey, fitter, 29 years, Arthur Hadley, fitter, 30 years, Ted Chatterley, Machine operator 41 years and Sam Aston, machine operator, 54 years.
366 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 25. Issuing War Savings Certificates in the Savings office during Dudley "Wings for Victory" week. The target of £750 at this factory was more than doubled with a total of over £1,700.
367 — Dudley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 26. One of the girl operators with her book of Saving Certificates.
368 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. No. 27. Part of the premises of Vono Ltd. Dudley Port. Wood bedstead fittings and mattresses were produced in this factory.
369 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. NO. 28. An ingenious device - a Spline Miller converted for fine turning extractors for the Lancaster gun, working to limits of .0002. It is a revolutionary method of doing this particular job.
370 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. No. 29. An electrically operated tapping tray for cutting the thread in the correct position on the cocking piece for the Mk 4 rifle. The operator has only to load, press the button, and unload, a patent slipping clutch prevents tap breakage. The operator is Betty Hall (24) before the war an assistant in a china and glassware shop in Essex.
371 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. No. 30. Charge-hand fitter William Bull 43 years with B.S.A. is fitting side and face cutters on the bench ready to machine a Spitfire under-carriage bracket a job that has to be machined to unusual angles.
372 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. NO. 31. Shop cleaner, Mary Phipps, 66 next birthday, mother of six children (buried three sons, three daughters still alive) has worked here for two and a half years, her first job since 1918.
373 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. No. 32. The psychology class has an informal debate on general topics in the Superintendent’s office on a week during the dinner hour. Seen in this picture are H.H. Plester, Superintendent, T.R. Shiner, Assistant Superintendent, J. Rainsford. Grinding machine operator, and E. Duddy, fitter.
374 — Vono Dispersal B.S.A. No. 33. Another view of the psychology class.
375 — Vono Dispersal I.S.A. No. 34. Flying officer Friffiths talks to the workers with Flight it. Wilson D.M.F. lending moral support
376 — Vono Dispersal. B.S.A. No. 35. A glimpse of the R.A.F. officers' audience.
377 — Vono dispersal B.S.A. No. 36. Live assets of the B.S.A. Vono Pig Club, a cooperative effort by some twenty of the employees at this factory.
378 — Vono dispersal B.S.H. No. 37. The pigstys are situated at the rear of the works and the usual complement is 12 pigs.
379 — Vono dispersal B.S.A. No. 38. The improved "Kikhen" for cooking the pig swill.
380 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A. No. 39. Triplex Foundry Ltd., Tipton. The offices and main entrance. The B.S.A. dispersal shop is at the far end of the driveway. (Grates were manufactured at these works.)
381 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.H. No. 40. Looking into the entrance to the shop - the notice hung over the gangway speaks for itself.
382 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A. No. 41. Machine Trunion blocks on a capstan lathe.
383 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A. No. 42. Girls operating a battery of upright drilling Machines.
384 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A. No. 43. Women workers during the afternoon tea break.
385 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A. No. 44. An old hand reads the news at tea time.
386 — Triplex Dispersal B.S.A; No. 45. After hours - the staff so-journ to the local inn.
387 — Dudley Toolroom Dispersal B.S.A. No. 46. The B.S.A. Toolroom at the rear of the premises of Thomas Dudley Ltd., Wolverhampton New Road, Dudley. (This was a foundry)
388 — Dudley Toolroom Dispersal B.S.A. No. 48. The Toolmaker. Peter Keeling, who graduated to the toolroom from the office via the motorcycle assembly bench, and now a leading universal Miller, takes a tool from his tool cabinet.
389 — Dudley Toolroom Dispersal B.S.A. No. 49. The Old Hand. Jack Hingeley (61) over 40 years with B.S.A., grinding gauges.
390 — Tipton Dispersal B.S.A. No. 50. "Claco" Hardening Shop. Chas. Lathe & Co. Ltd. Tipton. (Grates and ranges were manufactured here)
391 — Tipton Dispersal B.S.A. No. 51. Girls de-jigging Browning Gun flash eliminators after hard-chroming
392 — Tipton Dispersal B.S.A. Ho. 52. Tempering and setting Browning barrels. Ernest Howell now 61 started with B.S.N. when he was 17 and has been doing this job for 40 years. He fought in the Boer war and appeared on a photograph with King George V when the king visited Small Heath during the last war.
393 — Part of the premises of Firth-Vickers Stainless Steels Ltd. Narrow Lane, Blackheath. (Steel sheets were produced here).
394 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 54. Small Components produced in this shop being counted by weighing in the stores.
395 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 55 David Golding (15) who has worked at Blackheath for 12 months and is now a tender on a bar automatic, wonders if he is booking his work in his "claims book" correctly.
396 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 56. Ah! the puzzle is solved.
397 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 57. Arthur Topharn, Fitter (57) who started with the Royal Small Arms Co. at Sparkbrook in 1910 grinding a tool for one of the autos.
398 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 58. Small Autos, with fitter, Frank Cook (55), 20 years with B.S.A., tending the line on the left.
399 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 59. Something interesting on the works notice board for a few of the women workers.
400 — Blackheath Dispersal B.S.A. No. 60. The break for tea - no-one seemed to know whether "The Flying Pig" was a nickname for the stove or a tip for the 2.30.
401 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 61. The entrance to the works of Victor Drury & Sons Ltd. and J.G.A. Brazier Ltd. Bromsgrove. (Drury’s were shoe manufacturers and Braziers were builders). The premises of Paragon Crafts, decorators, part of this dispersal unit, are adjacent.
402 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No.62. Billy Jones (16) a Bromsgrove lad drilling and reaming Browning lock frames.
403 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 63. Foreman Harry Hemming (65) who has been with B.S.A. for 31 years, instructs a local youth Denis Young 14 years and 5 months old, in reading a blue-print. The boy is tapping blast-tube adaptors on a small capstan lathe.
404 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 64. A bench of women viewers inspect Browning lock frames.
405 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 65. A Hardness test on lock frame components.
406 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 66. Packing Browning barrel casing.
407 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 67. Barrel casing ready for despatch to Lye.
408 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 68. Entering up the shop record of the day's output.
409 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.A. No. 69. After hours. Fire-watchers have a quiet game of snooker in the combined recreation room and dormitory set aside for their use at the factory.
410 — Bromsgrove Dispersal B.S.H. No. 70. After the snooker match - 301 up at Darts.
411 — Redditch Dispersal B.S.A. No. 71. English Needle & Fishing Tackle Co. Ltd. Redditch. (Needles and fishing tackle were made here).
412 — Kidderminster Dispersal B.S.A. No. 72. A woman operating grinding Browning Gun side plates.
413 — Kidderminster Dispersal B.S.A. No. 73. Fitter Hay Collins, 75 years old and 45 years with B.S.A. sets up a machine for a woman operator. Collins was engaged in the production of rifle sights at B.S.H. during the Boer War and World War 1.
414 — Kidderminster Dispersal B.S.A. No. 74. A woman rivetter at work.
415 — Kidderminster Dispersal B.S.A. No. 75. Youth and middle-age, two types of women workers at Kidderminster.
416 — Kidderminster Dispersal B.S.A. No. 76. A general view of the shop from the rafters showing the dis-used overhead cog wheels of the carpet making machinery.
417 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 77. The premises of G.K. Davies, Lye, near Stourbridge. (This was a hardware warehouse).
418 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 78. Assembling the browning Gun. Part or the job is done by female labour.
419 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 79. women fitting ammunition lugs to Browning Guns.
420 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 80. The girl is fitting the Browning breech lock cam.
421 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 81. riveting the Browning Gun body.
422 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 82. Part of the final assembly. browning Gun.
423 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 83. The range. Loading a Browning Gun for the functioning test.
424 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 84. The range. Ready for the firing test.
425 — Lye Dispersal B.S.H. No. 85. Another. view of the range, preparing the Gun for firing.
426 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 86. A girl tests the gun for accuracy and speed. The speed is electrically recorded.
427 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 87. Assembling belts of cartridges for use in testing the guns.
428 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 88. A close up of the same operation.
429 — Lye Dispersal B.S.A. No. 89. Part of a belt of 1200 rounds - one minute's firing
430 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 90. At the rear of the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd., Kings Road, Tyseley. (This factory was producing aluminium and similar ware).
431 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 91. Assembling the barrel and final inspection of the Mark II Sten Carbine.
432 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 92. Women assembling body and trigger mechanism Sten Carbine-
433 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 93. Finish Chambering the cartridge way in Sten barrel - the drip tray saves. oil
434 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 94. Checking the Sten body for alignment, limit .005
435 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 95. Turning the adjusting screw for Spitfire rudder control from the bar on a Gisholt.
436 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 96. Screwing the 2-start thread for the same adjusting screw.
437 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 97. Two old hands grinding and polishing Sten bodies Jack Harley (54) 36 years service with B.S.A. and Horace Satterthwaite (51) 35 years service.
438 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 98. Sister Winnert, Armenian by birth, married to a British N.C.O. serving in the Middle East, in charge of the surgery.
439 — Tyseley Dispersal B.S.A. No. 99. The Ministry of Food organises a "Kitchen Front" demonstration in the works canteen.
440 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.H. No. 100. 1/2here the two pounder gun carriage was assembled, kettle-brook Mills, Tamworth (This was a disused garage previously used by Asbestoline Ltd. makers of asbestos sheets.
441 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 101. At work on the final assembly stages, two pounder gun carriage.
442 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 102. A close up of work on the final assembly.
443 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 103. Another close up of work on the gun carriage,
444 — Tamworth Dispersal. B.S.A. No. 104. Putting the finishing touches to the sighting gear before fitting to the gun carriage.
445 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 105. Welding the hook and securing bracket to the front leg of the gun carriage.
446 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 106. Drilling the base supporting ring of the tripod on a radial driller.
447 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 107. A batch of tripods waiting to be drilled.
448 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 108. A final coat of paint.
449 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 109. Aligning and adjusting the sights.
450 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 110. Checking the traversing gear
451 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 111. Another view of the traversing gear being tested.
452 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.H. No. 112. Pulling back the gun to test the hydraulic recuperator.
453 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No, 113. OK - and ready for dispatch.
454 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 115. Another view of the same batch ready for delivery.
455 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 117. Loading the railway lorry
456 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 119. Dinner-hour in the small canteen at Tamworth,
457 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 120. Meat, 2 veg and pudding for 1/-.
458 — Tamworth Dispersal B.S.A. No. 121. The Canteen is crowded, but not uncomfortable.
459 — Mansfield Dispersal B.S.A. No. 128. Quortex Limited, Sutton Road, Mansfield. (This was a hosiery factory).
460 — Mansfield Dispersal B.S.A. No. 129. A general view of part of the barrel mill with girls operating rifling machines.
461 — Mansfield Dispersal B.S.A. No. 130. The final assembly bench Boys Anti-Tank Rifle. |