Jensen Factory postcard

[ajm541s]

Church Commissioners

[Han Kamp]

Thank you Tony, i think most of us thought JML owned the premises. To me at least this is an unknown fact.

Best regards, Han

[felixkk]

Nick Maltby kindly sent me some corrections pertaining to the 2nd floor:

2nd Floor -
The drawing office (D.O.) (from 1962/3 to c1971)
The first window was Kevin Beattie's office.
The second window was the small meeting room.
The third widow was the D.O. admin. section.
The last window was Peter Swain's office (D.O. Manager mid 60s)

Now updated, thank you Nick- very much appreciated.

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[felixkk]

An aerial of Carters Green, taken in 1938

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[felixkk]

I've been contacted by Dirk Backenkoehler from Stuttgart with a question regarding the Pensnett facility and the production of the Austin A40 Sports. He has an excellent website (in english) on the A40:

https://www.austina40sports.dirksspacea ... onnection/

His question was:

"Production for the A40 Sports ran from January 1951 to December 1952 (prototypes and very few very early models as early as 1950). According to previous records, the bodies were manufactured in Pensnett. Thanks to your research, it is finally clear where exactly this “work” was. The lease you show is dated October 1951, but runs from June 1951, if I understand correctly. If Jensen had only rented the facility at this point in time, this would mean that the sports production would have to have taken place in a different location by then."

Dirk has been in contact with Richard Calver and has "All the Models" where Richard states that Pensnett was in operation by January 1951. I'm assuming there was a previous lease for this facility?

[kees]

Bottom left of postcard states NORCROS GROUP, doesn't this date the picture?
Shaun.

It would be at least pre 1978 when I visited Jensen Parts & Service for the first time after which several times followed. When I visited the place the parking lot was always full of cars which were wrecks for parts and cars to be restored.
The picture does not show any of this so I guess the picture is taken when the factory was still in full operation i.e. pre 1975.
Kees Oudesluijs

[felixkk]

Thanks Kees

Here are some pictures of Pensnett I found from the site Britain from Above, from 1950

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW033494

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https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW033490

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[Kevin Birch]

Pensnett;
Most of the area has been redeveloped, the railway track has been lifted, but you can still see it's route outline, and the houses in the background in the middle photo, on Tansey Green Rd, are still there. Also in the middle photo the far lefthand building, this side of the road, is the only one still standing, and is now a pub, The Lenches Bridge.

[felixkk]

If you look at the photo from 1950 you'll see a second set of hangars that seem to be identical, with one standing nearby. That one (judging by its orientation) still seems to exist- the hangar I first thought was Jensen's.

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[Martin R]

Pensnett;
Most of the area has been redeveloped, the railway track has been lifted, but you can still see it's route outline, and the houses in the background in the middle photo, on Tansey Green Rd, are still there. Also in the middle photo the far lefthand building, this side of the road, is the only one still standing, and is now a pub, The Lenches Bridge.

I bet my great great grandparents who came from this general area wouldn't believe their eyes seeing it today!
Kevin, do you know if the "Why Not Inn" still in existence in Colley Gate? My great great grandfather (George Billingham) ran it many, many years ago in 1870!

[Kevin Birch]

Yes it's still there, up Why Not Street, went past it yesterday funnily enough.

[felixkk]

I cannot tell if and who's telling a joke and when

[felixkk]

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[aslef]

I am sure I used to go down there prior to the track being recovered if I have got it correct looking at those overhead pictures.
The old line from Walsall-Dudley-Stourbridge had a branch off it with a steep incline to Pensnett.
At that time it was a very busy route as the Round Oak works was also served from the old line,did not realise the connection until now.
Nice to have your memory jogged,Thanks.
Tim

[felixkk]

I had to google, the Round Oaks Steel works is a bit to the south, a picture from 1951:

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