snailbrand

Dear followers of Thomas Smith & Sons of Saltley Ltd I have another question for the forum, this time about the Smith O Saltley football/soccer team in1914. My research looking through old newspapers, has found that the firm also known as Smith O Saltley, had a team in the Birmingham Midlands English football/soccer league in 1914. I wonder if anyone knows about the team? In some instances, members of other teams (who also worked together) enlisted for World War 1. Could this have been the case for this firm? regards Margaret from Australia great great granddaughter of Thomas Smith, the founder of the firm

Dear Web Master and John, (a past apprentice at Thomas Smith & Sons, Saltley), Well, what a marvellous time I've had over the last few weeks! Little did I know when I introduced myself as a descendant of Thomas Smith (through his son William), that I'd meet John H. John H has been very generous with his time in sharing his memories of working at the firm plus sending me, a booklet "The Centenary of Thomas Smith & Sons of Saltley Ltd 1848- 1948". All of these things "bring to life" the story of the firm. So, again, I'd like to thank this website for making the opportunity for people to connect. Well done! Through the website, I have also connected with a Smith descendant from the firm. I have shared several emails with a descendant of Albert Edward Smith, another son of Thomas Smith, founder of Thomas Smith & Sons. Again, thankyou. So far in my research, I have travelled to England to meet descendants of these sons of Thomas Smith, the founder: William, Thomas junior and Albert. However, I am still trying to locate the descendants of the other son, John. I believe some of his descendants emmigrated to South Africa. I wonder if this website could connect me with John's descendants? best wishes Margaret NSW Australia

Dear JLC, What wonderful history! Our connection is closer than I could imagine i.e. your father working at the firm plus being a gardener for two of the Smiths. I wonder which family members? My great grandfather was Thomas Smith's eldest son, William. About six years ago, I started collecting various Snail Brand tools to display at the local Hunter Valley Farm Machinery Club. I have information that the Snail Brand tools were used for Ford tractors and appeared in the tool kit for Jaguar cars. best wishes, Margaret NSW Australia

Dear J.L.C., Again, many thanks for your message and photo of Thomas Smith. regards, Margaret, NSW Australia

Dear J.L.C., many thanks for your message. Yes, I'd love to hear about your time at TS&Sons for my research. It sounds as if your father also worked at the firm- for him to have received the book. I managed to visit the Saltley worksite several years ago. The Birmingham Council has listed the building as a Heritage SIte. I wonder what Thomas Smith would have thought about that! As for the Coleshill site, I was lucky to receive several photos of the site before it was completely bulldozed. I am the great great granddaughter! I started researching the family tree in 2001 and found it difficult to find information about Thomas Smith and his business because I live in Australia. I had a breakthrough on www.ancestry.co.uk and contacted the other Smith descendants. I have some newspaper articles on the firm too. The firm made bicycles in the 1880s and was nearly declared bankrupt twice. If you are still willing to send me the book, I'd really appreciate that as I don't have one. best wishes, Margaret, NSW Australia Many thanks for the message. I was pleased to see a few people were interested in my post and wanted to add information to my research on Thomas Smth and Sons of Saltley, makers of the Snail Brand tools and also the Saltley Cycle, popular inthe 1880s. best wishes, Margaret, NSW Australia

Hello Dicko, many thanks for your message. What years did your father work at Saltley? Would you know who the Manager was at the time? Several years ago I managed to visit the Saltley site for the first time. I was pleased to learn that the Birmingham Council had given the building a Heritage Listing.

Hello, I'm interested in writing a short history of my great, great grandfather's family firm, Thomas Smith & Sons, Saltley, Birmingham, England. It was established in 1848 when Thomas started in his drop forge making and selling hammers around Birmingham, England. From a business catalogue in 1912, his firm made tools under the "Snail Brand" trademark. Although I don't make objects in iron myself, I do however collect "Snail Brand" tools and display them at events. I note that one of your members is JESmith, also a descendant of the same family firm. If at all possible, I'd really be grateful if we could correspond and share information on writing the short history. regards Snailbrand