Quote Originally Posted by abellringer View Post
So many interesting posts, nice to see the patriotism still being shown. I was at the Park Lane site, which was actually in West Browwich not Birmingham, but in order to keep the Birmingham name and benefits, the firm had a side gate installed on to the road that ran alongside the factory but was still classed as ''Birmingham''. Sadly from my experience there, the designers were out of their depth, they did make some interesting rifles, as sold in the auction that had lots of one off's and experimental items. As was usual at the time and mentioned in here, lack of long term investment was a killer; sadly today we succumb to the great gods ACCOUNTANTS whose only mantra is '' profit now''. I was lucky enough to try some stuff that close to the German rifles, but ''the cost''. I have to say I don't know that revolver, but it looks rather tasty. I did get to shoot lots of stuff though including the Fosberry revolver, I still have a manual that was issued to a serving person. Upstairs at the Park lane site behind the offices was a corridor which had dozens of historical items from chains, manacles etc to current guns; on there was a pair of Fosberry's with a plaque saying these were found alongside the body of ?????????????? a famous general's body killed in a battle with indians. MMmmmmmm??
Again sadly when ''figures went low'' this stuff was sold off, as were items from the design office, many of which I was able to buy before they were shipped off to Weller & Dufty.
The park Lane site was closed and products split to several sites; before more closures and air production went to Turkey. That said the Axsor was Swedish designed and in its era wasn't that bad.
On a completely different subject, not many will remember that at Park Lane, Webley also made in house; fishing rods. The raw parts were bought and several rods were made in a small ''cell'' within the factory; reels and other equipment were bought in, badged as Webley, again I still have glossy brochures for them. Given some 10 years there in very transitional times I have loads of specific memories.
The most major and catastrophic by miles, was when I started there I had zero knowledge of air history, I was just good at repairing stuff. So to make space for new parts ranges for the world changing Hawk MKI. I was tasked with removing and destroying ALL THE SERVICE MKII STOCK. Cylinders were crushed in a press, barrels bent in a press, stocks cut up for use on .22 pistols. Yes guys I'm the UTTER TOTAL PLONKER that did so much damage to our history. I did redeem myself with the MKIII saving as much as possible whilst staying within the law; the one line I never crossed nor never will.
Please don't hate me, ignorance is no excuse, but I was, and just did as I was told.
Again, thank you for this insight. And please don't you be going beating yourself up, you were only doing as told.