Hi Compressorman
I know what you mean about progress, it has to happen but must admit I don't always like it. The landscape of Brums' industrial past has almost vanished.
I think back to when I was contracting in the early 70's to about 1980. I saw the inside of many industries. Mainly from the boiler house and pipework end.
Some of the old steam boilers had been in place since the turn of the last century and still coal fired. They were all pieces of industrial art. I can only remember a few of the makes of boilers; Lancashire, Babcock, Cockcraine, Robin Hood, to name a few. They were mostly looked after by men (it was all were men in those days) that almost knew the personality of the boiler and how to get the best out of it. Brasswork always polished and boiler house floors clean.
Sadly, as the 70's wore on I saw many of theses being demolished with sledge hammers and carted off for scrap. Some of the brass that went for scrap would be valued today by industrial antique collectors or the Steam Punk scene.
A small firm in Brum that I did a bit of work for was Birmingham Battery and Metal Company. I think this was in the Selly Oak area. The amount of brass melted down there on a daily basis was incredible.
Does anyone now if Birmingham Battery and Metal is still going?