Showing posts with label Factory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Factory. Show all posts

Old Brandauer factory fire

    As you will no doubt know by now there was a fire in the old Brandauer factory on Saturday morning.

    The strange coincidence is that I was driving past with Graham at 10.45am on Saturday for a meeting in the Pen Museum in the Jewellery Quarter and couldn't believe my eyes. The road was blocked by police and two large engines were at the front of the building with a fireman up a high ladder pouring gallons of water into the first floor window slightly to the left of the large arch. Around the side of the building, where the car wash is, were a further 3 engines at least and a welfare unit. From this view of the inside of the factory you could see the water being hosed in from the front coming out into the yard.

    We asked three fireman about the fire and were told that they had been called at 4am on Saturday morning (and it 10.45am when we were around) and up to 12 engines and 40 fire fighters had been used to stop the fire. They believe it was started by accident with some of the homeless who were in the building. As we were chatting we could see the firemen going through the rest of the factory to check, I presume, that it was safe.

    On the way back from our meeting we drove infront of the building and you can now see all the way up to the sky from the ground floor - it really is just a shell in that part of the building. There were also two police officers guarding an open door on the far right of the front of the building, whilst someone may have been checking again about the state of the building.

    A very sad day indeed as if the old factory wasn't derelict enough since it was sold by Brandauer in 2000. If only it was possible to do something ... Does anyone know anyone with the odd £5million?   It would be a fantastic project to convert it and I would be the first to join to help drive the project forward.  We need to do a 'Restoration' group project as in the TV programme of the same name. 

    Anyway, I do have photos of the fire fighter on the long high ladder pouring water over the building as I was taking my camera to the Pen Museum meeting, which I will post in due course. It was all a rather horrid coincidence.

Post Title

Old Brandauer factory fire


Post URL

https://manufacturing-holdings.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-brandauer-factory-fire.html


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The sound of silence ...

    They say 'silence is golden' but silence is also the sound of a factory no longer manufacturing goods, a factory that is empty of people, a factory that has lost its soul.

    My Father, Mr Joseph Adrian Letiere Petit (the fourth generation) always loved the sound of presses thumping away in the factory as it meant a productive Company, the more thumps the better.  For the presses to run you need that magic ingredient - people.  It was those employed in C Brandauer & Co Ltd that gave the building its soul.

    When the operators and technicians, office staff and engineers leave a factory for good, the presses, lights and heating are switched off.  All that remains are memories and ghosts.  These are joined by pigeons, weeds and anyone wanting shelter in an old derelict building.  This is the situation in which our old factory finds itself at the moment.

    The Brandauer factory building, built by my great, great grandfather and Mr C Brandauer provided employment for hundreds of people and families whilst it was manufacturing pens and pressings for 140 years.  Now it stands forlorn, forgotten and neglected when once it was proud and bustling with people.

    I remember walking round from our 'new' factory, just a block away from the old one, on the day we handed the keys over to the new owners.  It seemed unbelievable that I wouldn't walk around that well known Birmingham landmark again in its present form but looked forward to seeing it given a new lease of life.

    For nearly 10 years it has stood empty and dejected, with broken windows and the contents from its workshops in a pile in the yard.  Lifeless, broken windows and trees growing out of the roof.  I am pleased my Father did not live to see it in the state it is now.

    We need someone with vision and the money to invest in this well loved building and turn back on its lights and fill it with people once again.  Are you the one who could do that?  If I was able I would relish the opportunity of bringing life back to our old factory but alas it is beyond my budget (though I would love to be involved with the person who does take on the project).  What could it be used for - small business units, youth hostel, hall of residence, hotel, industrial units with or without living accomodation, a 'green' project, dance and drama studios, conference centre, creative arts units with a gallery and cafe, a college/training centre, appartments or a museum.  What would you use it for?

    Converting the Brandauer building is not an easy option.  Whoever decides to bring it back to life needs great vision and plenty of money as it will be an expensive project, but so worth while.  I'm sure there is someone who will take on this project and once again give my great, great grandfather's and Mr C Brandauer's building back its soul by filling its rooms with that magic ingredient - people.

Post Title

The sound of silence ...


Post URL

https://manufacturing-holdings.blogspot.com/2010/03/sound-of-silence.html


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