Exhibition - The British Needle Company
1st February to 11th March 2018
Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre opened on the 1st February 2018, for their 2018 season with a fascinating exhibition on the British Needle Company, an important Redditch manufacturer of its time.
The exhibition, produced by Jo-
The British Needle company was started in 1918 and in 1919 Edward Keesey joined the company after demobilisation from the Royal Airforce. In 1921 he became general manager and a director in 1934. Under his direction the company grew and by 1944 the company was one of the largest manufactures of needles in Britain.
The British Needle Company specialised in gramophone needles. Their famous 'Pyramid' brand was sold worldwide and selected for use by numerous broadcasting stations, Including the BBC. There is an amusing letter to the BBC where, one morning, a gramophone needle failed to give a good sound. British Needle asked that it could be returned so that they could examine it. This was one of millions produced. Now that's what I call customer service!
In 1962 Princess Margaret visited the British Needle Company and there are many photographs illustrating this event.
This is an interesting exhibition for anyone interested in the industrial history of the town and, I am pleased to say that, Henry, the museum cat, has survived the winter and should be with us throughout the year.
