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Vulcan Manufacturing (Wolverhampton) Ltd.New Griffin Works, Colliery Road |
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At Colliery Road there were two works side by side: Vulcan
Manufacturing and the Wearwell Cycle Co. Ltd.. Both were owned by
the Waine Family.
Vulcan Manufacturing can be seen as an archetype of Wolverhampton industry. In their time they were involved in general ironmongery, locks and bolts, nails, bicycles and motorbicycles. They could claim to be one of the oldest firms in the ironmongery industry. But their family roots are in Willenhall.
Joseph Waine & Co. Ltd, were general lock, latch & bolt makers, brass & iron founders at Imperial Works, Wood Street, Willenhall. It seems that the company would have been founded about 1850. (Note: this company is not to be confused with John Waine and Sons (Willenhall) Ltd of Brittannia Works, Lower Lichfield street, Willenhall. There is no connection known between the companies or the families).
Joseph had three sons, John Vincent Waine, G. A. Waine and Horace T. Waine. John Vincent Waine, and his brother G. A. Waine, started the Vulcan Manufacturing Company at Blackheath, Birmingham, in about 1910. The company manufactured heel tips and toe plates and had the most up to date machinery in the world. The factory turned out 288,000 pairs of heels per week, under their Vulcan brand name and supplied them to the army in the first world war. They used to import their steel from Belgium, and in those days it only cost £4 a ton. The company’s products including No. 0 and 1 York heels, 21B heels, mule and horse shoes for the Indian, Turkish, African and South American markets, and japanned and galvanised door bolts. A large number of other products were produced including the following:
Brass, chromium-plated and special finishes, stainless steel, garage bolts, cabinet bolts, shelf brackets, aluminium door and gate latches, casement stays and fasteners, hasps and staples, hinges, brass and steel gate and tee, gutter brackets, swivel ties, tinned angle brackets, rim, dead and mortice locks, latches, padlocks, stamped brassware and household soldering sets.
The works covered over an acre. Extensive trade was done with the War Office, the Army and in various parts of Europe. The third brother, Horace T. Waine, was also involved in the business, and due to his international travels the products were also sold in Japan, Burma and Egypt. The company also had an establishment in the Potteries.
In 1913 the Directors decided to move their three factories to one site to improve the company's efficiency. In June a large disused works was purchased in Colliery Road, Wolverhampton and the three factories were combined under one roof and called the New Griffin Works.
The New Griffin Works in 2004
In 1928 Theo Waine and G. A.Waine took over the Wearwell Cycle Co. Ltd. from the liquidators of the Wulfruna Engineering Co Ltd. This business, which had made both Wearwell bikes and Wolf motorbikes, was moved to New Griffin works. By 1929 the company was producing a large range of machines including children's versions, scooters, and tradesman's cycles.
In 1931 the factory was expanded and the production of 'Wolf' motor cycles started. Mr. H.V.Waine, a keen motor cyclist, was responsible for the design and production of both motor cycles and cycles, while Mr. T. A. Waine was responsible for sales.
H. V. Waine, who was an air raid warden during World War 2, remarked one night during the blitz that there was quite a blaze on the horizon, only to discover it was his own factory!. The workers set to the following day and soon had some production restored; and the factory buildings were soon rebuilt, though fire damaged machinery was not all cleared away until after the end of the war.
'Wolf' motorcycles continued in production until the outbreak of World War 2. After the war the company decided to concentrate solely on the manufacture of pedal bicycles and no more motorcycles were produced. Production of Vulcan Manufacturing’s other lines continued. These included products in stainless steel, which had been introduced as early as 1934.
The cycle side of the business continued to be successful and the company’s team won the Tour of Britain cycle race in 1953. By this time the company was employing several hundred workers. The company also developed a toy department which made childrens tricycles, swings and other items. Thus, in 1953 in the Wolverhampton Official Handbook, they describe themselves as
Manufacturers of door bolts in japanned and galvanised steel. Also brass, chromium-plated and special finishes, stainless steel, garage bolts, cabinet bots, shelf brackets, aluminium door and gate latches, casement stays and fasteners, hasps and staples, hinges, brass and steel gate and tee, gutter brackets, swivel ties, tinned angle brackets, rim, dead and mortice locks and latches, padlocks, stamped brass-foundry, household soldering sets, cycle bells, boot heel and toe tips (steel).
The company's letterhead from 1965 (by courtesy of Trevor Dowson)
In 1969 the Vulcan Manufacturing company went into voluntary liquidation, and the goodwill was sold to Tippers, who were in the same line of business. The Wearwell Cycle Co was also sold.
More information about the company's various
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