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View Full Version : Beans Foundry Tipton 2008



Hellboy
12-01-2009, 03:30 PM
Visited this place in early 2008.

History
This site has seen many different approaches to work, and different products produced here. A Harper, Sons and Bean was a founder established in Dudley in 1826, during the war a large production capacity was built up, however at the end of the war for the company to survive it needed to find a peacetime product. In 1918 it moved into the motor industry. Jack Harper Bean had visions of the Tipton plant producing 10 000 cars per year, but it wasn't to be. After tooling the plant with modern equipment from America, Beans was for a short while more profitable than the Morris Car Company but in 1921 the entire industry fell into recession.

The company was forced into receivership and Jack resigned. Two years later, backed by Hadfeilds and various banks it was brought back and Jack installed as manager. Full control was handed to Hadfields by 1926, and the following year Jack Bean left. By the end of 1929 the company ceased making cars all together and in 1933 it was renamed to Beans Industries and restructured as a general engineering firm. The Tipton Factory was chosen to hand-build Captain George Eyston's car Thunderbolt, it achieved 311mph setting a new land speed record on November 19, 1937.

Beans partnered with many other companies through the years, altering its product range. It was it's close links with Rover that brought the end of the Tipton plant. When Rover went into administration, Beans lots their major client and went bankrupt less than 6months later.

Pictures

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0448.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0460.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0461.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0467.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0475.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0484.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/Beans%20Foundry/100_0488.jpg


Thanks to Meth for history

boxfrenzy
12-01-2009, 04:07 PM
I love seeing reports from this place. I like the last one by the canal. It's amazing that such a massive place like this is empty.

ERNIE99_UK
19-01-2009, 03:53 PM
What a sad end for this place, bet it made a shitload casting stuff for british leyland in the 1970's.

Its a shame it didnt last a bit longer and SAIC didnt buy british parts from it for the mgtf le500 etc. Having said, i bet theyre not selling any atm.

Dr.Doo
19-01-2009, 04:36 PM
great place and pictures.