doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Webley & Scott Nostalgia

Ah, god, you could live out on those stories for the remainder of your life over here.

Salopian and have I believe, much in common!The first 30 years of my life was spent in Midlands/Birmingham, both as a student and engineer.I discovered the Birmingham Gun quarter in the 1940,s arriving by Tram car at the front door of G.Bate Gun Makers,Steel House lane. This was the beginning of many interesting encounters and visits to the gun quarter. I will share one of my earliest with you! I dearly wanted to see Greener,s showroom Located in their offices and works on Saint Marys Row. It was an impressive building, quite formidable to a 15 year old.I resolved to buy some pellets for my air rifle as a means to gain access. One entered through an ornate front door, opposite was a large flight of stairs leading to a landing which housed a service wicket and access to the showroom. As I stood at the wicket, a voice behind me said "and what do you want young man?" To which I answered "air rifle pellets"! The reply was;"I think you would like to see The guns." My reply was of course, yes. The speaker was as you may have guessed,was Mr.Greener.Following a brief tour of the showroom he presented me with a small booklet entitled, "A Few Facts for Shooters"; which I still have and treasure. His last words were; "I hope one day you will buy one of our guns".
Over the years I have owned many Greener,s the last remaining in my collection being a Greener Imperial.

Salopian
There used to be a fantastic gun collection in the science museum in B`ham do you know what happened to it? I remember spending hours in there as a teenager in the sixties.I was born in Smethwick served my time at GKN before moving on.Still a Baggie supporter.
Take Care Pedler

Pedler,
The Science Museum is long gone, replaced by The Think Tank a modern technology exhibition site.I believe some of the guns may be in the Proof House Collection, but allegedly the better exhibits were taken for safe keeping by the Museum Governors and the 'favoured few'.Mike Newland the former curator of the gun collection, historian and writer is a good friend of mine.He seeths with rage if you ask him where the collection is, swears, and says that I should do something about it.I did but met a wall of silence.
Fancy you working at GKN! I used to prepare a race car for one of the development engineers there at Heath Street. Geoff Williams was his name, he passed away last year.Also was instrumental in building the GKN 48D which was a Europa with a Rover / Buick V8. I tell you it is a very small world.

Salopian
I remember seeing the Europa at GKN recreation grounds at an open house there in around 69-70? We used to have our apprentice xmas parties there also, hired Genesis for around $150 to play at one.
Take Care Pedler