Gkn

[Bsmith]

Long time ago a boss told me what the GKN stamp on bolt/stud heads meant, think it was the name of the company who made them, it was something like ?, Keen and Nettlefolds but really can't remember. Anyone here know?

 

[Welderpaul]

Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds
They had their fingers in a lot of pies

 

[Bsmith]

Thanks Paul, are they still going?

 

[Welderpaul]

Yes. Website here.

 

[Epicyclic]

They did a very tasty Lotus Europa special in the 70's didn't they?

 

[Robotstar5]

and history here my father worked at Nettlefolds!

 

[Bsmith]

They had their fingers in a lot of pies[/QUOTE]

I see what you mean, thanks again.

 

[Bsmith]

and history here my father worked at Nettlefolds!

Interesting, ty Robotstar.

 

[Drains]

and history here my father worked at Nettlefolds!

I had family worked in Land Rover, Wilmot Breedon (remember them?), SU Carburettors and best of all, Mitchells and Butlers (free delivery from the dray cart every month!). At least LR are still at it.

 

[Shox Dr]

Crcikey that's some history

 

[brightspark]

gkn had the universal joint factory at urlay nook 2 miles from my house hardy spicer owned it before the takeover . its now closed the last job on site was i had to disconect an 11000v transformer to be transported to there brum factory as they had a faulty one. price of a new one would have been 12 grand

 

[hareng]

Familly business used to do some of their tooling in Smethwick Robo and many other big name companies.

Incidently remember Sturmy Archer in Smethwick by the second Raleigh factory.

 

[Robotstar5]

I had family worked in Land Rover, Wilmot Breedon (remember them?), SU Carburettors and best of all, Mitchells and Butlers (free delivery from the dray cart every month!). At least LR are still at it.

A work colleague was at Wilmot Breedon for many years in the bumper division, had the Breedon Arms pub just down the road until it was demolished to build (more) apartments.

 

[Robotstar5]

Familly business used to do some of their tooling in Smethwick Robo and many other big name companies.

Incidently remember Sturmy Archer in Smethwick by the second Raleigh factory.

Tracing my family history and found my great great grandfather came from Cornwall with Tangye to set up a foundry in Smethwick, there is even a Cornwall Road!

 

[FranV8]

They did a very tasty Lotus Europa special in the 70's didn't they?

Yes, it was a Rover V8 engined one, used to showcase some of GKN's products iirc.

 

[rtbcomp]

Mr Nettlefold was super rich had a very nice house built in the 1930s, on the South Coast IIRC. It was featured in BBC's "Flog It!" The house has been converted into an hotel in its original style and is popular with the rich and famous.

 

[FranV8]

http://www.postdiluvian.org/~seven/pics/cars/47d/might.html

 

[TechnicAl]

They make the chassis for Land Rovers and Range Rovers in Telford. They also make wheels for off road vehicles eg Tractors.
I worked on some projects there a few years ago.

 

[rtbcomp]

They made crankshafts here in Sheffield.

 

[CRB]

I love it here.

GKN, I have seen upteen times but to find the history without searching and scrounging for it is a joy.