Birmingham: An analysis of geographical influences on the metal industries

Abstract

In considering the reasons for the rise and development of the Birmingham metal trades geographical influences are very evident. As a result of these influences the products of the metal trades have always had special characteristics, although the actual articles made have been constantly changed. No raw materials for a metal industry were available either in or near to the town itself. Supplies were first brought from South Staffordshire. Owing to the cost and difficulty of transporting these, Birmingham produced light finished goods, for the manufacture of which little raw material but a great deal of skill was needed. Owing to the growth of a labour supply skilled in making this type of goods, and as a result of the fact that all other areas supplying Birmingham were even further away than South Staffordshire, the manufacture of light finished goods persisted. An increasingly large labour supply, with an ever growing skill in the manipulation of metals has enabled the rapid growth of the metal trades of Birmingham to take place along these lines. There has been an ever increasing tendency to produce the highest class of goods, for the skill of the population is used to the best advantage in these manufactures. A second characteristic of the metal trades is that there has been a great and ever increasing variety of production. The skill of the population is again the basis of this development, for skill in working one metal can easily be applied to another. The variety of industry has been stimulated by the fact that Birmingham was a metal working town, for metals lend themselves to more uses than any other material. The fact that the industries were producing light goods has also encouraged variety in production, for a change or addition in manufacture was relatively easy. Changes in the articles made have been numerous, but always the products have been light finished goods in a variety of metals. The engineering industries of today are merely an aggregate of numerous metal industries making such a class of goods. New industries have been taken up successfully owing to the adaptability of the population. The network of roads, railways and canals focusing on Birmingham was developed because of the needs of the population for an increasing amount and variety of materials, for the development of old forms of industry and the rise of new ones. Physical conditions permitted this development, but it was the momentum acquired by the town that was responsible for the need of such a network. Because of these transport facilities linking the town to a variety of areas in the country, and especially to the ports, further supplies for the metal workers could be obtained.