Records of C. R. F. Engelbach

UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK MODERN RECORDS CENTRE Email:[email protected] Website: http://modernrecords.warwick.ac.uk

RECORDS OF C.R.F. ENGELBACH.

1925-1949

Charles Engelbach was born in 1876. He spent his working life in the engineering industry and was employed by the as Works Director from 1921 until his retirement in 1938, after which he remained a director. He died in 1943. Reference: R.J. Wyatt, 'Dictionary of Business Biography, Vol. 2' (1984).

Access: Open

Correspondence. 1927-[1949?]

MSS.305/3/1/1-207 Letters of condolence to Mrs Engelbach or E L 1943 Payton, Austin Motor Company, on Engelbach's death.

Arranged as far as possible in alphabetical order. Most date from February. Correspondents includes: Austin Harriers; Austin Motor Company Limited; Austin Staff Foremen's Benevolent Fund and Social Club; J Bayley, representative of Ransome & Marles Bearing Company Limited [MSS.305/3/1/13]; Sir George Beharrell [MSS.305/3/1/15]; Peter F Bennett, Lucas Works [MSS.305/3/1/17]; Birmid Industries Limited [MSS.305/3/1/19]; Captain J P Black, Standard Motor Company [MSS.305/3/1/22]; Charles L Breeden, Wilmot-Breedon Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/27-8]; British Legion, Austin branch and Birmingham City Council [MSS.305/3/1/29-30]; Car Mart Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/38]; J A Cole, Humber Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/42]; Fred Connolly, SW19 [Connolly Leather] [MSS.305/3/1/43]; H G Conway, Rubery Owen Messier Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/45]; Principal, County Technical College, Wednesbury [MSS.305/3/1/46]; Earle, Bourne & Company Ltd, Birmingham Rolling and Tube Mills [MSS.305/3/1/54]; Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation, and Birmingham District [MSS.305/3/1/61-2]; Federation Masonic Lodge No.4807 [MSS.305/3/1/65-6]; Foremen and Staff Mutual Benefit Society, Birmingham District [MSS.305/3/1/67]; H E Griffin [cycling pioneer and writer, garage proprietor] [MSS.305/3/1/75]; Mrs S

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Guiton-Engelbach [MSS.305/3/1/78]; Heat & Air Systems Ltd [of which C R F and A G Engelbach were directors][MSS.305/3/1/81]; Sir Patrick Hennessy, Ford Motor Company [MSS.305/3/1/83]; Institution of Automobile Engineers [MSS.305/3/1/86-7]; George Lanchester [MSS.305/3/1/92]; Sir William Letts [motor industry pioneer] [MSS.305/3/1/94]; F W Lewis, managing director, Perry Barr Metal Company Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/95]; Lodge Plugs Ltd, Rugby [MSS.305/3/1/97]; [Engelbach's successor at Austin] [MSS.305/3/1/98]; Cyril C Maudslay [MSS.305/3/1/107]; Midland Works & Business Houses Sports Association [MSS.305/3/1/108]; Nuneaton Nursing Home Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/114]; Herbert E Parkes [former Austin board member] [MSS.305/3/1/118]; E L Payton [MSS.305/3/1/121]; Reginald Rootes [MSS.305/3/1/132-3]; William Rootes [MSS.305/3/1/134]; Salvation Army [MSS.305/3/1/137]; The Stonehouse Gang, Birmingham 29 [MSS.305/3/1/147]; Triplex Safety Glass Company Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/150-1]; C A Vandervell [MSS.305/3/1/154-5]; Arthur C R Waite [Sir Herbert Austin's son in law and a director] [MSS.305/3/1/157]; Frank Wollard [production engineer] [MSS.305/3/1/163]; Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/164]; Zenith Carburetter Company Ltd [MSS.305/3/1/167]. Unidentified (illegible or incomplete signatures) [MSS.305/3/1/168-206]. Copy of letter from H G Jenkins, Renold & Chain Company Ltd, to L P Lord [MSS.305/3/1/207].

MSS.305/3/2/1-5 Letters from Peter [C P G] Engelbach to his 1927-1933 parents.

From Oundle, Hatfield [De Havilland Aeronautical Training School], Paris [on attachment to a factory near Neuilly], and en route for America. 1927,undated, 1931 and 1933.

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MSS.305/3/3/1-4 Business affairs of C R F Engelbach and his trust [1928-1949?] estate.

Divided into the following categories: Shareholding, including George Morgan Limited, drop forgers, Selly Oak; Royal Mail Steam Packet Company [R M Realisation Company Ltd]; Lancegaye Safety Glass Ltd; Black and White Service Stations Ltd. [MSS.305/3/3/1]. Villa 'Les Rossignols', Trépied, near Le Touquet: acquisition, 1928; insurance; war damage claims, with plans and elevations, 1945-9 [MSS.305/3/3/2]. Trust Estate accounts, 1945-1949 [MSS.305/3/3/3]. Various: wills and insurance [MSS.305/3/3/4].

Published work by C R F Engelbach. [1933]

MSS.305/4/1 'Problems in manufacture'. [1933]

Presidential address by Engelbach to Institution of Automobile Engineers, reprinted as 19 page booklet.

Other publications. 1935-1955

MSS.305/5/1 'Motor'. 20 Aug 1935

MSS.305/5/2 'Radial Times', vol.6, no.1. Jan 1938

House journal of William Asquith Limited, machine tool manufacturers, Halifax. Includes article by Engelbach on export of motor cars.

MSS.305/5/3 'Birmingham Post'. 6 Jul 1955

Austin golden jubilee supplement.

Biographical papers and other miscellaneous (1935?)-1984 documents.

MSS.305/7/1/1-13 File of biographical material relating to C R F c1940s-1984 Engelbach.

Includes: 2 biographical chapters, 'Music and theatrical' and 'Naval affairs' [the former gives some indication of Engelbach's family circumstances and mileu]; manuscript notes about his early experience at Scotswood shell and forge works; obituary from the 'Austin Magazine', Apr 1943; drafts for entry in the Dictionary of Business Biography, vol.2, 1984.

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MSS.305/7/2/1-6 File of miscellanea about Mrs Florence Engelbach, c1951 artist and wife of C R F Engelbach.

Includes synopsis of articles on painting; admittance card for memorial exhibition of her painting at the Leicester Galleries, 1951; probate documents.

MSS.305/7/3/1-2 British Legion: programmes for 2 events in Jun 1935 Birmingham.

Diaries. 1932, 1939

MSS.305/8/1 Diary kept by Mrs Florence Engelbach. Sep 1932

With some entries by her son, Peter, of a motor trip, 'Les Rossignols' / Besançon / Montreux / Chamonix / Bourge en Bresse / Paris / 'Les Rossignols'. Contains loose hotel bills, etc.

MSS.305/8/2 Diary of journey by Peter [C P G] Engelbach to Oct 1939 Turkey [for project at Istanbul Aerodrome].

5 folios. Typescript.

Cuttings.

MSS.305/10/1 'Datada' diary used as press-cuttings book. Aug 1925-Feb

Topics / contents include: 1931 General Motors Corporation offers for Austin, 1925. Engelbach's inaugural address, Institution of Production Engineers, Birmingham, Sep 1927. Comparisons of British and American machine tools and production methods. Visit to United States auto plants, 1927. 2 photographs of golf match contestants. 1 photograph of Margaret Bondfield, Minister of Labour, visiting Longbridge, Jan 1931. Article on Austin control systems, 'Automobile Engineer', Oct 1927.

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MSS.305/10/2 Cuttings binder. Apr 1931-Jul

Topics / contents include: 1934 British Legion affairs, Birmingham. Golf competitors' photographs. Engelbach's views on industrial welfare work, Apr 1931. Gee Films Limited: prospectus for Austin film, 'This progress'. Photograph of Primo Carnera, the boxer, in Austin 7 at Longbridge, 1932. BBC broadcast from Longbridge, Jan 1933. Engelbach's presidential address to Institution of Automobile Engineers (IAE), Oct 1933, on problems in manufacture and the avoidance of waste. IAE French visit, Jun 1934.

MSS.305/10/3 Cuttings binder. Jun 1934-Dec

Topics / contents include: 1936 SIA 'Journal' report of Institution of Automobile Engineers (IAE) French visit, Jun 1934. Austin works outing to Blackpool, Sep 1934. 'Manufacturing to a budget' address to Coventry Rotary Club, Mar 1935. Engelbach's paper on 'Production management technique' to 6th International Congress for Scientific Management, Jun-Jul 1935. British Legion affairs. Photographs of Duke of York with Austin saloon at Southwold camp. Plans for sheet steel supplies, 1934-5. Shadow factory scheme. Paper on problems of quantity production, given to the Institute of Motor Trade, Nov 1936.

MSS.305/10/4 Cuttings binder. Nov 1936-Jan

Topics / contents include: 1938 Longbridge strike, 12-16 Nov 1936 [this originated in the West Works, over a cut in the time allowed to planishers to work on each car]. Shadow factories. Support of radium beam therapy at Birmingham General Hospital. Austin aero workers' strike at Cofton Hackett, Nov 1937 [demand for removal of a rate-fixer]. 'The battle of the tens', 'Business', Dec 1937. Ebbw Vale steel strip mill [supported by Lord Austin], 1938.

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MSS.305/10/5 Cuttings binder. Feb 1938

Topics / contents include: Engelbach's resignation and replacement by L P Lord.

MSS.305/10/6 Cuttings binder. Feb 1938

Topics / contents include: Cuttings from national and Birmingham newspapers on Engelbach's retirement; also draft of announcement.

MSS.305/10/7 Miscellaneous cuttings.

Includes cuttings on the opening of the former Engelbach home as headquarters club of the Austin Branch of the British Legion.

Photographs.

MSS.305/12/1-29 Photographs and cartoons. [1930s?]

Includes 4 theatrical portraits by Newcastle studios, camp scenes with the Duke of York and Robert Hyde of Industrial Welfare doc., 1 line-up of Austin saloons at Longbridge, various golfing scenes, and as a young man in RNVR uniform. Also 3 pencil / ink cartoons of Engelbach, 1930s.

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