We have to remember that history shows us that the Birmingham craftsmen lived with their families in tenements, lofts and attics above the the workshops.I can remember playing kick the can in the tenement yard whilst handcarts scurried by.We went to school and married other craftsmens daughters and talked about how trade and developments were at other factories.Frank Wiseman took his family to Scotland just after the WW2 so what did he bring back as regards knowledge about Dickson, McNaughton,Etc.,
When Webley were bombed out of their premises they carried on manufacture in a large tent pitched at Red House Park, Great Barr, many of the workers took parts home in the evening and weekends to assemble as they were paid piecework rates of pay.
Yes the fabric of the Birmingham guntrade is colourful, large and varied.
We haven't even started on the lock trade of Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Wednesbury yet.