1538 John Leland reported “There be many Smithes in the Towne..”
1740 First Brasshouse in Birmingham.
1781 Birmingham Brass and Spelter Company established.
1832 Muntz Metal patented.
1835 Charles Askin and Edward White Benson completed the purification of nickel, initiating an industry.
1840 John Wright patented gold plating. Acquired by George Elkington, this initiated the electro-plating industry.
1853 James Horsfall patented high strength steel wire. This made deep mining possible and formed the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable. Used for piano-wire and hawsers.
1862 George Kynoch’s percussion cap business started at Witton.
1869 Cutty Sark sheathed using Muntz Metal.
1943 Nimonic 80 used to power the first production jet engine 1890 Mond’s nickel carbonyl process developed in Smethwick.
1908 Development of Nichrome alloys for electrical heating.
1919 Mond Nickel acquires Henry Wiggin and Company (originally Evans and Askin).
