Savekers Ltd with its hundred plus strong workforce based in Aldridge Road, Perry Barr today
manufactures architectural metalwork for architects, designers, cabinet makers, builders merchants,
glass merchants and shop fitters. It's products can be seen all across Britain in offices, hotels
bars and restaurants, shops, banks, building societies and post offices. How the group's Managing
Director Dani Saveker came to find herself at the head of a prominent Midlands manufacturing firm,
and the history of the unique company, is a long and fascinating tail.
The firm was founded in 1903 by Thomas Saveker. Basing himself in Parliament Street, Aston, Thomas
undertook small joinery contracts and shop fitting. In the 1920s the business moved to an old needle
factory on Aston Brook Street where it now established metalworking, brass polishing and antique bronze.
The firm incorporated in the 1930s. During the early part of that decade one of the first electroplating
companies was purchased and the company began chrome plating. Gas and electric light fittings were now
produced under the trade name Ceilite. By now the company was employing some 120 staff, two of Thomas
Saveker's sons Herbert, ('Bert'), and Frank now joined him.
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The factory was extended, building the
premises across Aston Brook facing Phillips Street. By the close of the 1930s Thomas' third son, Ronald
Charles Saveker had also joined the company. Ron however, was soon called away for war service and would
not return until 1945.
During the second world war T Saveker Ltd produced 75 different parts for Spitfire fighter planes, over
280 parts for Lancaster bombers, parts for Sten guns and over a quarter of a million stirrup pumps. The
factory survived the war almost unscathed. Two incendiary bombs however fell on the plating shop, one
went straight into a vat and the other bounced off a roof beam and then into the vat - both bombs were
extinguished by the vat's contents. Another incident was a high explosive bomb which fell into the ground
close to a sunken air raid shelter in the factory yard but which did not explode. The very next night
another bomb was heard to fall nearby and both bombs exploded; fortunately the area had been evacuated
and no-one was hurt - bowed metal window frames facing the crater however remained as a reminder of that
night until the building was demolished in 1998.
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