This week, there are some out-of-the-ordinary additions to the FMP collection that are particularly interesting for those with 20th-century Coventry ancestry and, surprisingly, beyond.
Warwickshire, Coventry, Vehicle Registrations 1921-1944
Through these records, a search produces first name(s), last name, year, place, and vehicle registration plate. There’s information later than 1944. The linked images give the complete address, which may be far from Coventry, and information about the vehicle. Scroll side to side to ensure you found all the information.
FMP profiles the story of Sir William Lyons, co-founder of the Swallow Sidecar Company, whose brand transformed into Jaguar after the Second World War.
Warwickshire, Coventry, Company Directories and Publications 1908-1966
Over 20,000 pages from seven publication titles that can help you discover what it was like to live and work in Coventry. The two major ones are:
The Loudspeaker, 15 volumes, 1924-1966: 1924-1961
The works magazine of the Peel-Conner/G.E.C. Telephone Factories, Coventry. Includes biographical studies of staff, sports and social events, appointments and retirements, a Ladies Page, jokes, Children’s Corner, cartoons, organizational reviews, letters, trade adverts, staff weddings etc etc.,
Standard Car Review, 12 volumes, 1931-1950: 1908-1920
The works magazine of Rudge-Whitworth, Coventry, bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers. The origins of Rudge go back as far as 1869 at Wolverhampton, removing to Coventry some ten years later. These volumes include company history, staff interviews, presentations and long service awards, social events, and incredible coverage of the Rudge staff who served in the Great War.
I was interested to read a report of a 1910 works outing to Great Yarmouth, a long day starting out by train at 5:50 am, arriving back in Coventry at 2 am. It includes photos of women in long dresses on the beach.