Crabtree's rich history revealed

The story of the man behind one of Walsall's largest private employers is to be hold at the borough's museum this weekend.more

The story of the man behind one of Walsall's largest private employers is to be hold at the borough's museum this weekend.

The history of Crabtree Electrical Industries will form the focus of a talk at Walsall Museum this Saturday starting at 2pm.

Terry Harrison, a former employee of Crabtree near the Arboretum and a key member of the Crabtree Society, will be popping into The Changing Face gallery for the discussion.

John Ashworth Crabtree founded the Crabtree Company in 1919. The 33-year-old was a qualified electrical engineer who had invented and patented a 'quick make-and-break' switch mechanism.

He chose Walsall to manufacture the new switch, and before long the company was going from strength to strength. In 1923 Mr Crabtree purchased a seven acre green-field site and built Walsall's largest engineering factory, which opened in 1926.

Mr Crabtree died in the 1930s but the company continued without him. The talk is free but to book a place call 01922 653116.