Astbury and Son
Thomas Astbury and his son James of Birmingham.
1856 London Works was vacated by Fox, Henderson and Co.
1858 London Works was partially occupied by Thomas Astbury and Sons[1].
1862 Thomas Astbury of London Works gave a New Year's Day dinner for his managers and employees (about 160-170); Mr Arthur Keen was the vice-chairman of the dinner; James Astbury also made a speech[2].
1864 the growing enterprise of Watkins and Keen displaced Astbury and Sons from London Works; the Patent Nut and Bolt Co advertised for contractor to level earthworks; Thomas Astbury and Co advertised for levelling of the yard[3].
1866 Griffiths' patent oil gas retorts [4]
1873 Partnership of Thomas Astbury and James Astbury dissolved [5]. Even so the company name Thomas Astbury and Son was still in use the following year when recruiting workers. Adverts mentioned "Smethwick Foundry".
1887 Supplier of shells to the British government[6].