If I recall correctly Birchwood folded only a couple of years ago (not long after we got our 25) and I was wondering what would have happened to their records and archives? There might be some stuff that would be of interest to us now - old technical guides, marketing stuff etc etc. Has anyone heard anything about this?

I have sent off an email to the Nottinghamshire Record Office - they frequently get collections from businesses on closure, or might have received material in the past. They promise a response within a few days and I will let you  know the result.

Superb idea  

T'would be nice to know....

Better still, get the Freeman bods involved, as they already do the mechanical parts which were shared at the time  

Hi Guys

I may be wrong but I think the last Birchwood that went bust was not the original Birchwood Company that were producing the B25's.

But defo worth a shout to see if any of the old records still exist.  Normally following an insolvency the records are kept by the liquidator intil the liquidation process is complete and then destroyed.  

There was asmall piece about the founder I remember reading in one of the old YBW copies of tests on the B25>  Not dure if he has passed away but may be worth trying to contact the family.  Did anyone ever get a reply from the Birchwood owners club that used to exist? I sent a letter yer or so back but got nothing back?

Ok just fund it the guy they talk with in the article, whhich was in PBO No 107 in November 1975, is a Mr Andrews.  The South Coast agents for Birchwood boats were Southampton Boat Sales Ltd of 29 Vespasian Road, Bitterne Manor, Southampton (not sure if they still exist or an iteration thereof).  Mr Andrews ran the company from Bicrhwood Boat Co Ltd, Common Road, Huthwaite, Sutton in Ashfield, Notts, NG17 2JU. Just read another article thats says this comompany after years of decline went into receivership at the end of 1996 and became Birchwood Boats International.  Pretty sure the receiver would have destroyed the records or passed them to the new owners if they bought the entire thing i.e. and not just the goodwill.  If we can find out who the receivers were I have some contacts who may be able to talk with them to see if anyone remains at the firm or the receiovership records/creditors meeting report is still anywhere in sight.

Just a thought

Nick

apologies for my eratic spelling lol, its only 5.50 am is my excuse.  Off to the boat today for our annual cruise up river, cant wait to get em out of bed and get going  

Well I got a very quick response from the Nottinghamshire Archives and they have no records at all from or of the Birchwood company. They also checked the national online catalogue and drew another blank.

So it seems if there is material from the Company still in existence it has certainly not ended up in any public record office. I would think following up the liquidation would be the best bet - although that would be definitely complicated by the report above that the original company that built the 25s went bust a long time back.

I might try a few more enquiries.

Have you ever typed in the postcode for the original company into google maps?
You can see what look like orange boat hulls or moulds at the right hand side of the factory unit.

Yes you are absolutely right, definitely hulls or moulds, likely as not for much more recent craft than the 25s or 22s owned by most of us. I wonder how old the picture is and if they are still there - any forum members up that way?

The Microsoft Live map shows no shapes in that field, but it does show a single one in the car park at the front of the building.  

I wonder which is the most recent view?  It could either be the one with no shapes there -- indicating that the covered factory units factory have been bought and cleared out and they are awaiting disposal.  Or it could be that the one with no shapes is most recent -- indicating that the shapes have now been moved on or sold.

I wonder if they've any roof sections for a B25? Hmmm...

See the water tank at the NW of that area?  It looks as though that's where they tested hulls for leaks.