Give model loom to new museum (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Give model loom to new museum

6:10am Thursday 26th April 2012 in Letters

NOW that Brintons’ offices in Kidderminster’s Exchange Street are to be disposed of may I ask what has become of the beautiful model of a gripper (jacquard) loom that resided in the entrance hall next to the bus stops?

I am reliably informed that it was there until quite recently. I’m not quite clear as to whom the building belongs to – the new American owners of the company or Brintons – but wouldn’t it be a nice gesture by whoever owns the model to donate it to Kidderminster Carpet Museum?

It may save future generations of local children having to trek to Portugal to see what they look like.

Incidentally it would be nice to find out more about this model and who the engineer was.

I read the article by Gavin Miller, of the Community union, regarding subsidising the carpet industry and I admire the man for trying to do something for this town.

In referring to the carpet industry, he must mean what is left of it on the Stourport road, as I can think of very few working looms in this town or for that matter in the country.

I think the selling of Brintons was the shutting of the doors after the horse had bolted on the industry but I will support him and anyone else in trying to keep Brintons in the town.

What grieves me is the technology and the engineering expertise that we are exporting. As far as I know Brintons designed and manufactured their own gripper looms and made the best in the world (they made excellent carpet too) and their high speed looms have to be seen to be believed. I do hope that video records are kept of these and other types of looms for the museum.

I would imagine a lot of money is made simply shipping the machines between EU countries as they would attract large EU subsidies and grants and other countries are desperate to get industry so they offer incentives while we seem to ship ours out at knockdown prices.

M LANE Highlands Close, Kidderminster