Thomas Bladon, my great x 4 grandfather was the second child and son of Edward and Elizabeth nee Bushell, in 1832 he moved with 9 children to Court 1, Bath Row Birmingham from Tanworth in Arden Warwickshire.Four more children followed.Despite living in cramped conditions, all their children prospered.William their second child was my great x 3 grandfather and he was a successful dairyman/milkman in nearby Kings Heath and Moseley Worcestershire (a prosperous suburb then).

Edward born in 1821 was their fourth child and whilst young he went to work for Jones and Rooke Ltd rollers and wire drawers of Northwood Street, Birmingham in the heart of the jewellery quarter, eventually becoming their managing director and attending meetings until his death.  He married Maria Amelia Adams in 1848.  Thomas Edward was their first child born in 1849 possibly at 23 Albion Street where the family was on the 1851 census.  In 1855 Oliver arrived, Theodore in 1862 and Julia in 1864.  The family moved to 61 Northwood Streetprior to 1861.

Upon leaving school, Thomas Edward became an apprentice at Mr CT Shaw diamond mounter, I have a picture of a tie pin he made whist serving his apprentice and worn by him throughout his life.  On the 1871 census he is a jeweller’s assistant.  He formed a partnership with a Joseph Stokes ‘Stokes and Bladon’ of 3a Regent parade, Caroline street as Goldsmiths and jewellers which was dissolved by mutual consent in August 1876.  Thomas Edward carried on the business alone and received and paid all debts due.  He then formed another partnership with a Thomas Tongue as ship, railway lamp, lantern manufacturers and tin plate workers at 4 James Street (jewellery quarter) employing 4 men and 2 boys.   By now Thomas Edward had married Sarah Alice Matthews in 1878, and had 4 children Maria Alice 1879, William Edward 1881, Norman Frederick 1883 and Sarah Amelia (Sallie) 1891.  The family home was in Kings Heath at 5 Douglas Villas Alcester road, like his father Edward (was this because my ‘branch’ were there?)  The partnership with Tongue was dissolved in October 1881.

Thomas Edward then went alone and became a lamp manufacturer at 4 James Street.  During 1887 two patents for bicycle lamps and ventilating equipment lapsed through non-payment of fees.  Around this time I feel something must have happened since on the 1891 census the family were living at Balsall Heath - a come down from Kings Heath by 1898 they were back in Kings Heath. .  His siblings were also living in the area, as was his father by now a widower.  In 1898 Thomas Edward was elected councillor for Kings Heath and shortly after that his wife tragically died age 49.  She was buried at Brandwood End cemetery in Kings Heath after a Baptist ceremony, the church which they were very much involved in.  Two years later Edward died age 82 and like his wife was buried at St Nicolas Kings Norton.

 However Thomas Edward had moved his business by 1896 and went back to his roots of  Northwood Street , number 46, then by 1900 99/101 Northwood Street.  The business was now TE Bladon lamp manufacturers, which by 1907 was Thomas Edward Bladon & Son – this being William Henry.  By now the business was manufacturing cart lamps, ship, hand, cycle, window and street lamps, oil cans and feeders, tin and iron plate workers.  In 1908 and 1909 they applied for a patent for ‘improvements in generators for acetylene lamps’.  Also in 1909, their was a patent for ‘oil tight cup or filler for oil feeders or other receptacles containing liquids.’ 

In August 1911, Thomas Edward undertook a long journey to the United States to attend the wedding of his youngest son Norman Frederick who married in Idaho in September.  He then accompanied them on a drive of nearly 100 miles to Jackson Wyoming.  This trip started in Montreal for 8 days, Toronto, Chicago, Omaha, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Denver and Philadelphia.  He arrived home in November 1911.  Sadly Norman Frederick died in 1918.  

Thomas Edward was chairman of the Greater Birmingham Allotments and Small Holdings Association.  He was a leader in the Early Morning School which gave birth to the Kings Heath and Moseley Institute of which he served on the board.  In the late 1890’s he became a councillor for the Kings Norton and Northfield district Council and became a member of various committees associated with that.  He was also founder and president of the Kings Heath working men’s club and the allotments association.  After his father’s death, it appears that Thomas Edward became chairman of Messrs Jones and Rooke Ltd and after retirement retained a seat on the board.  He was also very loyal to Joseph Chamberlain. 

On 20^th January 1916, the business was registered as TE Bladon and son Ltd.  The Birmingham post states “with a capital of £5,000 in £1 shares to carry on the business of  brass founders, stampers, piercers, tinsmiths, lamp makers, oil can manufacturers, motor accessory makers, casters, spinners electrical engineers and munition workers. And to adopt and agreement with TE Bladon and WE Bladon. The subscribers were TE Bladon and WE Bladon of 99-105 Northwood Street, lamp manufacturers and private company.  There were to be no more than 5 directors, the first being TE Bladon and WE Bladon, both permanent governing and joint managing directors subject to holding 500 shares each, with £50 each per annum as remuneration.  On the death of TE Bladon, WE Bladon shall be sole managing director with £500 per annum” 

In 1917, Thomas Edward decided to spend his last days at Stratford upon Avon. When Thomas Edward retired, George Raymond Neale came on board, but Thomas was still a director, it was at Stratford that he died 11 years later and was buried next to his wife at Brandwood End, 27 years after her death.  

In 1921 a mortgage was taken out on 99-105 Northwood Street Birmingham for the business and was paid off in 1966. On the death of Thomas Edward, William Edward became the director.   

The business was carried on by his son William Edward and during World War 2 the factory was used for essential war work.  William’s only child by his first marriage Thomas John served in the war but died tragically afterwards 2 years after his marriage. Sadly William Edward’s other son by his second marriage (to his deceased wife’s sister) died aged 11. 

After William’s death in 1959, the husbands of his two daughters by his second wife were involved, but by 1974 the business was being run by the Homers and had moved to Lichfield Road Industrial Estate, Tamworth Staffordshire and was still trading under the name of TE Bladon and son Ltd.  In October 1990 the company ceased to exist.  It is thought that a Scandinavian company took the business over in the 1950’s.

Although Thomas Edward Bladon wasn’t famous or a direct ancestor, it is really interesting to have him on my tree.  He is my great great grandfather’s cousin.  It is said the Bladon invented the blow lamp – looking at the TE Bladon catalogue I managed to buy off E bay, they did a wide range of blow lamps. We have quite a collection of Bladon lamps, oil cans etc at home!

Items manufactured by TE Bladon and Son Ltd

Blow lamps – petrol and paraffin of all sizes

Sentinel Heaters

Railway Lamps

Oil cans

Brazing lamp

Detector Lamps

Horse singing tool

The above were also manufactured by TE Bladon and Son for the following companies, GPO, Military, diamond brand and the various railway companies

Patent application by the company

Improvements in Electric Battery Lamps – 1914

Improvements in and Relating to Lamps and Lanterns – 1912

Improvements in or relating to Oil feeders and other receptacles for liquids – 1912

An oil tight cover or filler for oil feeders or other receptacles containing liquids – 1910

Improvements in Generators for Acetylene Lamps. – 1910

Improvements in Ventilators. – 1902

Improved means for mounting lamps or other articles on a belt or the like – 1924

A Birmingham Directory of about 1888 lists Thomas.

Thomas E. Bladon, Patentee and Manufacturer of all kinds of Lamps, Lanterns, Reflectors, etc., 4, James Street, St. Paul's.

 An important and exceedingly flourishing branch of industrial activity in Birmingham, is the manufacture of lamps, lanterns, etc. and in this connection the very old-established house of Mr. Thomas E. Bladon is one of the leading and largest in the town. The premises occupied in James Street, are very extensive front and rear, the front possessing a very business-like, attractive appearance, the rear consisting of the different workshops. The latter are excellently equipped with all the newest and most improved machinery and appliances known to the trade the arrangements throughout affording the greatest facilities for executing orders at the shortest notice and in the best possible manner.  Mr. Bladon employs an efficient staff of skilled workmen, to whom he gives constant employment, as his connection is now very widespread and valuable, including a large shipping trade, Mr. Bladon is a patentee and manufacturer of all kinds of lamps, lanterns, reflectors, oil cans, ventilators, etc. He manufactures all kinds of outside lamps for hotels, restaurants, shop windows, etc., and makes special designs to suit any style of architecture. He is also the patentee of the new Patent Save-all Spring Feeder, which has a very large sale.  He also paints, glazes, and repairs old lamps on the shortest notice.

Mr. Bladon for all his work and manufactures has received the highest commendation. He is a conscientious manufacturer, and a scrupulous businessman.  The increased trade which he has grown around him during the last few years bears testimony to the high repute in which he is held.  Mr. Bladon has designed and patented some of the prettiest and most graceful designs in lamps that have been seen.  His manufactures have found their way to every part of the country, and the patronage now enjoyed is of that superior order which is fully in consonance with the long and honourable record of this distinguished house.’

An interesting note is that one of his grandsons’s James Arthur Roberts, son of his youngest daughter Sarah Amelia, was an architect and designed the Rotunda in Birmingham and a number of Motorway service stations