| AdminHistory | The company began in 1826 as a hand-forged fire-iron and tender company set up in Waddam's Pool, Dudley, by Absolom Harper, and sons John and Edward, trading as A. Harper & Sons. The marriage of John Harper's only daughter Mary to George Bean gave rise to a company name change to A. Harper, Sons & Bean in 1907, when George joined his father-in-law's company, and eventually became chairman. By 1911, the company had moved into machine tool and forging production for the motor industry. Production of the forgings was transferred to Rolfe Street, Smethwick, in 1913. During the First World War (1914-1918) George Bean managed the National Projectile Factory making munitons in Dudley, and ran a National Fuse Factory in Hurst Lane, Tipton. In November 1919, the company went through a major re-structuring period resulting in the branching out into car production spread out over two sites - the chassis being mass-produced at a Tipton site (also their Head Office), with bodying and finishing carried out at the Dudley site in Hall Street. To coincide with this re-structuring, the company became a limited company and their name changed to Harper Bean Ltd. By December 1919, the first Bean '11.9' car had been produced based on an updated and modified version of a 'Perry' car (produced originally at Tyseley, Birmingham). It was to become the most popular car of the 1920s. In 1921, the company were back in private hands and changed their name back to A. Harper, Sons & Bean. The years 1922-24 saw the launch of the '12' (reflecting the horse-power of the engine), and the '14'. Commercial vehicles were also being produced in 1924. However, due to financial difficulties, the company was voluntarily liquidated in 1925, and taken over in 1926, by Hadfield Ltd., a Sheffield based steel making company. Cars produced from then on were known as 'Hadfield Beans'. To coincide with this takeover, from 23rd June, 1926, the company were now known as Bean Cars Ltd. The Dudley factoy closed, and manufacturing became mainly centred in the Tipton chassis plant. The years 1927-28 saw the launch of the '18/50', the 'Long 14' (denoting the length of the chassis), the 'Short 14', the '14/40', and in January 1928, the '14/45'. However, due to continuing financial difficulties, car production ceased in 1929, but commercial vehicle production continued with the addition of the 'New Era' vans to commemorate the new era of Bean. Production continued until 1931 when the company eventually went into receivership. All vehicle production under the Bean name ceased at this time. However, in 1933, with financial aid from Hadfield Ltd., the company under a new name of Beans Industries, began to produce castings for the motor industry using the original Tipton foundry site and drop-forging factory at Smethwick. In 1937, they became Beans Industries Plc., and were eventually purchased by Standard Triumph, and drawn into what became British Leyland in 1968. Subsequently, they were renamed Beans Engineering. Finally, the end came when they purchased car producers Reliant which went into receivership in 1994, taking Beans with it. |