Wednesbury based Malcolm Enamellers Ltd marked their appearance at the Made in the Midlands 2012 exhibition in Walsall this week by putting on show their prized 1934 Sunbeam 20HP coupe. The marvellous collector’s vehicle was actually manufactured here in Wolverhampton prior to World War Two - the model itself was produced during 1933 and 1934 - 98 were built in two different forms.
At the time, the running chassis sold for £500, and the close-coupled 2 door Saloon sold for £745 The Sunbeam Marque was registered by John Marston Co. Ltd of Wolverhampton, England, in 1888. The company first made bicycles, then motorcycles and cars from the late 19th century until about 1936. The company even turned its hand to manufacturing 647 aircraft during the Second World War. The firm was an inspirational brand at the time in motoring after a Sunbeam was the first British car to win a Grand Prix race, and set a number of land speed records. Unfortunately, The company went into receivership in 1935 and was purchased by the Rootes Group, which continued to use the Sunbeam marquee but little is left or known of the firm since.
John Malcolm, Founder and Chairman of Malcolms Enamellers Ltd moved his company back to the Black Country having previously been in Coventry. John says: “The Black Country is where you can get anything made, the connections and firms here are the best in the world. Our firm traditionally operated in the same metal lacquering process as a ‘Japanner’ as was John Marston’s company Sunbeam. It is very fitting to bring one of their ‘marque’ vehicles to Made in the Midlands 2012 to celebrate the quality of British manufacturing.”
The Malcolm Enamellers site in Wednesbury, situated in the heart of the Black Country is home to not only an industry leading electropainting and powder coating firm but also a carefully chosen and cared for collection of Black Country made cars including two Sunbeams a Bean coupe made in Tipton and a Sunbeam motorcycle. The skills of the Malcolm’s team have enabled John Malcolm and the company to restore the vehicles to near-new standard.
It is a journey for Made in the Midlands events to showcase the top manufacturing and engineering companies in the region – only last year did the event welcome a new Morgan Aeromax which Charles Morgan kindly donated for the event – showing what the Midlands is capable of in modern industry today.
With the importance of Midlands manufacturing on the agenda for Made in the Midlands 2012 in Walsall this week, John Malcolm and Malcolms Enamellers Ltd believe its important to remember the region has been pushing engineering frontiers for generations and united with other manufacturers in Made in the Midlands, the region will continue to do so.