How Covid and electric cars helped put famous foundry on the brink

Surprisingly little is known about the company's early days, but we do know that a Mr Chamberlin and Mr Hill set up an iron foundry business in the Chuckery area of Walsall in 1890. The company initially specialised in thin-section castings used in toy making, electrical switchgear and domestic hardware, and became well-known for its black money boxes. In its first year of trading, Chamberlin & Hill turned over £1,840, or about £200,000 at today's prices.