With a capital of £50 a North Country couple, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Teasdale, established the Midland Veneers Service Co Ltd., the forerunner of Venesta (Veneers) Ltd.  This was in 1932, when they rented a converted house in Small Heath, Birmingham for 7s.6d. a week.

Carefully they shopped for second-hand equipment, buying a typewriter for 10s. an office table for 2s.6d. and a piece of woodworking equipment for 17s.6d.

But not everything was to be had at bargain prices.  Their savings were depleted by the purchase of a hand press and a sanding machine for a total of £38.10s.

This spending made it imperative to win business quickly and the couple engaged in some harmless window dressing for the benefit of their first prospective customers.  While Mr Teasdale discussed terms in what had been the living-room, his wife Doris ran machinery in the kitchen.

But, despite the sounds of apparent activity, the customer failed to place an order.  A second inquirer quickly made up for the disappointment by asking for veneered panels for a bedroom suite.  The order was worth £2.

Mr Teasdale had gained experience with  a famous London furnishing house before moving to Birmingham to take charge of the veneer department of a furniture factory in Hay Mills.  He then decided to capitalise on his experience and enter into business on his own account.  His craftsmanship soon won him a name in the Birmingham area.

The progress of Midland Veneers can be judged from surviving records.  These show that the firm was employing 14 people by 1934.  They also reveal the founder’s policy of ploughing back profits.  A paybook entry for the last week in July 1934 records that Mr Teasdale’s salary was less than the wage he was paying to his skilled craftsmen.  Trading during the early 1930’s was made difficult by the country’s economic situation.  Mr Teasdale had to arrange credit terms with his suppliers and request promt payment from customers.  In this way the corner was turned.

Most of the work undertaken at this time was for local cabinet makers or shopfitters.  Completed orders were delivered to them on a hand-cart.

As business expanded, so the policy of continued investment enabled the firm to install more sophisticated equipment.

This included a hydraulic press for bonding veneers to panels.  The second world war saw the company making plywoods for the aircraft industry.  New plant was necessary to produce this material in quantity yet the acquisition of this plant posed a problem, because its cpacity was such that the company’s premises soon proved inadequate.

Land was acquired in Hayseech Road, Halesowen and large new premises were constructed there in 1943.  They enabled the firm in increase its labout force and so utilize its new machinery to the full.

Midland Veneers continued producing aircraft plywood until 1947 while the firm readjusted to serving a commercial market.  New building at this time was hampered by a system of licences.

But schools were exempted from this restraint and Midland Veneers was engaged by several education authorities to make pre-formed laminated shapes used in the production of chairs, desks and other furniture for equipping schools.

Mr Teasdale, by now a widower, relinquished his interest in Midland Veneers four years ago, being bought out by Venesta Ltd.

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