Science and invention in Birmingham pen nibs per week. 1915: William Mills develops the first "safe grenade" meaning it is safe for the soldier throwing it rather than his opponent. It is named the Mills bomb, and is adopted by the British Army as its standard hand grenade in 1915. 75,000,000 grenades are supplied during The Great War. 1918: Much work is carried out by Oliver Lucas's company on the design and improvement of the military search light, he also designs a signalling lamp after experiences at the Somme and the design is later used by the British Army. 1920: Charles Henry Foyle invents the
History of trade and industry in Birmingham area of the manor of Birmingham to the west of the town, is more suited to pastoral than arable agriculture and excavated animal bones indicate that cattle are the dominant livestock, with some sheep but very few pigs. Trade through Birmingham diversifies as a merchant class arises. While most manufactured goods in Birmingham are produced for a local market, there is some evidence that the town is already a specialised and widely-recognised centre of the jewellery trade during the medieval period. An inventory of the personal possessions of the Master of the Knights Templar in England at the time of