Weekender: Boost for Coventry Transport Museum

The team of mechanics who repair and restore the collection at the Coventry Transport Museum have received a major boost.

Manufacturer Baileigh Industrial has given the museum £35,000 worth of metalworking equipment to help its two full-time technicians and 15 volunteers working on various projects.

Machines include a lathe, milling machine, pillar drill, band saw and a metal press and will see the museum upskilling its workshop volunteers to operate the modern kit.

Baileigh Industrial, which is based in Rugby, designs and manufactures industrial metalworking and woodworking machinery and is known in the industry for cutting-edge designs as well as quality machinery and customer service.

Francis Ranford, creative director of Coventry Transport Museum, said: “A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure our collections are looked after and maintained.

“Some of that work is undertaken in our own workshop and kindly supported by our collections care technicians.

“Thanks to this generous donation from Baileigh, it means we will be able to do much more of that work in house and enhance the skills of staff and volunteers to maintain our collections.

“Baileigh also paid for the transportation of the items to the museum and we are extremely grateful for their support.”

Chad M. Spaeth from Baileigh Industrial said: “I came to the UK almost 15 years ago with Baileigh Industrial and established our European hub in Coventry.

“It was immediately apparent what a strong impact the motor transport industry has not only on the City of Coventry, but also on Europe, and the rest of the world.

“I myself, and Baileigh Industrial as a UK and worldwide organisation are very proud to assist in the preservation of heritage, which is fantastically displayed at the Coventry Transport Museum for now and the generations to come.”