RECORDS OF GIMSON AND CO., LEICESTER LTD. ENGINEERS, OF VULCAN ROAD, LEICESTER

GENERAL

Financial

Private ledgers 1 - 2

Shares 3 - 10

Accounts 11 - 14

Legal 15 - 19

PRODUCT

Sales 20 - 250

List books - general (G.) 20 - 200

Boiler shop (B.S.) 201 - 214

Lifts (L.) 215 - 225

Bottle washers (B.W.) 226 - 250

Out-orders 251 - 322

- General requisitions 251 - 304

Lifts 305

Bottle washers 306 - 320

A Clarke's 321 - 322

Drawing office

Orders - general 323 - 346

Bottle washers 347 - 354

Drawing books 355 - 359

Plans 360 - 391

Leicester 360 - 379

Leicestershire 380 - 384

Out-county 385 - 387

Foreign 388 - 390

Other 391

Photographs 392 - 399

Other 400 - 406

STAFF

Wages 407 - 418

The Gimsons at Work 419 - 431

Social 432 - 439

PRINTED

Publicity 440 - 452

Other 453 - 459

PERSONAL

460 - 465

<span class="wrapper"><p>For further information about the family see the records of Leicester Secular Society (10D68), the correspondence of Christopher Gimson, 1911-1945 (DE 2999), in addition to the many printed sources available.</p> <p>NB. furniture book, 1896 - 1950 see MF472</p></span>

Deposited 1986

Brief History of the company

Josiah and Benjamin Gimson started an engineering business in 1842 on Welford Road, Leicester, after serving their apprenticeship at Cort's foundry. In the early years the principal product of the firm was braid machinery for the elastic web trade; Gimsons also advertised as brassfounders, millwrights and manufacturers of boot and shoe making machinery. In 1878 new works were opened off Humberstone Road, Leicester, adjacent to the Midland Railway. Designed by John Breedon Everard, the building is one of the earliest examples of the integration of iron foundry and engineering; it is the earliest engineering factory built in Leicester. In 1880 about 350 workers were employed making goods ranging from large engines and boilers to small metal components for local industry. In 1887 Gimsons were awarded the contract for the supply and erection of the four beam engines, complete with eight boilers and associated machinery, at the Abbey Park Sewage Works, Leicester, built in 1891. By 1904 the company was advertising engines, boilers shafting and gearing, machinery for use in the brewing trade, builders ironware, boot and shoe and elastic web machinery. Hoists and lifts were also made, a development which has now (1987) become the staple product of the firm. The company operated from the Vulcan Road premises until 1986 when modern facilities were built at Beaumont Leys, Leicester.

The Gimson family has been closely involved with the firm throughout its history. When the firm became a limited liability company in 1896 the first directors were Josiah Mentor Gimson, Arthur James Gimson and Sydney Ansell Gimson, sons of the original Josiah Gimson (1818-1883) and Josiah Gimson, his nephew who was adopted by Josiah at the age of 10. Sydney followed his father as an advocate of the Secular movement in Leicester, despite the family's earlier role in the Unitarian Great Meeting. In 1881 Josiah Gimson established the Secular Hall, in Humberstone Gate; Sydney was President of the Secular Society from 1888-1939. Sydney's younger brother, Ernest, (1864-1919) began his working life as an architect ('Inglewood', Ratcliffe Road, Leicester, (1892), 'The White House', North Avenue, Leicester (1897)) and found his metier in the design and manufacture of furniture.