Records of Addis Limited, Hertford: toothbrush and houseware manufacturers, including...

DE/Ad

Records of Addis Limited, Hertford: toothbrush and houseware manufacturers, including predecessor and subsidiary companies

1656 - 1996

The collection also contains extensive records of the Addis subsidiary companies, including material from before these businesses were taken over by Addis. Each section of this catalogue, for example for each subsidiary company, has a separate administrative and company history. These include:

Addis (Australia) Limited, established in 1930;
Addis Isovac, formerly Marlows Limited, established 1932 and originally located at Marlows Brush Works, High Street, Broxbourne;
Addis (Dansk-Engelsk) AS of Copenhagen, formed in 1934;
Suffolk Brush Company, later Happy Home Products Limited, later Beaufort Leasing Limited, of formed 1945 and based in Haverhill, Suffolk;
Addis (Canadian Exports) Ltd, established in 1954;
Serv-i-tor Brush Company Limited, also called Servitor Brush Company Limited, formerly M Neuhafer and Levi Limited, first incorporated in 1919 and acquired by Addis Limited in 1952. The company was based in Fforestfach, Swansea, Wales
Henderson Brothers and Company Limited, founded in 1901, registered as a limited company in 1920 and purchased by Addis in 1957. Based in Sunderland and moved to Swansea after Addis took over. Hendersons had also acquired two additional companies: Pym's Products Limited, of Swansea, and Berkeley British Brush Company, later Beauford (London) Limited, of London, registered as a limited company, 1927.
Culmak Limited, formerly TW Culmer and Sons Limited, established in c1800, and originally based in London but later moved to Woodbridge, Suffolk. The company was acquired by Addis Limited in 1962.

The company was sold in 1995, as part of the sale of Addis Limited, was re-established as a separate company in 1995, and is now trading in Oakham Leicestershire [2024].
Addis Housewares: In the early 1950's, Robert Addis [1905 - 1994] began developing a hardwares range of products. In 1964, Addis Housewares was set up as a subsidiary company of Addis Limited. In June 1996, the Addis family sold Addis Housewares as a separate company, in a management buy out. Addis Housewares Ltd is now [2024] based in Bridgend, South Wales. Addis Housewares is a company within Addis Group Limited which was formed in 1996.

This collection also includes some records of S Maw, Son and Son, makers of toilet brushware, toilet preparations, surgical dressings, fancy sundries and shop fittings, based at Aldersgate House, New Barnet, who supplied and sold Addis products. See also the catalogue ref DE/Mw for records of this company also held at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies.

This catalogue comprises the records of Addis Limited, established in 1780, by William Addis [1734 - 1808], manufacturers of toothbrushes, and later other brushes and housewares. The collection also comprises records of the subsidiary companies and acquired companies that were created, or purchased, by Addis.

The Company first manufactured and sold toothbrushes, then expanded to producing other brushes, such as nail brushes, hair brushes, and shaving brushes. Later, Addis produced housewares products for the kitchen, house cleaning, cooking and food storage, laundry, bathroom, and home decoration, and also produced vacuum flasks. Addis had many well known products and brands including Wisdom toothbrushes, Addis Isovac vacuum flasks, Culmak shaving brushes and the Walt Disney range of children's toothbrushes. The Company supplied products to customers such as FW Woolworth, Boots and Cadbury and traded across the world.

The Addis records in this collection include: corporate records, such as memorandum of articles of association for the Company; marketing publicity material, including price lists, sales brochures and product boxes and labels; records of staff and employment, including wages books and health and pension insurance books; plans, aerial photographs and title deeds for the Addis factories, premises and properties owned by the company; extensive accounting and financial records including a large series of Day Books which record the daily orders of the company, from 1899 - 1941 and include separate series for FW Woolworth and the Walt Disney products, known as the Mickey Mouse Day books.

The collection also contains extensive records of the Addis subsidiary companies, including material from before these businesses were taken over by Addis. Each section of this catalogue, for example for each subsidiary company, has a separate administrative and company history. These include:

Addis (Australia) Limited, established in 1930;
Addis Isovac, formerly Marlows Limited, established 1932 and originally located at Marlows Brush Works, High Street, Broxbourne;
Addis (Dansk-Engelsk) AS of Copenhagen, formed in 1934;
Suffolk Brush Company, later Happy Home Products Limited, later Beaufort Leasing Limited, of formed 1945 and based in Haverhill, Suffolk;
Addis (Canadian Exports) Ltd, established in 1954;
Serv-i-tor Brush Company Limited, also called Servitor Brush Company Limited, formerly M Neuhafer and Levi Limited, first incorporated in 1919 and acquired by Addis Limited in 1952. The company was based in Fforestfach, Swansea, Wales
Henderson Brothers and Company Limited, founded in 1901, registered as a limited company in 1920 and purchased by Addis in 1957. Based in Sunderland and moved to Swansea after Addis took over. Hendersons had also acquired two additional companies: Pym's Products Limited, of Swansea, and Berkeley British Brush Company, later Beauford (London) Limited, of London, registered as a limited company, 1927.
Culmak Limited, formerly TW Culmer and Sons Limited, established in c1800, and originally based in London but later moved to Woodbridge, Suffolk. The company was acquired by Addis Limited in 1962.
The company was sold in 1995, as part of the sale of Addis Limited, was re-established as a separate company in 1995, and is now trading in Oakham Leicestershire [2024].
Addis Housewares: In the early 1950's, Robert Addis [1905 - 1994] began developing a hardwares range of products. In 1964, Addis Housewares was set up as a subsidiary company of Addis Limited. In June 1996, the Addis family sold Addis Housewares as a separate company, in a management buy out. Addis Housewares Ltd is now [2024] based in Bridgend, South Wales. Addis Housewares is a company within Addis Group Limited which was formed in 1996.

This collection also includes some records of S Maw, Son and Son, makers of toilet brushware, toilet preparations, surgical dressings, fancy sundries and shop fittings, based at Aldersgate House, New Barnet, who supplied and sold Addis products. See also the catalogue ref DE/Mw for records of this company also held at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies.

<span class="wrapper">Hertford Museum also holds an extensive Addis collection, including objects and documents.<lb/>Patrick Beaver, Addis, 1780 - 1980: All About the Home (Stevenage, 1980) is the company history and was used extensively in the preparation of the Administrative History. It is available in the Local Studies Library at HALS.</span>

196 boxes; 2 large rolls

The company proclaimed themselves 'The Oldest Firm of Tooth Brush Makers in the World'. Addis was a family run, independent company, which was overseen by seven generations of the Addis family: William Addis [1734 - 1808] who started the company in 1780. His son, William Addis [1787 - 1873] His son, William Addis [1817 - 1890] His first surviving son, Willam Addis [1847 - 1900] and second son, Robert Addis [1850 - 1918] Robert's son, Robert Addis [1879 - 1937] His son, Robert Addis [1905 - 1994] His son, Robert Addis (known as Robin) [1940 - ] William Addis [1734 - 1808], originally a stationer and rag merchant, commenced business as a toothbrush manufacturer and seller in 1780, in premises at 64 Whitechapel High Street, east London. In 1796, William and his three eldest sons moved the business to a bigger premises at 52 Whitechapel High Street and the company became known as William Addis and Son. The initial success of the company came though encouraging the cleaning of teeth to the middle classes following an increased awareness of cleanliness and hygiene from the 1750s, and also problems with tooth decay, following the growth in consumption of sugar in the eighteenth century.

After his father?s death in 1808, William Addis [1787 - 1873] moved the business to Bath Street, London, where it remained until 1840 when he and his son William [1817 - 1890] moved the business to a larger premises on Radnor Street, Hoxton and, four years later, in 1844, to Gastignay Place, then 44 Herbert Street, Hoxton sometime shortly after 1844. At this time William had more than 60 staff and was also producing other brushes, including hair and nail brushes. The business remained here until 1900. William retired sometime during the 1860s and died in 1873. He was remembered as a kindly man, liked by his employees. He was succeeded by his only son William [1817 - 1890], who introduced mechanisation to the business.

Upon the death of William in 1890, the business was passed to three of his 11 children: William, Robert and Charles. The oldest brother, William [1847 - 1900], would not allow Robert [1850 - 1918] to participate in matters relating to the management of the business, and he was confined to the manufacturing side. Matters came to a head in 1893 and the family partnership was dissolved. William took over complete control of the business, after paying Robert and Charles a sum of £800 each. Charles stayed at Herbert Street as an employee of William, but Robert used his capital and experience to start up a brush making business of his own ? in direct rivalry to his brother.

Between 1893 - 1900, the two brothers had separate businesses, both manufacturing toothbrushes. William was still at Herbert Street, Hoxton and Robert established his business at Helmsley Place, London Fields. While William was less successful at running his company, Robert's company thrived. Robert had started up his own brush making company, known as the London Brush Works, at a time of great competition in the local brush making trade. Within 1 year he had 50 employees and was supplying important customers such as Mappin and Webb, The Chemists? Association and several chemists such as Newberry?s and Sangers and had export orders including Marshall Field of Chicago.

Robert married Alice Amelia Cox, daughter of a corset maker. Their son Robert Addis [1879 - 1937] was taken out of school to join his father in the business, aged only 15. He was scholastically brilliant, and completed a full brush making apprenticeship at London Fields, he was also a skilful mechanical engineer, all skills that stood him in good stead for his future in the company.William died in 1900, aged 53, and by this time his business was in ruins. That same year, Robert purchased the goodwill of the original family business from William's widow, and united the two businesses under the name of Robert Addis and Son. By this time the business was 120 years old and toothbrush production had become an industry in its own right, with many skilled workers. By 1910 there were 68 persons employed in the factory and by 1913 it was 84. By 1914 the company was exporting toothbrushes all over the world as awareness of dental hygiene increased. During the First World War, initially trade increased, due to decreased continental competition and War Office order for those serving in the Armed Forces. Even with staff pressures, and a decrease in the skilled workforce, the company managed to fulfil its War effort and continue to produce toothbrushes. The company records show an increase in women working for the company at this time.Robert died in 1918 and was remembered as having a gentle, humorous nature. Post war export trade had to be rebuilt by Robert's son, Robert Addis [1879 - 1937] and the company experienced a post war boom due to the increased availability of materials including bone and bristle, the increased availability of labour with men returning from the War, and an increase in demand for toothbrushes after millions of men in the armed forces had become used to regularly using a toothbrush.

The factory in Hackney was cramped and small. There was huge competition locally (there were 14 bone brush making companies in close proximity) so skilled labour was in demand, which drove up wage demands. A move would enable plans for expansion and a stable labour force. Robert therefore sought premises outside London which would provide both a stable workforce and room for expansion and led to the acquisition of the former Hertford Town and District Steam Works on Ware Road in Hertford. The large site comprised buildings ripe for conversion and 3.5 acres of land for expansion.Robert's son Robert Addis [1905 - 1994] was taken out of school, aged 14, to help with the running of the business (like his father had been, aged 15). He?d been taught brush making at the age of 12. Robert was given responsibility of signing cheques, paying wages and overseeing a small team who were preparing the factory for operation. By 1920, the Hertford site ready for operation. Key men from Hackney moved to Hertford and lived in local cottages bought by Addis. A notice was placed in a local newspaper, and they were inundated with interested people ? so much so that the local police had to step in and keep order! The company began by employing 12 or so girls for training, and older women and boys were employed for packing and other maintenance work. During the 1920s and the end of the post war boom in the UK, an increase in competition, rising wages and a depreciation in value of the pound led to difficult times for businesses. However, Addis fared well. mainly because the Company continued to make good value toothbrushes, affordable to post war brushers! In particular, Addis developed a value range of toothbrushes for Boots - which proved very popular and also gave Boots a reputation for value for money. Issues with supply did impact the business. The Russian famine of 1920-1 led to a shortage of brushes. Pigs were needed for food and which meant they were unable to grow bristles before being slaughtered. The company changed their in supplier to China based companies with China then becoming the main industry supplier. At this time Addis was acknowledged as the leading manufacturer of toothbrushes. This was evident from the request to the Company to make tiny toothbrushes for Queen Mary?s dolls house - which is still in Windsor Castle today. Robert (2) made these himself. They were ¾ inch long, made of ivory and goat ear hair! The company's turnover was evidence of growth and success: 1919 - £29,691 1920 - £50,317 1926 - £67,691 - when the company was producing more than 1.8m toothbrushes a year and all by hand. In 1927 the company was manufacturing machine-filled plastic-handled toothbrushes. Robert had been against using celluloid as an inferior product to bone, but business advantages included using mechanisation and producing a range of cheap colourful products. Robert has been against using mechanisation because it did not work well with bone, but it worked much better with cellulose once a machine was developed that was accurate and methodical in the process to repeatedly make the same toothbrushes to a high standard. Original machines used by Addis were from Germany. They were adapted to suit specific requirements of the firm. Later they developed their own machines. Production and turnover:1927 - 2.2m bone brushes £76,087 1928 ? 1.8m bone brushes and more than 1.7m cellulose £107,183 This is the time that Addis targeted Woolworths as a potential customer who currently purchased their toothbrushes from China and Japan. They worked out their costing model and were able to supply at the required price. In the 1920s/30s depression Woolworths displayed bright shiny toothbrushes for a few pence each and people still bought them. Addis supplied huge quantities of brushes to Woolworths at this time. This can be seen in the Company's records which included a separate series of Woolworths Day Books because orders were so plentiful.The company observed steady growth in 1930s1930 - £124,747 1939 - £273,615 Celluloid brush production increased: 1930 - 2.8m 1939 - 14.6m (bone still just under 875,000) 1935 the western half of the Addis building on Ware Road, Hertford, was built to the design of architect Donald Hamilton. The building won a prize for modern architectural design. In 1955 it was extended in the same art-deco style. Robert died in 1937. He was considered a man of foresight, energy and determination. The growth of the business under Robert and his wife, was largely due to the continuation of his father?s policy of re-investing profits within the firm. Robert Addis [1905 - 1994] took over the company (with the help of his mother) having already been responsible for the sales side of the business and the buying of materials. At the start of the Second World War the government ordered 1m toothbrushes from Addis for the armed forces - to be made from bone, so they were not flammable. This was the biggest order the Company had ever received. The War lead to all senior executives being called up except Robert Addis, the company?s accountant and the chief engineer. Women always given opportunities in the firm, but this increased during the war. At this time, the company employed 650 people and was the largest maker of toothbrushes in Europe. Due to shortages in the supply of materials, many brush makers did not survive but Addis, with war and shortages imminent, stockpiled bristles and other supplies and so were able to keep trading. In the late 1930s, Robert had noticed the production of a range of cheap small plastic brooches using a new method called injection-moulding. He saw this would be ideal for making toothbrush handles when machinery was designed to do so. A study led to them purchasing two such machines in 1939. Because Addis was able to continue to produce toothbrushes, the Company made an important contribution to the nation's dental health at this time.

Wisdom: 1920s ? research in the US into the production of a synthetic fibre by Dr WH Carothers and associates of the Du Pont company in the US. Robert (3) was aware of this new material and realised the significance for brush making. The firm had also been considering the need to market its own branded toothbrush, so nylon offered an opportunity. Robert contacted Du Pont to obtain supplies, but they were told that an agreement had been made with the British company ICI, giving the company sole manufacturing and distribution rights in Britain. When they were approached by Addis they decided that initially they would only sell nylon to two British toothbrush manufacturers, Addis and British Xylonite.

In June 1940, an extensive newspaper campaign launched the new Wisdom toothbrush to the public. It was at a time of all time low for the county with France having fallen, invasion seeming imminent, but they had supplies so went ahead. Slightly more expensive but was an immediate success. Proce reduced slightly when material cheaper and more in line with government wartime policy.

Before long demand was higher than supply. Not just due to shortages. Wartime work impacted production. Engineering department making engine mountings for Mosquito aircraft and a large part of the brush making area was used for assembling wireless equipment. Gun cleaning brushes were also made included a 40mm brush for the Bofors gun.

War Years: Uncertainties of war and need to simplify taxation led to the firm being incorporated in January 1942 with a nominal capital of £100,000. The company was named Addis Limited and the board consisted of Robert Addis, his mother and his wife. The old company's assets were conservatively valued at £450,00 and purchase from Robert for £150,000, with £300,000 being transferred to reserves in keeping with the policy of retaining cash within the business for future development. Capital increased from time to time; by 1980, capital was £1m.Consequence of war or this period was the decline in the hand-made bone toothbrush, which up to 1940 was still being produced at the rate of nearly 2m per year. However bones were increasingly in short supply as being used in soups and stews as were skilled workers. By 1946 the number of bone toothbrushes had declined to 39,200 and by 1947 only 163. Manufacture of William Addis?s original invention ceased after 167 years of continuous production. With the end of the war and the winding up of war work, production returned to normal. The company kept in touch with employees during war years and assured them of work upon their return. Many were skilled in the hand-made production, which had diminished by the end of the war. The company offered to retrain, and many became skilled engineers. In 1945 demand for Wisdom toothbrushes exceeded company capacity. Also, there was a shortage of good quality supplies and the company survived using lower grade. New machinery was required which could not be bought from elsewhere and so the drawing offices were expanded to design new machines. Premises at Haverhill, Suffolk, were purchased in 1945. The site comprised a 19th century silk mill (a listed building) with several acres of land. Some toothbrush manufacturing transferred to Haverhill within months. Initially work production was small scale, with a staff of 30. A modern factory was developed on the site over the next few years, with the old silk mill as an office. In 1980 (when book produced) there were 313 staff, 58m items produced a year, including 41m toothbrushes of 70 different types. Each one was still being inspected before leaving the factory. Turnover during World War II had been £500,000 Due to Wisdom and the hair-brush trade, it topped over £1m for the first time including £666,500 on 20m toothbrushes. Discussions with the dental profession as to the ideal toothbrush led to the Wisdom multifit being designed and led to future partnership working. Housewares: Robert Addis visited the continent in 1951 and saw a large wooden brush being used to wash glass and cutlery and observed it was in high demand. He decided his machinery could be used to make these as well in plastic. Bridget the brush was created and offered to wholesale trade. Was deemed too ?revolutionary? and wholesalers would not buy it. The company continued with trying it in the retail market through hardware shops and every one that was contacted placed an order. They decided to develop a range of brushes to sell directly to hardware stores. November 1954 a sales manager appointed to develop a field force selling the new Addis ranges to the hardware trade. 3 salesmen employed early 1955, two to work in London and one in the Midlands. Hard work led to sales team with national coverage by the end of the year.

Other companies: Throughout the 1930s - 1950s Addis expanded the business through growth to new premises and by purchasing other companies to expand production to other factories and to sell additional product types.See specific sections in the catalogue for company history and provenance information for these companies.

Later history and sale of Addis: Despite celebrating its bi-centenary in 1980, the company experienced difficulties in the later twentieth century, particularly from a change in consumer habits and the challenge from supermarkets selling own brand products. The Hertford factory closed in 1993 and the whole business was sold by the Addis family in 1996, in a management buyout. 1996 Liquidation of assets: Businesses listed in the London Gazette, 17 Jan 1997 include Serv-I-tor brush Company Ltd, Balls Grove Development Ltd, Ribwar 1990 Ltd, Jemma Toiletries Ltd, Halex Brushware Ltd, Castle Leasing Ltd, Beaufort Leasing Ltd, NMB2 Ltd (previous company name Addis Isovac)In June 1996, Addis Housewares was sold by the Addis family in a management buy out, as a separate company, but as part of the whole Addis Limited sale. Addis Housewares is still trading today [2024]. The company is now part of Addis Group Limited which was formed in 1996 following the sale of Addis Limited by the Addis family. This company was incorporated in Feb 1996, as Amberworld Group. On 10 Jun 1996, the company name was changed to Addis Group Limited, a private company limited by shares, based in Swansea, and later in Bridgend Addis Group Limited is listed as a dormant company, 1996 ? 2023. Culmak Limited was sold as part of the sale of Addis Limited, and was re-established as a separate company in 1995, now trading in Oakham Leicestershire [2024]. The Wisdom toothbrush brand also continues under a different company.

Some Addis brands are still being sold overseas, for example in South Africa: see Subsidiary Companies Administrative History section for more details.Information used to compile the administrative and company histories is mainly extracted from the records in this collection, the Company history 'Addis, 1780 - 1980: All About the Home' by Patrick Beaver (1980), which should also be consulted in conjunction to using the records for research, and also from online resources such are records relating to companies held at Companies House, and newspaper archives, including resources in the London Gazette. See also later Company History written by Addis family (Acc 6634, donated by Robert Addis)