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The history of the raincoat |
In 1936 3 entries are made under 'Rubber Manufactures' in the
Trade Directory of that year:
Platt's has an advert in the Directory which reads:
E.Platt Asbestos and Rubber Merchant Specialist in Rubber Flooring and Mats Also all classes of Mechanical Rubbers 14 Walmersley Rd Bury Telephone Bury 89 |
This doesn't sound very promising, since there is no mention of waterproof fabric or garments, but the firm is listed in an earlier Directory as engaged in the manufacture of 'India-Rubber and Waterproof Goods' (Bury and Radcliffe Annual, 1913). The firm is now listed as having a works in Buckley Street as well as a shop, 14 Walmersley Road.
I had a look but couldn't really work out where 14 Walmersley Road was / had been. A mess of new garage/retailpark-type redevelopment now.
Buckley Street has the back of Wickes and several garages: and a scrap yard with an old-looking perimeter wall and a sort of important gate/doorway with a name on it. I think it's "Alexander Mill", but this may be wishful thinking because there is an Alexander Mill on a 1910 map. Sounds a bit as though Platt & Co might have been located in Alexander Mill, like Charles Macintosh & Co camped out in Birley's when they first moved to Manchester. Pure speculation.
Platt & Co only manufactured waterproof goods of course - they didn't do the proofing, which would make them much more important.
No "India-Rubber and Waterproof Goods Manufacturer" is listed in the 1888 Directory, so Platt's must have opened between 1888 and 1913. In 1888 14 Walmersley Road was occupied by a bootmaker.
Hazel
Keywords: Bury, Retailer, Mantle, Mackintosh, 1889
From Bury: A Century Ago, 1990, Nelson, Landy Publishing, which reprints in part a book published in 1889 by Historical Publishing Company. It is from the older work that the quotation comes:
The extensive and important business concern conducted by Mr. E. Redfern, as a draper, hosier, glover, and outfitter, at Silver Street, Bury, occupies a large brick buildin of three stories in height, and containing a frontage of sixty feet in Silver Street, the most central district in the town of Bury. Many years ago there stood on this site a highly popular and celebrated hotel known as The Eagle and Child, which before the era of railway enterprise served as the principal posting-house of Bury. On their occupation by Mr. E. Redfern, the premises were subjected to a very material alteration, a large proportion being entirely rebuillt and the whole converted into the present handsome bazaar-like warehouse, in which an extensive trade in general drapery, toy, and fancy goods is carried on. The shop is seventy-five feet in length, by twenty-five feet wide. At all times an attractive establishment (and made so by reason of the cheapness of the commodities sold here), it is at Christmastide and the new year that "Redfern's " can be seen to the greatest advantage. At that festive season this emporium is truly a scene of busy activity, converted for the time being into a German fair, decorated in all the hues of colour which artistic taste can suggest, and brilliantly lighted by lanterns of delicate shading and material. Thousands of visitors (largely composed of the juvenile community of the district) are to be met with making Christmas purchases in the various departments. This is the only establishment in Bury where the new American cash railway is in use; an invention which greatly facilitates the conveyance of change to and from customers. There are two immense plate-glass windows, through which are displayed a vast assortment of drapery and fancy goods. One room of fifteen feet in length, at the end of the front premises, serves as heavy goods warehouse, and is approached by descending two steps. Here there is kept a large stock of blankets, rugs, carpets, sheeting, qiillts, &c. There is a handsome balcony around the premises, entirely devoted to ladies' and children's outfitting, costumes, mantles, mackintoshes, &c. ...
Bury: A Century Ago, 1990, Nelson, Landy Publishing,
which is here reprinting part a book published in 1889 by Historical Publishing
Company. Page numbers not given. The section is entitled Bury Industrial Review.
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