Document 2q3y2Xeby3zYwxRm50gXvzBYR

0007-SWP-04 03 8 8 N29225 INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Page 1 Chapter I ORIGINS, Ratcliff -- Deed of Partnership - Limehouse Marriage -- Shadwell - Prussian Blue Brother John - Neighbourhood - Business Activities. 3 Chapter II HOMERTON 1780 - 1014. 9 Water Lane - Homerton Site - Lutheran Chapel Commercial Developments - Berger letters Continental Correspondents - Products -Nourse's text book - Family - Mansions in Clapton John Berger's will. Chapter III 1814 - i860. ^-5 Factory developments - Trouble with the Brook New Products - Vermilion - Prussian Blue Greens - Yellows - Steam power - Patent License Staff - Family - Samuel Berger's starch factory. Chapter IV i860 - 1914 Factory developments - extensive expansion new plant - White Lead in Sheffield - Win.Thorp* New colours - Paints - Staff - Limited Company Wages - Sherwin Williams. Appendix 1, 2. Deed of Partnership XjGG. Berger Family Tree. 3. Homerton Locations 1892. 4. Books and Documents in the Berger archives. 5* A photograph 1906. .6 Acknowledgements. I 0007-SWP--04 0389 0007-SWP-000123779 INTRODUCTION In 1910 there was published a volume of some 12,000 words by Thomas B. Berger, - great, great grandson of the founder of the Company, entitled "A Century and a Half of the House of Berger". It may be fitting as a preliminary to this present work, to examine the earlier publication, and to indicate apparent weaknesses, some of which need not have occurred, in view of the more extensive documentary evidence easily available to the author, a member of both the Berger family and of the company, fifty years ago. In his preface Thomas Berger offers the surprizing suggestion that "history is not an absorbing subject", - an opinion, far from universally acceptable, and one not to be expected from the author of a historical work, however modest its pretensions. The book is not to be faulted because of its limited scope, which was no doubt intentional, but errors of fact and unnecessary vagueness in certain important particulars, appear to be worthy of correction and clarification, in so far as it is possible to do so. In. the present "History" I have also attempted to expand aspects of the Company's developments, which were rather summarily treated in 1910. In an appendix to this volume the sources of information are indicated. Unfortunately, books, letters and documents relating to Company activities are very few and widely separated in time, so that a completely continuous story of commercial and technical progress is altogether impossible. It would be churlish to say that "A Century and a Half of the House of Berger," has not been useful in helping to prepare this present out line, and where necessary, acknowledgements will be found. Thomas B. Berger stated that Louis Steigenberger a colour chemist, came from Frankfurt to London in the "middle of the 18th century", at the age of 19. "He was accompanied by a brother named John, but they soon separated, so their interests and ambitions were evidently totally different." Louis, "had perfected a method, new to the world then, of manufacturing Prussian Blue". The year he began operations, in London was 1760." He was said to have died in 1814 at the age of 73- The The indications here, are that he arrived in this country sometime before 1760 and started manufacture ("operations") after some years in London. 0007-SWP-04o39o 0007-SWP-000123780 -2But j_f he came to London at 19 years of age and died in 1811;. at 73 years, then his date of arrival was I76O precisely, rather than "the middle of the century". That the interests of Steigenberger and his brother John were totally different is untrue. John Steigenberger also lived in Shadwel 1, and at least five of his children were baptised in St. Pauls parish church, where four of Louis' children were also christened- Both Louis and John are described in the registers as "colour-makers." In 1780 John was living at an address (The Market, Shadvrell) which was the same as that of his brother Louis, immediately before the latter's move to Homerton. That Louis had perfected a new method of manufacturing Prussian Blue, would seem to be pure conjecture, but might have been so. By 1760 Prussian Blue had been known at least 5 years, and it may bo unlikely that a youth of 19 had made any fundamental advance over published methods, of which several variations were known and probably used. I have been unable to find documentary evidence that Lewis Steigenberger arrived in England in 1760, that his town of origin was Frankfurt, Germany, or that for a period he lived, (as was alleged by Jeffery Pamol) in Drury Lane. Information--such as this may well have been passed down from father to son, and until contrary evidence is disclosed may be accepted as true, - but not proven. 0007-SWP-040391 0007-SWP-000123781 -22Chapter IV. 1860 - 1914Factory. A comparison of the plan of buildings in 1892 on page 22a compared with the 1861 plan, illustrates very well the extensive developments taking place in that 30 year period. A study of the items entered in the afore-mentioned ledger, in which new plant was recorded, reveals that considerable extensions were undertaken in the ten year period i860 - 1870, following the death of John Berger. For example there is an item in August 1862 relating to roofing and slating the Hew Blue Place at a cost of 80. This building is almost certainly Location ID, marked on the 1892 plan. In January 1671 bricks were purchased at 33/" per 1000 for a new warehouse (Location 2). Between 1860 and 1370 were purchased twelve oak vats for Rose Pink malting, of capacities from 500 gallons to more than 1000 gallons and prices from 13 to 30 each, two fir tubs for Vermiliori (130 gallons each) eight oak vats for Prussian Blue (some at 1600 gallons capacity) three oak vats for Carmine (260 gallons each), and other vessels for Lakes, Chinese Blue, Dutch Pink, etc. A 660 gallon capacity copper vessel with an interval coil to take highpressure steam, at a cost of 88:19:0: was also installed. That paint making was carried out is indicated by an item for two granite rollers for a paint mill, 1ft, 10 ins.long, and 1ft. in diameter at 7:10:0: A "grinding machine" was purchased in 1869 at 70. In the next ten years are recorded B pairs of mitre mortice wheels (18 inch diameter) with hornbeam cogs, at 66, and 13 ft. lengths of shafting; an 80 H.P. multitubular boiler to work at 60 lbs./sc. ins. pressure at 750; shafting, blocks, gearing etc. at 950; a new engine house, a new mill at 36:15:0; equipment fox- varnish sheds; 20,000 bricks, and a great variety of other items. Coal purchases averaged about k50 tons, and coke 1000 chaldrons per annum between 1760 and 1770. Something over 100 quarters of oats was required each year for feeding horses. This ledger indicates very well how capital was being spent on new buildings, and equipment, and particularly how Capel and Lewis Berger were taking advantage of (a) steam-power, and (b) of larger production units to reduce manufacturing costs. ITo doubt this expansion and enlargement was to continue until 1890 when the area occupied by the factory was 0007-SWP- 040392 0007-SWP-000123782 0007-SWP-000123783 -23almost the same as that in 195, although certain "buildings were to be replaced by new ones after 1918. White head About the time of the formation of the Limited Company, Bergers obtained control of Rawson, Barker & Co., a White Lead factory in Sheffield, and some 200 copy letters from 1880 to 1886 written by William Thorp, who managed this concern from London, have been preserved. White Lead poisoning was still a serious industrial hazard, and as late as the first decade of the twentieth century, there were 1300 recorded cases of lead poisoning in factories making this pigment. According to Charles Booth, White lead manufacture was regarded "as the last resort of the starving". At Sheffield were employed 32 men and 9 women, and strict measures were enforced to reduce the possibilities of sickness to a minimum. Respiratoi's were in use, washing facilities and separate eating room were provided and medical care was available. Work people disregarding the rules wcr<. liable to instant dismissal. A daily allowance of ale was in 1887, on the advice of the Inspector of Factories replaced by one of "lemonade, a beverage made from sugar and water and a trace of sulphuric acid. Mr. Thorp anticipated a little difficulty over the introduction of this substitute, but there is no record of any serious repercussions. Writing in 1902 Lambert pointed out that lead sulphate was the only non-poisonous lead compound because of its insolubility in the gastric juices, and this belief may have rationalised the use of dilute sulphuric acid as an antidote. In 1912, however, Legge and Goadby were sceptical about the value of this, which was based on the assumption that the lead entered the body by being swallowed, whereas in fact far more was likely to be absorbed by other means. Moreover lead sulphate was found to dissolve in the gastric juices anyway. Berger laboratories were responsible for analysis of lead used at Sheffield, and analytical methods wore sufficiently accurate to return figures for other trace metals of less than 0.0003%. White lead wae t made from metallic lead,acetic acid and carbon dioxide, a modification ppf the old Dutch process, where C0? was generated from fermenting dung per tan bark. Among activities of the Sheffield factory, was work carried out on 0007--SWP-040394 0007-SWP-000123784 -24preparation of a range of gum-varnishes, which anticipated the eventual production at Homerton. Bed lead was also made. Among the Thorp letters are opinions about new processes or patents concerning Y/hite lead manufacture, varnishes and machinery. iiany communications are about new plant and buildings, or alterations to existing plant both at Homerton and Sheffield, and letters are included to the Metropolitan Board of Works, the Alliance Fire Assurance Co. , the Home Office, the Income Tax authorities, and Gt.Northern Railivay Co., a range of interests which in our own day might be divided between the Company Secretary, the Works Manager, the Chief Chemist, the Chief Engineer and possibly the Research Manager. Thus William Thorp emerges as a practical chemical engineer, concerned about technical progress, anxious to please, tactful, energetic, just in his dealings with subordinates and with the best interests of the Company at heart, - a type of man whom Bergers have sought to encourage from the earliest days. Other Products. A laboratory notebook dated 1885 - 1901 describes experiments designed to improve or economise the production of Vermilion by the "Wet-process". Some 30 carefully controlled and recorded experiments are detailed. It seems that work3 batches varied from 200 to 400 lbs of Vermilion, and that 4 or 5 different shades could be obtained. The indications are that there was no certainty about which particular shade would be produced with any particular batch. Formulation books showing raw material and labour casts of about the same period describe manufacture of the following colours: - Blacks - Burned Ivory. Drop Ivory. Blues -- About 20 differently named colours, many of which are variations on "Prussian Blue", in which 11 spent-oxide" of iron may be used. Greens -- 25-30 differently named colours, including "African", "Olympian", "Mineral", "Emerald", "Quaker", "Royal", "Litho", "French", and "Brunswick". 0007--SWP-040395 0007-SWP-000123785 -25Lakes - About 50 named varieties, in various colours., in which logwood chips, lima wood, cochineal, sapan wood, and quercitron bark figure. Coaltar dyes such as eosine, rhodamine, erithryn, and phloxine are also used in addition to the natural plant extracts. (The commercial production of dyes had developed from Wm. Perkins' original synthesis of mauve in 1756). Pinks. - Dutch, English and Rose Pinks were still being made. Red. - About 10 are listed, including basic lead chromates, several modifications of red lead with eosine (Vermillionette), carmine and vermilion. Xellows - A wide variety of lead and zinc chromes, and cadmium sulphide. The contact established between Bergers and the Sherwin Williams Co., of America in I9O5, began an exchange of technical information between the two companies which is still, at the time of writing, very closely maintained, and forms a valuable link between technical progress on either side of the Atlantic. Among the earliest Improvements in Berger products said to have resulted from Sherwin Williams, were the methods of grinding paint. By 1914 the Berger lists included Wagon and Implement Paint, (8/6d. per gallon) Buggy Gloss Paints (ll/6 per gallon) Iron Protective Paints (7/per gallon), and Coach Paints in either tins or collapsible tubes in at least 90 different shades with prices varying from 2/- to 10/- per lb. (Carmine Lake UB/~). Ready mixed paint was sold in hi colours; and stainers, artists' colours, polishes, insecticides, paint removers and inks figured in the catalogue. A wide range of varnishes from linseed oil and natural resins were also made. Staff. In 1879 when Capel Berrow, then 70 years old and Lewis Curvrood then ||iS5j bad been ooint owners of the Company for almost 20 years, a decision Evwas made to turn the firm into a limited company. In the first Articles [of Association six directors are named - Capel B. Berger, Lewis C. Berger, 0007-SWP--040396 0007-SWP-000123786 -26- Arthur J. Berger, Gryffyd Allen, Frederick Gain, and William Thorp, The capital was 150,000 in 1500 shares of 100. Arthur J. Berger, the fourth son of Lewis Curwood was to he Managing Director with a salary of 1000 per year, increasing to 2000 if and when the Company paid 10/ dividend. The Company solicitors were Wilde, Berger, and Moore, the Berger being Lewis John, the eldest son of Lewis Curwood. Gryffyd Allen, and Frederick Gain had been employees at Well Court prior to i860, when, as we have seen, they were mentioned in the will of John Berger. Both Gain and Allen spent part of their careers as Berger representatives. Wm, Thorp -was a chemist, and part of his duties was to be responsible for .the Sheffield White Lead works. On an earlier page in Chapter III we have mentioned Charles Henry Berger, who worked as a colour chemist in the factory. He was the only son of Capel Berrow and met an untimely end at the age of 28 in his father's house (Sion. House) in Lower Clapton, otherwise he must have been expected to have inherited control of the Company in due course. The press report of the Coroner's inquest indicated that whilst suffering from a raging toothache he attempted to assuage the pain with carbolic acid, which he was apparently syphoning from a bottle into his mouth, when he was overcome, and lapsed into unconsciousness from which he never recovered. He was locked in his room at the time. Accidental death was returned. By I87O.photograph taken at that time shows some 80 factory workers at Homerton- alone, which together with office workers at Well Court and travellers, must have brought up the total figure to the 100 mark. At Ifv this time Bergers were paying 13/- "to 15/- per week, with boys from 13 - 16years, /- to 10/-. Pensions for retired workers started some time earlier. 'Working hours reached 80 - 90 per week. Although many workers stayed for long periods with the Company a good number were summarily dismissed. Causes of dismissal entered in the wages book include drunkenness, laziness, incivility, fighting, foul language, incitement, "throwing in .the mill", and "refusing to work in the Blue Place." After the discharge of two employees appears on the one hand the laconic legend "lunatic", and on the other the mysterious,"an old soldier". In 1879 & keg-maker was earning 30/-, a blacksmith 28/-, and op>eratives 15/- to 20/- per week. 0007-SWP--040397 0007-SWP-000123787 -27Thomas Berger, a grandson of Lewis Curwood, and representative of the Company, states that "by 1910, there were 4OO workers at Homerton, ana that since the firm "began 13 employees had served over fifty years and 31 over thirty-five years, the latter including W, Maisey, H.Coppin and J.C. Norwood, who were still with the firm at that time. Board of Trade returns in 1886 from the paint, varnish and colour industry generally, showed 63?S of workers to he earning less than 30/per week, which was lower than the average rates paid in the rest of the chemical industry. After 15 years as Managing Director, Arthur J. Berger resigned in 189k, when James W, Garson became General Manager and Secretary of the Company, and after the turn of the century was to be made a director. James Garson joined "the firm in 1888 as an export clerk, so that his rise to the top was sensationally rapid. After his first appointment Garson went to manage "branches which the Company had already established in America and Canada. The American duty on imported colours led to the closing down of the U.S. branch, and Garson returned to England and the management of the Home Company. His overseas experience encouraged him to develop foreign trade and representatives were sent to Africa, South America, India and Australia, and he himself continued to visit America and Canada, and it was through his friendship with W. H. Cottingham, a Canadian and President of the oherwin Williams Co., that the close liaison sprang up between that Company and Bergers. In 1905 Cottingham became chairman of the Berger Board of Directors. Family Lewis Curwood, grandson of the Pounder, married, after the death of his first wife, Sophia Ann Lee, daughter of a Hackney resident Stephen Lee, who was also the father of the Rt.Rev.James Prince Lee, first Bishop of Manchester. Whilst living in Berger House Lewis Curwood was church warden of Homerton; he died at the age of JO. His sons were not encouraged to enter the family business. The eldest, Lewis John, as we have seen became a solicitor and lived in Charles Street, Berkeley Square, and the second son Ernest Arthur embarked upon a military career, retiring as major-general after a distinguished career, during which he became aide-de-camp to the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He 0007--SWP-040398 0007-SWP-000123788 -28married a Tipperary woman, Margaret Catherine Brereton, who claimed direct descent from Sir Ralph Sadleir a Hackney worthy of the 16th century. Chief Secretary of State to Henry 8th, and later to hold office in Elisabeth' s reign. The third son died young, and it was the fourth son Arthur John who was to become the firm's Managing Director as already noted. Soldier Arthur John had eight children, only one of whom, the eldest, John Stephen, was horn in England. It was John Stephen's son John Berger, a civil engineer, now living in Somerset and the keeper of the family records, who was kind enough to provide the author with details of the Berger descendants. A younger son of Arthur John, was the author of "A Century and a Half". Yet another son of the soldier, was the father of Charles Berger, now employed by the Company in Wellington, New Zealand. 0007-SWP-040399 0007-SWP-000123789 0007-SW?-040400 0007-SWP-000123790 0007-SWP-040401 0007-SWP-000123791 WORLD DISTRIBUTION of fiercer products is effected through the following Qerger Factories, Depots and Agencies BERGER FACTORIES LONDON ... Lewis Berger & Sons, Ltd., Homerton, London, E.9, England. Telephone No.: AMHersl 332J f 15lir>es)- Telegraphic Address; " uewberg, Tdcx, London.*' Cable Address; '* Lewberg, London.*' Codes used: Bentley's complete phrase, Bentley's second phrase. City Office: Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, Strand. W.C.2. Telephone l\'o.; TEMple Bar 3938. GLASGOW ... Lewis Berger (Scotland), Ltd.. Kerr Street, Glasgow. S.E. Telephone No.: BRIdgeton 947. Telegruph/c Address; "Lewberger. Glasgow." DUBLIN ... Lewis Berger A Sons (Ireland), Ltd., 134 James's Street, Dublin. Telephone No.: Dublin 21913. Te/egraphic Address: *' lewberg, Dublin." DURBAN . . Lewis Berger A Sons {South Africa), Ltd., 318 Gale St., Durban. PO. Box No. 1045. Telephone No.: 483. Te/egrcpflic Address: '* Enamel.*' SYDNEY Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia), Ltd.. Rhodes, Sydney. N.S.W. P.O. Box No. 23, Burwood. Telephone No.; UM 665! (6lines). Te/egropbic Address: " Berger's Sydney." MELBOURNE Lewis Berger A Sons (A) Pty. Ltd. P.O. Box IIS9-IC, Melbourne. Victoria. WELLINGTON Lewis Berger & Sons (New Zealand), Ltd., Torrens Terrace, Wellington. P.O. Box Nc. 759. Telephone No.: Wellington 54-624. Telegraphic Address: "Bcrpaint, Wellington." DAGENHAM Lewis Berger A Sons, Ltd., Freshwater Road, Dagenham, Essex. BERGER DEPOTS Bl RMI NG HAM Lewis Berger & Sons, Ltd., 39-40, Thorp Street (off Hurst Street), Birmingham, S. Telephone No.: MIDIand 1065. Te/egrophic Address: "Lewberger. Birmingham." BRISTOL ... Lewis Berger A Sons, Ltd., (Head Office and Stocks), 20*11 Broad Quay, Bristol. Telephone No.: 25331 (2 lines). Lewis Berger & Sons, Ltd., (Marine Dept.), i Queen Square, Bristol. Telephone No.: 22268. CARDIFF ... Lewis Berger A Sons, Ltd., 105, Bute Road, Cardiff. LIVERPOOL Telephone No.: 5260. Telegraphic Address: " Energetic." Lewis Berger A Sons, Ltd., 208, Yauxhall Road, Liverpool. Telephone No.: CENtral 29S5. Telegraphic Address: " Lewberg." NEWCASTLE Lewis Berger & Sons, Ltd., 45, Corporation Street, Newcastle. Telephone No.: NE Wcastle 20624. Telegraphic Address: " Lewberg." Berger Distributing Agents are established In all the principal centres throughout the world. Nomes and addresses will he supplied on request. GENERAL INFORMATION Berger Tra^ Marks The Trade Mark of a reput able Manufacturer is a valu able security for the buyer. Byinslstmg on goods bearing the mark of proved worth he safeguard s nimself againsc the evils of substitution and ensures satisfaction. One or other or the Berger Trade Marks here illustrated iden tifies all Genuine Berger produces and indicates that the material so marked is of the highest possible quality in its class. &tMn4 Knowledge of Markets With 178 years of good paint making and marketing to its credit, the House of Berger hasan unrivalled knowledge of world markets and of the individual needs of paint buyers in chose markets. There it a Berger product for every con ceivable surface, purpose and climate. Foreign Weights and Measures ' All Berger products are available in the standard weights and measures of foreign markets. Direct Orders and Indent Orders Berger products can be shipped either against direct orders, for approved accounts or. if preferred, through Indent Merchants. 0007-SWP-040402 0007-SWP-000123792 O 0007-SWP-0404 03 0007-SWP-000123793 MATROIL OIL-BOUND WASHABLE WATER PAINT DE LUXE In Paste Form Many water paints are called " washable "--few will stand the water-and-scrub-brush test. They absorb water--ard to stand real washing a surface must be quite non-absorbent. Matroil is non-absorbent--and therefore really washable--because it contains OIL. Yet you. thin it with water. Besides making it really washibfe the oil gives Matroil great durability. Matroil is a japan-bound paste--easily mixed for use with cold water, and very economical *n use. Directly the first coat is dry, a second coat can be applied and goes on easily without " working up " the first coat. Two coats cover solid. When thinned vith Matroil Thinner* it is perfectly safe on ordinary new plaster that has dried out. The Matrcil finish is smooth and dead flat, and if desired (for dadoes, etc.) can be varnished over with excellent resuits. All colours are fast to light and unaffected by lime in plaster walls--all are imermixable and leadless, non-polsonous. disinfectant and fire-resisting. Matroil is also usefui as a primer for oil paint finish--as a filer and priming coat on new woodwork--and as an undercoat for moderately priced enamel work. One Cwt. covers 500 to 600 square yards. For outside work, please specify Matroil Special Weather Resisting quality which must be thinned with Matroil Thinners. Matroil is put up in 4-lb., 7-lb. and 14-lb. handsome decorated tins and in H-!b., 28-lb.. 56-lb. and 112-lb. kegs. Important--The Government factory regulations ir Great Britain which impose lime washing every 14 months, permit surfaces pointed with Matroil to remain for 3 years without repainting. I ^=2 MATROIL THINNERS. For thinning Matroil for use on absorbent surfaces inside and or outside work. Normally che use of this thinner is sufficient to stop suction. In l-g^ll. tins and 5-gall, drums. MATROIL PRIMER. For stopping suction on very porous surfaces before applying Matroil. It can be mixed with white lead or ordinary sumers in oil to act as a primer. In J-gal!. and 5-gall, drums. 0007-SWP-040404 0007-SWP-000123794 ii:yy'aow^^>RWisr.i 1U JACK It 0007-SWP-04 04 0 5 0007-SWP-000123795 ENGLISH WHITE LEAD PAINT IN WHITE AND COLOURS READY FOR USE In purity Berger English White Lead Paint is beyond reproach--containing only carefully selected ingredients. These ingredients are more finely ground and carefully strained than is possible without the high-efficiency of the Barger manufacturing plant and process. The pure paint reaches you perfectly amalgamated and in ideal condition--ready for use. Finest grinding and closest amalgamation of pigment and liquids make Berger English White Lead Paint supreme in spreading capacity, ease of working, and hiding power-- enable it togive a better, more close-knit film having longer life and better protective power than those of the generality of paints. Because of the strength and power of the famous Berger pigments used the colours retain their cleanness and beauty when ordinary paints have grown dull and lifeless. Berger English White Lead Paint is suitable for wood or Iron; in normal conditions it dries In 10 to II hours and is hard overnight. It gives a full oil-gloss finish ; all colours may be intermixed or reduced with the White to produce other shades. One cwt. covers 300 square yards. THE BERGER GUARANTEE ENGLISH WHITE LEAD PAINT iiftrrmIS teeO MADE ONLY FROM (I) English White leod (Carbonate). (2) Genu ine Linseed Oil, (3) Genuine American Spirits of Turpentine and (4) a special highly concen trated Berger Drier. WHITE LEAD PAINT IN COLOURS Berger White Lead Paint in colours is based on English White Lead with addition of Berger high grade Strong Stainers. Each shade contains the maximum quantity of English White Lead which the nature of the colour permits. HoStntf White, flat white, broken white and colours in l-lb., 2-lb., 4-lb.. 7-lb. and H-lb. lever lid tins (varying in size according to density of colour, so that the possibility of skinning is minimised), Also in 28-lb. and l-cwt. drums. MAINTENANCE PAINT READY FOR USE Tough, hard-wearing weather-resisting paint, designed to give utmost protection to exposed structures, such as barns, outbuildings, etc.--and equally effective on iron roofs, gutters, rainpipes, bridges, girders, railings, etc. One gallon covers 70 to 80 square yards one coat solid over almost any surface. (n j-gall. and l-gall. tins, and 5-gall, drums and barrels. 0007-SWP-04 04 06 0007-SWP-000123796 0007-SWP-040407 0007-SWP-000123797