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Catalogue description RECORDS OF GIMSON AND CO., LEICESTER LTD. ENGINEERS, OF VULCAN ROAD, LEICESTER
This record is held by Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Record Office for
| Reference: | DE 3034 |
|---|---|
| Title: | RECORDS OF GIMSON AND CO., LEICESTER LTD. ENGINEERS, OF VULCAN ROAD, LEICESTER |
| Description: |
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 |
| Date: | 1862 - 1980 |
| Related material: |
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. NB. furniture book, 1896 - 1950 see MF472 |
| Held by: | Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Record Office for, not available at The National Archives |
| Language: | English |
| Creator: |
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| Physical description: | 264 Files |
| Immediate source of acquisition: |
Deposited 1986 |
| Subjects: |
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| Administrative / biographical background: |
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. |
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