Local Brushmakers Societies

Box one

Local Societies - London

Articles of the Society of Journeymen Brush-Makers, held at the sign of the Craven Head, Drury Lane, London: Instituted in the Year 1806 8pp

Rules and Regulations of the London Society of Journeymen Brush Makers, as revised and corrected by a committee appointed for that purpose on the tenth day of April, 1833. London 19pp
[Includes: Steward's Call List, 1833; The Tramping Route, containing the exact amount each tramp is to receive in cash, beer &c at each Club-house]

Minute Book 19 March 1829 - 30 Dec 1835
[Bound volume of minutes of General Meetings, Delegate Meetings, Committee Meetings]

Minute Book 27 Jan 1836 - 31 May 1843
[Bound volume as above]

Minute Book 25 Jul 1866 - 31 Dec 1873
[Bound volume as above]

General Cash Book 1814 - 1826
[Bound volume. Opens with statement of auditing system adopted December 1815. Audited accounts cover November 1814 - December 1826. Includes lists of tramps' names and blanks drawn. Some internal damage by a child]

Box two

Local Societies - Birmingham

Bound volume labelled Reference Book for Clear Members. Internal Heading Book for Fines and Arrears, 11 Oct 1831
(Includes information dating from 1827 to 1843, including records of individual brush makers. Subsequent inclusion of A short history of the Birmingham Branch, United Society of Brushmakers, 29 Oct 1904, which states the Society was established in 1782)

United Society of Brushmakers A short account of the early days of the Birmingham Branch
(Handwritten account)

Local Societies - Bradford

Bradford Brushmakers Society Minute Book 6 Jul 1900 - 10 Jan 1929
[Includes lists of entrances and departures from the trade; list of female workers]

Local Societies - Bristol

Minute Book 23 Feb 1859 - 12 Jul 1882
[Bound volume]

Bound volume showing Payments for Hair, Fibres etc, 1852 - 1868. Pencil inscription, G.Costling, Bristol.

The financial position of the Bristol Society at the end of May 1866 just previous to the strike commencing.
[Handwritten]

Local Societies - Glasgow

United Society of Brushmakers Glasgow Journeymen Wages List, 1896. 21pp

Copy of Letter from the United Brushmakers of Glasgow to the following Members of Parliament.[n.d.] [Relates to brush making in prisons]

Box three

Lists of Journeymen and Apprentices

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices, with a Directory for England for the year 1829; also an Appendix. London 15pp
[Appendix missing]

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices for the year 1851. London 40pp

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices for the year 1865. London 42pp

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices for the year 1866. London 42pp

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices for the year 1869. London 45pp

A List of Legal Journeymen Brush Makers and Apprentices for the year 1870. London 50pp

Brush Makers Benevolent Institute

Articles of the Brush Makers Benevolent Institute, established May 5, 1828, corrected to December 1844. London, 1845 8pp
[copy of Henry Purtey]

Articles of the Brush Makers Benevolent Institute, established May 5, 1828, corrected to December 1844. London, 1850 8pp

Articles of the Brush Makers Benevolent Institute, established May 5, 1828, corrected to December 1856. London, 1857 8pp

Articles of the Brush Makers Benevolent Institute, established May 5, 1828. London, 1870 10pp

A List of the Members of the Brushmakers Benevolent Institute for 1852, with an account of the receipt and expenditure of the preceding year. London, 1852

[As above: for years 1853,1859,1862,1863,1865,1866,1868,1874]

Price Lists

Bristol

The List of Prices agreed upon between the masters and journeymen brush-makers in the City of Bristol, April 16, 1825. 1836 16pp

The List of Prices agreed upon between the masters and journeymen brush-makers in the City of Bristol, June 25, 1866. 1866 15pp

The List of Prices agreed upon between the masters and journeymen brush-makers in the Bristol district, Feb 12, 1872. 1872 15pp
[Copy belonged to Edwin Casling, 21 Lancashire Road, St Andrews, Bristol]

Ferrybridge

Handwritten agreement at a Meeting of the Master Brush Manufacturers held at the Greyhound Inn, Ferrybridge., 29-31 December 1819
[Annotated by G.H. Clarkson, 'Found in cellar October 2nd 1913, Seale Lane]

Glasgow

List of prices for brush making agreed upon between the employers and journeymen of the United and Amalgamated Societies of Brushmakers of Glasgow and District, 6th April 1914. 16pp
[Two copies]

Leeds

A List of prices for brush-making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Leeds and District on March 26, 1866. Leeds 14pp

A List of prices for brush-making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Leeds and District on Jan 20, 1879. 16pp
[Two copies]

A List of prices for brush-making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Leeds and District, revised Feb 9, 1885. 1887 19pp

List of prices for brush making agreed upon between the Employers and Journeymen of the United Society of Brushmakers for Leeds and District, Feb 23, 1914.
[Three copies]

London

A List of prices agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen Brush Manufacturers in London, Friday March 15, 1805. London: printed by W. Clarke, 1815. 12pp

A List of prices agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen Brush Manufacturers in London, Friday March 15, 1805. London: printed by J. Silver, 1828. 12pp

A List of prices agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen Brush Manufacturers in London, Friday March 15, 1805. London: printed for the Society by W. Ostell, 1844. 12pp
[Two copies]

Manchester

List of prices for Brush-Making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Manchester and District. Salford: printed by J. Dunstan, 1892. 16pp

List of prices for Brush-Making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Manchester and District. Manchester: printed by S. Richards, 1896. 16pp
[Two copies]

List of prices for Brush-Making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Manchester and District. Manchester: printed by R. Ackman, 1902. 16pp

Sheffield

A List of prices agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen Brush-Makers in Sheffield on the 17th June, 1825. Sheffield: printed by Jas Montgomery. 11pp

List of prices for brush making agreed upon between the Masters and Journeymen in Sheffield and District on April 15, 1872. Sheffield, 1872. 14pp

Box four

United Society of Brushmakers

United Society of Journeyman Brush Makers - General Trade Articles

The general trade articles of the United Society of Journeymen Brush Makers, revised by Committee, appointed August 27, 1834. London: printed by J. Packer. 16pp
[Copy belonged to J. Lewis]

The general trade articles of the United Society of Journeymen Brush-makers, revised by a Committee. London: printed by W. Ostell. 24pp

United Society of Brush makers - Rules

General trade rules of the United Society of Brushmakers, containing the alterations made by the Bristol Conference, October 1874. Bristol: Geo du Boistel, 1874. 25pp

United Society of Brushmakers, established 1747, General rules, part I, National Health Insurance rules, part II. London: 1912 26pp;52pp

United Society of Brush makers - Half-Yearly Returns

Half-Yearly Returns of the Society of Brush Makers
June to Dec 1828 (cover missing); to March 1853; to Sept 1854; to Sept 1856; to March 1867

United Society of Brush makers - Annual Balance Sheets and Reports

United Society of Brush-makers Annual balance sheet and reports, with names and amounts paid to Receivers from the end of December 1908 to end of December 1909

United Society of Journeymen Brush makers - Receivers Blanks

United Society of Journeymen Brushmakers Receivers blank. London: printed by W. Mitchener, 1860.
[Copy belonging to William Bromby, Poole; covers 1862]

United Society of Journeymen Brushmakers Receivers blank London: printed by Wertheimer, Lea, 1878.
[Several copies - belonging to : David Boase, Plymouth, admitted 1872, covers 1879-1880; David Boon, Walsall, admitted 1889, covers 1891-1896; F. Cocking, Lincoln, admitted 1894, covers 1895-1901; Richard Colegate, London, admitted 1887, covers 1900; H. Collett, London, admitted 1862, covers 1906; Herbert Rice, Hull, admitted 1881, covers 1882-1910

Box five

United Society of Brushmakers Circulars

Loosely bound set of circulars. Also testimonials, reports, propositions, 20 Jan 1859 - 1 March 1871.

Set of loose circulars. Also testimonials, reports, propositions etc. Covers 2 Jul 1825 - 8 Dec 1913

Apprenticeship indentures
[Indentures for : Patrick Fox, Dublin, 1849; John Porter, Middlesex, 1857; Thomas Stonehouse, Oldham, 1846]

Description of trade emblem - United Society of Brushmakers
n.d.

United Society of Brush makers - Correspondence

History of Society correspondence File of correspondence between USB Secretaries and others relating to the history of the Brushmakers Society

Sylvia Pankhurst correspondence Two letters by Sylvia Pankhurst on behalf of East London Federation of the Suffragettes, 20 May 1915 & 27 May 1915, to S.G. Porter, Secretary of the United Society of Brushmakers. They relate to wages in Kents Brush Factory in London.

Dispute at Messrs Jas. Root & Sons, Bletchley Works. Agreement reached 17 Oct 1916.
[Paper sent to National Society of Brushmakers in 1975 by J.T. Root]

File of Miscellaneous correspondence and other loose items

Box six

Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers

Rules of the Amalgamated Society of Brush Makers, formed Dec 11, 1889, registered Nov 17, 1893; held at the Crown and Shears, Minories, Aldgate. London: Twentieth Century P., 1908. 32pp

Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers Report of Executive Council
1901, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915

Federation of Societies in the Brush-Making Industry

A List of names and addresses of employers who pay recognised trade union rates of wages for the work of County Councils, Borough Councils, Boards of Guardians, and other Local Authorities. London, 1910
[Covers London only. Secretary of Federation was E. Latchford, Sec of ASB]

Federation of Trade Unions in the Brushmaking Industry

Rules of the Federation of Trade Unions in the Brushmaking Industry. Printed by Utopia P., [n.d.]
[3 copies]

Documents relating to Amalgamation of the Unions

The United Society of Brush makers & the Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers. Opinion, by R.J. Sutcliffe, 1917

Notice of amalgamation of Trade Unions, 1917

Box seven

National Society of Brushmakers

National Society of Brushmakers Rules

The National Society of Brushmakers: the United Society and and the Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers unified, [Rules, Part I]; bound in with Rules, Part II: National Health Insurance. London: Grantham Printing Works, 1917. 36pp; 45pp
[Separate copies of Parts I and II also held]

Model rules for an approved Society as amended on behalf of the National Society of Brushmakers. 1919

Rules of the National Society of Brushmakers relating to business under the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911-1920. London: HMSO, 1920

National Society of Brushmakers: Book of Rules. London, 1921. 39pp
[Two copies]

Book of rules; Bound in with National Health Insurance Rules, complete amendment, 1921
[Three copies]

Book of rules; Bound in with National Health Insurance Rules, as amended, 1927.
[Three copies, one in draft form]

Book of rules, partial amendment, 1935.
[Two copies, one bound in with National Health Insurance Rules]

National Society of Brush makers (incorporating Hair, Bass and Fibre Dressers), Book of Rules, as amended 1949. 26pp
[Three copies]

National Society of Brushmakers, Book of rules London, 1954
26pp

Partial alteration of rules of the National Society of Brushmakers, 1961

Partial alteration of rules of the National Society of Brushmakers, 1963
[Two copies]

National Society of Brushmakers Women's Section Rules, n.d.

Box eight

National Society of Brushmakers Executive Council Report, 1918
[Includes Executive Council and Branch accounts]

National Society of Brushmakers Annual Report & Accounts
1922, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955
Annual Accounts
1959,1960
Statement of Accounts
1964,1968,1969

National Society of Brushmakers General Council Conference reports
1st Council, Blackpool, 4-8 March 1918 [two copies]
2nd Council, Birmingham, 19-21 May 1919 [two copies]

NSB Correspondence with Registrar of Friendly Societies, relating to Rules, 3 June 1921 - 28 Aug 1935

NSB File marked 'Circulars 1954-1958 [Includes monthly reports from Secretary, Reports of General Council meetings etc]

London brush manufacturers National Society of Brushmakers, n.d.
[list in card form]

Brush and broom industry: holidays with pay. British Brush Manufacturers Association; National Society of Brushmakers, 1939. 7pp

Piece rates for pan work, 1939. National Society of Brushmakers, 1939. 10pp

Minutes of Proceedings before the Committee on Production, Aug 22, 1918. British Brush Manufacturers Association and National Society of Brushmakers. 36pp
[typescript]

Box nine

Leases to property and related legal documents, 1 Jan 1955 - 9 Jun 1970

Correspondence etc relating to property transactions, 27 May 1954 - 2 Jul 1973 [in folder]

Correspondence etc relating to Employee Pension Scheme, 1959 - 1961

Correspondence relating to Income Tax, 1957-1959 [two files]

General Secretary's Correspondence, 1920 - 1973 [in folder]

Recruitment leaflets and application forms

Letters to members
1924 Letter relating to National Health Insurance Section of the Society [Two copies. One has on obverse, membership figures for 1920 & 1925; the other has statistics of unemployment benefit, 1924 & 1925]
Oct 9, 1931 Letter relating to serious financial position of Society
August 1944 Letter relating to retirement of G.F. Mayes as General Secretary
Christmas 1944 Card sent to servicemen members for 'safety and speedy return'

Records of events, e.g. concerts, dinners

List of Branch Secretaries, n.d.

Miscellaneous press cuttings & photos

National Society of Brushmakers London Branch

Meetings Minutes, 3 Mar 1917 - 29 Nov 1918

Paper on London Branch Secretaryship, 1920

Roll Calls, 1949 - 1956

National Society of Brushmakers Dublin Branch

Press cutting dated 30 May 1931 relating to presentation to former Secretary, W. Murphy

Box ten

Furniture Timber and Allied Trades Union Brushmakers Group

Brushmakers badge, leaflet by D.R.Coates, 1988

John Chamberlain Permanent Benevolent Fund for Aged and Infirm Members of the Brush Trade

Last Will and Testament of John Chamberlain, Brushmaker, 6 Mar 1897
[Copy]

United Society of Brushmakers, communications to members about the will, 5 Aug 1897 & 13 Nov 1897

Draft Heads of Scheme, 29 Aug 1899
[and comments on drafts]

Correspondence relating to establishment of John Chamberlain Benevolent Fund, 1897 - 1899
[Most of the correspondence is between S.C. Porter, Secretary of the United Society of Brushmakers and C.H. Watkins, of Hamilton & Co., Brush Manufacturers, acting on behalf of the employees. There are also letters to and from solicitors firms, and single examples of letters to Porter from Alfred Masters, of the Bone Brush Makers Trade Protection Society, and W. Warren, of the Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers.]

John Chamberlain Permanent Benevolent Fund. Documents announcing establishment of Fund, 1902
[Including press notice]

John Chamberlain Permanent Benevolent Fund. Announcement of Committee meeting, 22 Oct 1902, with list of applicants for pension

Letter from A.B. Kent & C.H. Watkins (Hamilton & Co), Dec 16, 1924, outlining work of Fund.

John Chamberlain Permanent Benevolent Fund. Reports of Committee presented to Annual General Meeting
1903, 1909, 1940-1955

Overseas Trade Unions

Australian Brush Makers, Millet Broom Makers and Horse Hair Workers Union Rules n.d. 32pp

Brushmakers International Union of New York
Constitution and By-Laws of Local, No.2, 1905 27pp
Message of greeting from United Society of Brushmakers, 31 Aug 1905
Correspondence from R.E. Powers, Secretary to S.C. Porter, Secretary USB, 1906-1907

Other Brush Industry Organisations

UK Brush Industry Productivity Team No. 22
Material relating to visit of George Mayes as part of this team to USA, Sept 1950. Includes photographs, and Mayes' reports to NSB members

British Brush Manufacturers Association
List of members, 1918
Luncheon given for E.H. Matthew, 1954

Deal Brushmakers Club
Record of annual dinner, 1948

John Palmer Ltd (Portsmouth)
The Link, January 1927. (In memoriam John Palmer)
Record of reunion dinner and dance, 1947

Box eleven

Histories and Biographies of Brushmaking and the Brushmakers Unions

William Kiddier

The Brushmaker (Pitmans, 1922)
[Correspondence involving George Mayes, William Kiddier and readers of the book]. (The book is held in the main WCML stock)

The Old Trade Unions (Allen & Unwin, 1930 & 1931)

Statements of accounts, correspondence and publicity items, 1930 - 1932. Most of the correspondence is between George Mayes and William Kiddier. Other correspondents include the publishers, E.H. Matthew of the Briton Brush Co., and other representatives of the brush making industry. (Both editions of the book are held in the main WCML stock)

Press cuttings of 1930 edition [More than 50 cuttings from national and regional press]

Retirement tributes to William Kiddier, July 1923 [Tributes by Kiddier and from his staff]

Correspondence between William Kiddier and George Mayes, Oct 1932 - Oct 1933. (Series of letters on various subjects, particularly sweepstakes for the Superannuation Fund, and an article on brush making in Reynolds Illustrated News which formed part of the 'Romances of trade unionism' series)

Artistic Work of William Kiddier
Exhibition catalogues - Fine Art Gallery, London, May 1919; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, 1933
Press cuttings and reviews of Kiddier's book, 'The Painter's Voice'
Press cuttings on exhibitions of Kiddier's paintings
Correspondence on Kiddier with Nottingham Art Gallery, 1969

Portrait of William Kiddier. (Copy of a portrait by D. Macpherson)

Personal Items and Obituary
Labour Party club card
Correspondence between George Mayes & Alice Kiddier
Press cutting - Leicester Mercury, 23 Feb 1934
S. Fisher, 'Fifteen to Fifty', Nottingham, 1935 (contains a poem, 'To William Kiddier at parting')

George Mayes

Unpublished history of the Brushmakers Society. 116pp
[Photocopy of text prepared by Mayes for the 1947 'bicentenary' celebration]

Correspondence relating to history of the Society
With various persons concerning the Manchester banner, 1934
With the editor, 'Brushes and Toilet Goods', 1938
With E. & H.M. Latchford, 1946
With G. Stonehouse, 1938

Personal documents
Apprenticeship indenture, 1909
Trade Union official pass, 1940
Certificate of occupation, 1941

S.G. Porter

Account of his life, in correspondence with George Mayes, 1945

Obituaries and correspondence, 1946

Other Historical Material

A Memorial presented to the Court of Assistants of the Russia Company by certain importers of Russian bristles, together with a statement of the reasons upon which that memorial was granted, by one of the Parties. London, 1822 16pp
[Accompanied by correspondence between George Mayes and E.H. Matthew, 1935]

Jones, M.G. The Story of brush making: a Norfolk craft. Briton Chadwick Ltd., 1974. 16pp
[Published to mark the presentation of the company's historical brush making collection to the Norfolk Museums Service]

Shepherd, P. Chronology of Newcastle-on-Tyne brush makers, 1997 [Typescript]

Brushmakers and their unions (Press cuttings and short articles; various dates)