Copyright © 2004 Reckitts Heritage / Reckitt Benckiser
Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish
Dan & Charles Mason, pioneers of the shoe polish industry in Chiswick
The Memoirs of a Masonian P5
I shall never forget New Year's Day, 1912, for in my memory it is associated with a very unfortunate and serious accident, resulting in the death of our Chief Soap Boiler and his assistant. The cause of the accident was the explosion of a drum of Carbide of Calcium during the making of an experimental batch of soft soap. The explosion took place as they were lifting the drum to pour the contents into the batch of soap that had just been made. They were very badly burned. A fire followed, but this was quickly extinguished. The two victims were rushed to hospital, but their lives could not be saved. Mr Brown died the same day, but Mr Geldard lingered until the following Thursday. This tragedy was a great shock to us all and cast a shadow over the Works for some time.
Rapid increase in the sales of Boot Polish was being recorded and during that year Mansion Polish took the place of the Forget-me-not Floor Polish. Its sales were mostly in the No 1 size (1d tin) and we had a fairly good output.
In the Spring of 1912 Linnet Boot Polish was introduced, it was a cheap mixture and sold at 0.5d and 1d per tin, but did not sell very well, so it was taken off the market.
The manufacture of soft Soap was transferred to Yalding in Kent, in 1913 and from then on Boot and Floor Polish were our main products. It was during this year that the Company became known as The Chiswick Polish Co, ltd. It was also this year that we took over the manufacture of "Berry's and "Master" Polishes. This necessitated more room for manufacture, and the foundations of the buildings now housing the Min Cream Department were commenced early in 1914 and completed in 1915 after the war had broken out.
Returning to 1913, my memory is somewhat misty, for with the taking over of "Berry and "Master" Polishes things speeded up considerably and my responsibilities increased. Little personal incidents recalled to mind are overshadowed by business demands. Improvements, advantageous to Works and workers, made me look to my laurels, and I took a course with the London School of Correspondence to fit me better for any task that might be mine. My financial outlay meant much personal sacrifice, but the prize was worth the race. I maintained my position in charge of the manufacturing and filling sections and was duly recognised as being responsible. I received my formulae from the laboratory.
1914 proved a very busy year; business increased rapidly and our production space was taxed to the limit. When war broke out in August we were expanding rapidly and the outbreak of hostilities made things very difficult. During 1914-18 I handled over 300 formulae, as one never knew, from one day to another, what raw materials would be at our disposal. Events passed rapidly and I find it very difficult to recall incidents in their true perspective.
I have had to rely entirely on memory for these memoirs, and as our first copy of Forward Magazine was issued in 1916, I would refer my readers to this and subsequent issues for all our social activities.
When things began to settle down after the Great War a new system was installed and the Planning Department was introduced. Production was planned throughout the factory, and after a time we were able to produce in very large quantities, as hand in hand with this was the vast improvement that took place in the layout of the various departments.
About 1924 we introduced our first metal opener for the tins, at first on the large sizes only. It was known as the fishtail and was fastened on to the tin by means of a rivet. This was all done by hand, rather a tedious operation, but the girls eventually became very skilful at it. A year or so later machines for this work were introduced and by about 1927 practically all the sizes were supplied with openers. There has been very little change in the actual filling of the tins since machines were introduced in 1906, although the method of conveying the tin after filling has greatly improved; many improvements, however, have taken place in the topping and packing section. In 1930 an "Out;' Sealing Machine" was introduced which, although simple in its construction, fascinated one in its operation.
I have only been able to give a very imperfect sketch of the growth of the organisation, depending entirely on my memory for any events of outstanding importance, but, if one appreciates that when boot polish was first introduced at Chiswick the number of employees connected with its production was practically nil, some idea of the progress made can be imagined by those who have entered the business in recent years.
Since 1918 our business has been progressive, events have crowded into my memory and it is impossible without notes to give them in there order. I am, however, proud to have been associated with the progress of the Company. A brief comparison of 30 years ago and to day may be of interest. In 1914 there was no dispensary, no definite style of the girls' overalls and no Staff Welfare, as we understand it to day. Tea and Cocoa was not available and there was no break for refreshments; one snatched a morsel of something to eat at any old moment. The present high standard of business efficiency, which enables an enormous output to be obtained with clockwork regularity, sees the culmination of years of hard work and the adoption of progressive ideas. Through all this transformation the management has shown a sincere desire to make the lot of every one as healthy and happy as possible. The growth of the business and the Welfare of the Staff have marched together, as it was early realised that one was dependent on the other. A glimpse of the Great Chertsey Road Factory or the latest Mansion Departments at Hogarth Lane are reminders of this.
Taking stock of the amenities provided during the last 25 years one can mention only a few, such as the 44 hour week, pension fund, half-pay during sickness, holidays with pay, dental treatment, social services, including Boston House and Sports Ground.
I have given my readers a picture as I view it, and I am proud indeed to have been connected with its growth.
On the outbreak of war in September 1939 a great deal of the work put in during the previous years was lost and the bitter experience that we all suffered is too recent in our memories for me to go over again.
What we have got to do now is to pick up the threads from 1939 and build on from there and this can only be made possible by the co-operation of everyone.
Myself I am nearing the end of my time, and the grey hairs begin to show, but nothing would give me greater pleasure before I say "au revoir" than to see the return of that pre-war atmosphere, and then I should feel that my efforts, particularly socially, have not been in vain.
A.T. Brooks
The Memoirs of a Masonian P5
