Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevas a partner Charles Wannop, of Parkgate. Later, Thomas Woodhouse joined the firm, and after Howe severed his connection with it. The works were removed to Doncaster. They are now known as Woodhouse and Company, Ltd.
Still another of Guest and Chrimes’ employee was destined to found an add additional foundry. Tom Greenwood commenced in a small shop in premises at the back of Effingham Works, and after a few years’ trading. succeeded in obtaining as a partner my father, the firm being Gummer and Greenwood. The struggles of those early days will never he fully recounted. In 1871 I joined the firm, after having served an apprenticeship in another trade.
EFFINGHAM BRASS WORKS
There are one or two incidents in connection with the firm which are worth relating.One thing that amused me was the fact that Greenwood always came to work in a top hat. As he had to don the apron and work on the lathe, I never quite got accustomed to this peculiarity.Business was bad, and with no orders coming in, Greenwood detemined to have a day in Manchester for the purpose of obtaining some work. On the morn irig of the day appointed I attended at the office early with the money for his expenses. To my astonishment, Greenwood appeared in his working garb and explained that he had decided not to go, as the rain would spoil his one and only best suit of clothes.
It was arranged that he should go the following day, which he did, and on his return I learned that whilst the previous day had been beautifully fine in Manchester, the day of his visit was wet and his 'Sunday best' after all, if not spoilt, got a thorough wetting. Business on these lines was impossible.
It was not long before the present premises in Rawmarsh road became necessary. There was a disagreement between the partners bringing about a dissolution, and in 1876 I was put in full charge.
OTHER FIRMS
The firm of W. N. Baines. of Glasgow, having decided to remove to Rotherham, premises which had just been vacated by Mr. Parsons, were acquired. For years these were occupied in the manufacture of all kinds of valves for steam purposes. Eventually becoming too small, new premises were erected in Greasbro' road. It was my pleasure to be intimately acquainted with Andrew Thomson, the senior partner, and a truer friend it would be difficult to find. Unfortunately, he died in 1916 at a comparatively early age.Still another of Guest and Chrimes’ employees tried his hand at manufacturing. John Dean, a brass finisher and also a basket maker, started in premises in Effingham Street eventually taking as a partner Mark Liversidge. A small factory was erected for them by Richard Gummer, father-in-law of Liversidge, known as the Burton Weir Brass Works. This, later, became the property of Osborne and Thirlwall, who had dissolved partnership with Woodhouse, Osborne and Co., of Doncaster.
So years later, Henry Wilkes and his son, Nathaniel, two leading hands at Guest and Chrimes, erected works in Rawmarsh road. and commenced operations with great promise. Unfortunately, business which had hitherto been good, was declining, and after some years of strenuous endeavour, they disposed of their interests to Stones arid Gunby, two young men with an excellent knowledge of the trade, who carried on for several years. Another firm, Dent and Co., manufactured brass fittings in premises now forming part of the electricity undertaking.
Years ago Rotherharn possessed the proud title of being the centre of the brass trade. Although the claim cannot now be made, it is still looked upon as producing the best fittings on the market , and its products have a worldwide reputation.