Comments on: At James Ince & Sons, Umbrella Makers

By: Claire Gray

Claire Gray — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 12:43:01 +0000

Hi, I am tracing my family tree and have discovered my grandmother’s grandfather and great grandfather were both Umbrella makers in Bethnal Green. 1841 – 1861. Apart from your place, were there other factories nearby? Otherwise, it has to to be yours! Regards

By: richard

richard — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 08:48:27 +0000

hi Pam

sorry for the slow reply. We have no records going that far back. It is highly unlikely that we would have employed him as we were very small operations back then working from home with family members being the mainstay of production.

I am a bit intrigued with Barnett as the modern spelling only has one T. It would have been well out in the countryside at that time so a strange location for a maker as the customers for early 19C Umbrellas AND Parasols would have been in London, the Old City and emerging West End.
There is a Union St in Spitalfields and one of my ancestors was based there.

Try and track down Umbrellas and Parasols by Jeremy Farrell which will give you a good visual insight into what John Hackel would have been making: good pictures! There is one on UK Ebay now.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202172328235?ul_noapp=true
Or Abebooks may well have one.

wishing you well

regards

Richard Ince

By: PAM LOCKETT

PAM LOCKETT — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 03:33:26 +0000

I am researching my late ggrandfather John Hackel and have found out he was an umbrella maker. It is told that i think he lived in Barnett and he died about approx 1830.

I have found it very hard to find out any information about him and was hoping that maybe you have records of former employees even though it was a long time ago.

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe you know of another umbrella factory near Barnett as i was told there was an umbrella maker’s in Union Street, Barnett.

Thanking you,

Pam Lockett
(Australia)

By: richard

richard — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:37:07 +0000

Hi Muriel
i would be interested in seeing your image. although there were a fair few makers in the East End it may well give an insight into production and set up which is always nice to see and appreciate.
There is a short film on Pathe News website about Umbrella Making made in the fifties i think, if you’re interested.
Look forward to hearing from you
Regards
Richard

By: Muriel Hall

Muriel Hall — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 14:55:23 +0000

Hi
My Grandmother worked as an Umbrella Tipper in around 1900-1914 near Bethnal Green where she lived.
I have a photo of ladies in a workshop which my Grandfather took around that time but do not know if it was at umbrella workshop .
Let me know if you are interested in viewing it.
I am trying to find out where it was taken.
My grandparents moved to Edinburgh in 1914
Regards
Muriel hall

By: richard

richard — Mon, 16 May 2016 09:56:55 +0000

Hi Brenda
Outworkers were very common in our trade as being a seasonal one we needed flexibility with production. I do not recall your aunt’s name but that is not to say she didn’t work for us. The Bishopsgate Institute holds our archive and there is a wage book and i think an address book from that period. Contact them if you are able to come in to central London and have a look.
Chances are she would have worked in an Umbrella factory somewhere probably before kids and then opted for outwork for family reasons. hope this helps.
Richard Ince

By: Brenda Quaife

Brenda Quaife — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 17:04:22 +0000

I wonder if you can help me. During the 1950/1960s I used to visit an Aunt for lunch and remember she used to assemble or sew the covers of umbrellas at home. She would have been 56 at that time, and should imagine that that must have been her occupation during her working life and wondered if the company she worked for was James Ince. I am wondering if James Ince still hold personnel records for the period 1929 onwards. I am researching my family history at the moment and trying to fill in more personal details for each ancester. Her name was Christina Ruby Cotterill nee Willis.

Many thanks.

By: Luke the Drifter

Luke the Drifter — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:22:15 +0000

The wonders of socialism:

“But in the nineteen eighties, a change in tax law, meaning that umbrella makers could no longer be classed as self-employed, challenged the viability of the company, causing James Ince & Sons to shed most of the staff…”

Have fun collecting taxes from unemployed people.

By: Elizabeth Manley

Elizabeth Manley — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:31:17 +0000

Hi, Do you still make umbrellas? I am looking for a 24 ” one,with a curved handle, not a folding one & am finding that this size appears not to be made any more. Colour is not so important, and the design of the fabric, as long as it is suitable for an elderly lady,doesn’t really matter either. I found one supplier who had this length, but they were children’s umbrellas with childish designs on them.
I would be interested to hear from you if you can help me.
Many thanks,
Elizabeth Manley

By: Dan Walker

Dan Walker — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:34:28 +0000

Hi Richard, it was a pleasure meeting you today at Grandads funeral. Would there be any chance sometime I could come and have a look at what you do please. I find family history and this sort of thing very interesting. My email is danny423walker@gmail.com and my phone number is 07875671088. Kind regards Dan