Sheena. It sounds likely from the evidence you have that it is the same firm.

Ros. We didn’t find any surviving articles from the Rubinstein empire, but would love to see a label or similar if one were found.

The way everyone is posing, beaming for the photo, at Alf’s stall is heartwarming.

l will follow the link to enjoy more of this family’s fantastic ambition and success.

My great grandfather Peter was a “Fancy Leather Worker” as was his son Harry in this exact era, born Clerkenwell near Leather Lane, the same year as Abraham.

They too made leather bags, purses, attaché cases, tobacco pouches ….
and l presume grandmother’s teeny STAMP purse she wore on a silver chain swishing over her long skirt.
The size of a thumb, just big enough for a silver thr’penny piece and 3 stamps. All still hiding inside it, conserved in my treasure box.

She wrote many letters,
(l have the responses of 100 years ago) therefore her mini stamp purse would have been as important to her as ourselves carrying a mobile phone today.

The description “Fancy Leather” in those days l presume meant good quality.

My grandmother’s brother emmigrated and made a decent living from his leather crafting in America because he rented a beautiful detached home and furnished it himself

And in his letters l still treasure, he sent fortnightly money back to support his sister and family, now in Portobello.
“Here’s 2/- bob for Dad and another 2/- for you.”

He mentioned one job was well paid but not so challenging and he moved on to even better remuneration finding offers for his skills plentiful. l often wondered how uncommon his dedication may have been.

It IS sad when we set off to make a new life and it pans out so well to begin with, but fate has other ideas.

The 1918 “Spanish” Flu in the US sadly cut him down aged 40 in the prime of his healthy life.
The same mysterious happening which has repeated itself today.

Thanks for the continued attention to ghost signs. I’ll look into the expanded article, mentioned above.

Stay safe, all.