Jon ~
ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE!
You've made me a
very happy man.
I had given up all hope, but, you sir, have delivered the goody goods with deft skill.
THANK YOU.
Looking back now, at the factory, I can't believe that i said that they might've been "a small concern", much appreciation for adding some invaluable textural concreteness...
WH & J Woods was one of the largest tobacco blenders in the north of England, at one time employing more than two hundred people.
...some of the old timey companies have seemed to have just fallen off the map, and WHJWoods is one of them, like totally obscure and seemingly not even much collector interest compared to say another firm such as Taddy & Co. whose artifacts can command high premiums.
The further North it gets, the better I like the tobacco it seems. WHJW was known for their strong twist especially and I like the stout stuff, I was slightly disappointed that my tin was the Med. version as the regular Denver Strips were more likely fuller in strength.
I never cease to be amazed by the UK tobacco industry, the 20th century
belonged to them, they could not be beat, they had no peer.
Looking at a map one can note the close proximity of many of the tobacco factories and if one is familiar with the known traits of specific brands and such, then one can be in awe with the tremendous variety of local tastes, even when the companies may have been clustered close together.
The numerous firms in Liverpool, then up famous Lakeland Kendal way, down in Manchester was CWS, and probably quite a few more makers scattered along roundabout, and with "manufacturing tobacconists" too, all fairly concentrated in geographical location.
...Old Shambles in Preston
Love that place name!
This is a good olde mappie to ogg a gog:
http://profittfamily.com/images/mapofpreston.png
Wikipedia tells me thus:
The Preston Temperance Society, led by Joseph Livesey pioneered the Temperance Movement in the 19th century.
Indeed, the term teetotalism is believed to have been coined at one of its meetings.
--- the influence and power of such "teetotalers" continued to grow unabated, despite the valiant efforts from learned citizens in union against their activity,
such as the everzephyrful AOFB,
http://frothblowers.co.uk/cartoons.html
Who are noted for proudly and loudly saying that they were...
"A sociable and law abiding fraternity of absorptive Britons who sedately consume and quietly enjoy with commendable regularity and frequention the truly British malted beverage as did their forbears and as Britons ever will, and be damned to all pussyfoot hornswogglers from overseas and including low brows, teetotalers and MPs and not excluding nosey parkers, mock religious busy bodies and suburban fool hens all of which are structurally solid bone from the chin up."
Yet another reason why I admire Gary B. Schrier, as well as being a top shelf publisher, he is actively engaged against the absurdity and fights the good fight.
Huzzah!
Three cheers for Defenders of the Faith!
...his father, another John, was a maltster.
Ah malt, my other passion in life, not as involved as tobacco, but man do I thoroughly appreciate a damn good stout, most especially milk stout, and the stuff matches perfectly with tobacco!
"WH & J Woods",
for William Henry and John.
One of the oddities that I've noticed is the case of the intermittent fullstop after the H, sometimes it's there and sometimes it ain't!
W.H and W.H.
...it makes me intensely curious why that would occur?
When William Henry died in 1924 his estate was valued at about 67,500 pounds, equal to about $3.5 million in today's money.
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I suspect, but can't be sure, that it was sold in the 1920s. What is positive is that it wound up being purchased by Dobie on its brief acquisition spree in 1951.
It's rather amazing that they held out that long given the conglomeration climate, it speaks to the strength of the company I think, perhaps being extremely popular at least locally, and the dedicated family members who kept it all going.
Jon,
I cannot thank you enough kind sir.
You have deeply enriched my knowledge base and given solid granite to grasp,
yet further amplifying my enthusiasm!
You're the
best.
Cheers!
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