Peterson's London Factory

[BingBong]

74-77 White Lion St, N1

I may have it all wrong, but I'm reasonably sure this was it - they closed it in 1962. Not sure when it was built; the windows are very 1930s. The pub next door must have lamented their departure.

Unrelated, there was a senior school in that street with a highly unusual ethic - pupils could do whatever they wanted. If they wanted classes, they were available. I knew a woman who had been there, said the freedom was great but they didn't get the exam thing together nor emphasize their importance to future employability - she went to night school after she left and had a basic job. Became a very good administrative manager.

 

[dd57chevy]

What is in the building now ?

 

[BingBong]

What is in the building now ?

It's having another refurb, I presume some kind of office space.

 

[ssjones]

Ah to have to have walked thru in the hey-day.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I didn't realize that they ever had a London Factory. Have they not always been in Ireland? If so, what was this building for?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I didn't realize that they ever had a London Factory. Have they not always been in Ireland? If so, what was this building for?

There were Peterson pipes that were also made in England and stamped as such.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There were Peterson pipes that were also made in England and stamped as such.

I guess Ireland is just too far away to import to there. Or, something along those lines.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I guess Ireland is just too far away to import to there. Or, something along those lines.

I just took some pics of a Peterson 0 to show you the “MADE IN ENGLAND” stamp.

 

[BingBong]

I didn't realize that they ever had a London Factory. Have they not always been in Ireland? If so, what was this building for?

The building went up in 1937-8, owned by a local eel-and-pie magnate called Luigi; Peterson's were the first occupants and some ranges of pipes for the US export market exclusively made there. Perhaps, after the Free State got independence, having a London address as well was good for business or overcame trade restrictions?

 

[jguss]

they closed it in 1962

Peterson Pipes appeared in the London telephone directory in 1952 and continued to be listed at the 74 White Lion address through the 1969 edition.

 

[BingBong]

Peterson Pipes appeared in the London telephone directory in 1952 and continued to be listed at the 74 White Lion address through the 1969 edition.

I wonder if '62 was a typo and it was actually '72?

 

[jguss]

Anything is possible. What’s certain is they don’t appear in the London phone books through 1950. They appear at the White Lion address in 1952 (I’m missing 1951) and disappear from 1970 on.

Typical listing

 

[cosmicfolklore]

some ranges of pipes for the US export market exclusively

That is interesting to me also. Since many Americans buy Petes because of their asserted Irish style. It would be interesting to know which ones were made exclusively for Americans.

 

[BingBong]

That is interesting to me also. Since many Americans buy Petes because of their asserted Irish style. It would be interesting to know which ones were made exclusively for Americans.

Peterson factory London – Peterson Pipe Notes

petersonpipenotes.org

The "Croydon Square" and ""Captain Pete" lines were for British and American markets, it says. I thought I read of something exclusive; if so, it would be at the behest of Rogers, the US importer.

If you have any marked London&Dublin in that order, that's London made.

 

[BingBong]

Anything is possible. What’s certain is they don’t appear in the London phone books through 1950. They appear at the White Lion address in 1952 (I’m missing 1951) and disappear from 1970 on.

Typical listing

View attachment 353058

Anything in the directories for Kapp & Peterson?

 

[jguss]

Anything in the directories for Kapp & Peterson?

A related but slightly different question, and the answer is yes. Kapp & Peterson Limited appeared in London city directories as the end of the 19th century and in phone directories as early as 1908, at the following locations:

 

[Bon Accord]

I guess Ireland is just too far away to import to there. Or, something along those lines.

I believe they opened a factory in England to get round the Anglo-Irish trade war of the 1930s