James Southall & Company Ltd (Startrite shoes)
Business reminiscence page
In times gone by, it was usual for the general populace to make their own shoes however the more wealthy individuals in Society were able to afford to have their shoes made by craftsmen.
- Late 1700's: James Smith began to sell ready-made shoes and leather on Norwich Market Place.
- 1816: James' grandson, Charles Winter took over the business and imported machines from America. One pair of boots could be completed in one hour.
- 1846: Charles Winter becomes a Magistrate.
- 1851: Charles Winter was elected Mayor of Norwich.
- 1860: Hand machines, manufactured by Thomas, Singer and Howes were being used and steam power was harnessed to operate the machinery.
- 1891: By this time Charles Winter had died and the business was being run by James Southall, his sons, Charles and Frederick and John Willis. The business was now a Limited Company. Bernard James Hanly joined the business this year. He had come from another shoe-manufacturing organisation. By this time, the business was building an International reputation for quality shoes.
- 1904: By this year, there 20 different types of shoe-making machinery being used. One machine, the Amazeen Skiving Machine, took only one hour to do what had previously taken one day to do. Other machine names were: the Lufkin Folding Machine, Singer's New Rapid Machine and Wheel and Wilson's Closing Machine. Extractor fans were in use - to protect the machinery (!) - clouds of dust would be caused by Finishing and Rubbing Down of the heels. Most of the men employed in these jobs stood while working.
- 1907: Due to ever-growing business needs, a new 62,000 square feet, single-storey factory was erected on Crome Road.
- 1908: The business received The Diploma of Honour at the Franco-British Exhibition this year.
- 1910: The business received The Diploma of Honour at the Bruxelles Exhibition this year.
- 1935: The old factory in the Parish of St Peter Mancroft was demolished to make room for the new City Hall! Shoes being offered for sale this year were: The 'Lighfoot' and 'The Satisfaction Welted'.
- 1942: Bernard Hanly and Frederick Southall both died on the same day. Mr James Laffan Hanly became Chairman of the Company. James was Bernard Hanly's eldest son.
- Startrite Shoes: The Company continued making both ladies and children's shoes but after the War, they started to concentrate on children's shoes. The main characteristic of the original Startrite children's shoe was the V-shaped heel. The business spent two years carrying out a survey of children's feet and as a result, devised a foot measuring system so accurate that it is still in use today. The 'Startrite Twins' logo became world-famous.
- 1985: James Hanly died this year.