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Production Processes at Simpson's Gloves Factory
Image: Glove Cutters
Source: Museum Victoria
Production processes in the making of coats, gloves and handbags did not change greatly in the period from the 1920s to the 1980s, apart from the introduction of hydraulic leather cutters and new sewing machines.
Designs for the gloves and coats were usually drawn by Amos Simpson. Handbags were designed by the foreman Ernest Stokes Munro, and then subsequently by his son Keith Munro. The bulk of the leather came from Victorian and South Australian tanneries. Every part of the leather was used, with the smallest pieces being used for trim on hats or purses.
The pattern was placed on the leather on the cutting table, and cut by hand; subsequently the leather was placed under the pattern press that stamped the piece out. For handbags, leather and linings were pasted together by assemblers, then sent on to the machinists. For coats and jackets, the patterns were used to cut the linings and leather, and then sent to the machinists. One cutter could keep several machinists busy.
The factory was divided into several departments: cutting; table assembly; handbag department; coat machining; and glove machining. Men were used exclusively to do the designing and cutting; women did the assembly and machining. The cutters and assemblers stood at their work benches to do their work; machinists sat at their machines.
Archives:
The University of Melbourne Archives holds business records relating to the company, including ledgers, journals, wages books, time books and catalogues.
References:
Frances, Raelene (1986).'No More Amazons: Gender and Work in the Victorian Clothing Trades, 1880-1939', Labour History, no 50: 95-112.
Interviews with former managers and workers: Arthur Atkins (1989), Ernie Jordan (1989), Nell Marks (1989), Hazel Eddy & Gwen Simons (1990).
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 11 - 20) 400 items
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Photograph - Female Employees Working in Sewing Room, Simpson's Gloves Factory, Richmond, ...
Photograph of female employees seated working sewing machiens in an upstairs workroom at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, circa1932. There is a male supervis ...
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Glove - Brown Suede, circa 1940s
Lady's right hand brown suede glove made at the Simpson's Glove Factory in Richmond, circa 1940s. The glove was found in small downstairs storeroom in the factory and appears to be a sa ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 148, Red Leather, circa 1948
Red leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 148. It is one in a ser ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 256, Green Leather, circa 1948
Green leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 256. It is one in a s ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 171, Brown Leather, circa 1948
Brown leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 171. It is one in a s ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 112, Black & Cream Leather, circa 1948
Black and cream leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 112. It is ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 254, Black Leather, circa 1948
Black leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 254. It is one in a s ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 250, Tan Leather, circa 1948
Tan leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 250. It is one in a ser ...
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Sheep Skin Sample - B.E.Cooper & Co, No. 301, Black & Cream Leather, circa 1948
Black and cream leather embossed sheep skin sample for handbag and travel goods, made by B.E.Cooper & Co., Ltd., London. The sample cutting is an imitation reptile skin, No. 301. It is ...
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Catalogue - 'Simpson's Motor Coats of Glove Leather', Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond, ...
Catalogue titled 'Simpson's Motor Coats of Glove Leather', issued by Simpson's Gloves Pty. Ltd., Richmond, Victoria, circa 1930. The catalogue describes the manufacturing process, has l ...
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