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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).
(showing 1 - 9) 9 items
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Photographs - Framed, Simpson's Gloves Factory, Richmond, Victoria, 1989
Framed set of 8 photographs of the exterior and interior of the factory and showrooms of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, 1989, at the time of its closure at ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Photograph - Employees of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richomnd, Victoria, Christmas 1932
Group photograph of the managers and employees of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Christmas 1932. The photo was probably taken at nearby Studley Park. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Group of Employees in Front of Simpson's Gloves Factory, Richmond, Victoria, ...
Group portrait of employees in front of the factory and showrooms of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond,1928-1932. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Workers at Benches, Simpson's Gloves Factory, Richmond, Victoria, circa 1930
Photograph of men standing at cutting our benches in upstairs work room of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, 1928-1932. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed ...
Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Employees of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richomnd, Victoria, Christmas 1932
Group photograph of the managers and employees of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Christmas 1932. The photo was probably taken at nearby Studley Park. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in ...
Images: 0 -
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 ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Amos Simpson, Framed, 1930s
Framed photograph of Amos Griffiths Simpson (1878-1953), co-founder of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond, circa 1930s. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 and produced leather ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Photograph - Framed, Simpson's Gloves Factory, Richmond, Victoria, circa 1930
Exterior view of the factory and showrooms of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, circa 1930. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 and produced leather ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Photograph - Amos Simpson, Framed, 1930s
Framed photograph of Amos Griffiths Simpson (1878-1953), co-founder of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond, circa 1930s. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 and produced leather ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1
