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Amos Griffiths Simpson, Glove Manufacturer (1878-1953)
Image: Framed Photograph - Mr. Simpson?
Source: Museum Victoria
Amos Simpson was born in Stafford, England in 1878. The son of a shoemaker, he worked in the trade in England and briefly in Massachusetts, USA. He then migrated to Melbourne in July 1914 at the age of 36, arriving on the Demosthenes.
Simpson married Ida May Chapple in Melbourne in 1917; the couple had no children.
After working for a shoe pattern-making firm in Melbourne, he formed a business, Simpson & Sutherland, in 1922 then Simpson’s Gloves in 1924, in partnership with Henry James Atkins. Simpson brought his knowledge of the industry and design skills to the partnership; Atkins his financial skills.
Simpson was a red-haired man with something of a temper, at least at work. He hated to spend money on anything that would not increase production and profits. No scrap of leather was wasted, and nothing ever thrown out, either material or equipment. Ernie Jordon, who was taught how to cut coat linings by Simpson when he joined the business in 1927 at the age of 16, recalled that Simpson would often say 'Near enough is not right but right is near enough.’
The company logo for Simpson’s Gloves was a Stafford Knot, acknowledging Simpson’s home county of Staffordshire in England. Stafford had a long history of shoemaking.
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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 -
Sign - 'The Man We Need', Simpson's Gloves, circa 1930s
Sign setting out the virtues and characteristics of the ideal employee or 'The Man We Need'. Signed at the bottom by Amos Griffiths Simpson, co-founder of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Rich ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Photograph - Employees of Simpson's Gloves, Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Dec 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 ...
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Photograph - Employees in front of Factory, Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd Factory, Richmond, 19 ...
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 ...
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Photograph - Men at work in Factory, Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd Factory, Richmond, 1928-1932
Photograph of men at work in the factory of Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, 1928-1932. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 and produced leather gl ...
Images: 1 -
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Photograph - Employees of Simpson's Gloves, Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Dec 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 ...
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Photograph - Employees at Work, Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond, circa 1932
Photograph of employees at work at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, 488-496 Victoria Street, Richmond, circa1932. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was formed in 1924 and produced leather gloves and ...
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Glove - Right Hand, Women's, 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 ...
Images: 1
