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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.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 391 - 399) 399 items
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Sewing Machine - Singer, 1915
Singer cylinder arm sewing machine, Model No. 17-16, Serial No. G 4099399, made in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA in 1915. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the upstairs workr ...
From: New York, United States Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Singer, 1919
Singer cylinder arm sewing machine, Model No. 17-16, Serial No. G 7474149, made in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA in 1919. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the upstairs workro ...
From: New York, United States Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Singer, Cylinder Arm, 1916
Singer cylinder arm sewing machine, Model No. 178, Serial No. G 4612106. Made at Singer factory iin Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA in 1916. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in th ...
From: Elizabeth, United States Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Singer, Straight Sewer, 1903
Singer straight sticher or double sewer sewing machine, serial number K936552. Made at Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA, 1903. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the upstairs work ...
From: Elizabeth, United States Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Straight Stitcher, Jones, 1920s
Straight stitcher sewing machine, made by Jones, England, Model HS6, Serial No. 20905, 1920s. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the upstairs workroom. Simpson's Gloves Pty ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Straight Stitcher, Jones, 1920s
Straight stitcher sewing machine, made by Jones, England, Model HS6, Serial No. 22242, 1920s. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the upstairs workroom. Simpson's Gloves Pty ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Sewing Machine - Trimming, Singer, 1902
Singer sewing machine with trimming attachments, Serial No. K 74241. Made at Singer factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA in 1902. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the ups ...
From: Elizabeth, United States Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Foot Warmer - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, circa 1960
Hecla electric foorwarmer, iron frame with metal embossing, circa 1960. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the office in the 1960s. Purchased by Mr. Arthur Atkins. Simpson ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Foot Warmer - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, circa 1960
Hecla electric foorwarmer, iron frame with metal embossing, circa 1960. Used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Richmond in the office in the 1960s. Purchased by Mr. Arthur Atkins. Simpson ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0
