Search the collections
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 41 - 50) 399 items
-
Wallet - Black Leather, circa 1930s
Black leather wallet manufactured circa 1930s. It was found in a box in the small downstairs storeroom. Simpson's Gloves was formed in 1924 and produced leather gloves and coats, handb ...
Images: 2 -
Handbag - Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Black Leather, circa 1950s
Black leather handbag manufactured by Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, circa 1950s. It was found in the storeroom behind the salesman's office. Simpson's Gloves was formed in 1924 and produce ...
Images: 2 -
Handbag - Simpson's Gloves, Brown Vinyl, circa 1960s
Unfinished brown vinyl handbag manufactured by Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, circa 1960s. It was found in the storeroom behind the salesman's office. Simpson's Gloves was formed in 1924 an ...
Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Wallet - Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Black Leather, circa 1930s
Black leather wallet manufactured by Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, circa 1930s. It was found in the storeroom behind the salesman's office. Simpson's Gloves was formed in 1924 and produced ...
Images: 0 -
Wallet - Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, Clutch, Black Leather, circa 1935-1945
Alternative Name(s): Clutch Bag Black leather clutch manufactured by Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd, circa 1935-1945. It was found in the storeroom behind the salesman's office. Simpson's G ...
Images: 2 -
Buckle - Multicoloured, Geometric, circa 1930s
Green/turquoise, blue, red and black belt buckle, circa 1930-1939. It was used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd. It was found in the glove making area upstairs at the factory. Simpson's Glov ...
Images: 2 -
Buckle - Black, Blue & Pearl, circa 1930s
Black, blue and pearl belt buckle, circa 1930-1939. It was used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd. It was found in the glove making area upstairs at the factory. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was ...
Images: 2 -
Buckle - Black with Silver Stripe, circa 1930s
Black and silver belt buckle, circa 1930-1939. It was used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd. It was found in the glove making area upstairs at the factory. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was forme ...
Images: 2 -
Buckle - Black & Silver, circa 1930s
Black and silver belt buckle, circa 1930-1939. It was used at Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd. It was found in the glove making area upstairs at the factory. Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd was forme ...
Images: 2 -
Labels - K.O. Geiger of Collins Street, circa 1940s
String of handbag labels for K.O.Geiger of Collins Street, Melbourne, circa 1940s. They were used by Simpson's Gloves Pty Ltd who made bags for K.O.Geiger. The labels were found in the ...
Images: 1
