BETWEEN THE WARS

  To complete our story we must outline the record of the years from 1920 to 1951 and trace the development of the firm's overseas markets and agencies.

  The boom that followed the war of 1914-18 was short-lived in the United States as well as in Britain, and by the end of 1920 trade with the United States was declining alarmingly. Directors and representatives set out purposefully to stimulate other markets and to win new ones. Special attention was paid to South America, Canada, Australia, the Far East, the mainland of Europe and Scandinavia, with considerable success. Soon the gap left by the hardening of the United States market had been closed.

  The economic blizzard of 1930-31 neutralised most of the good work of the previous decade, and the ensuing years were probably the most difficult in the firm's history. Only by a combination of strict economy and careful nursing of diffident markets was the depression overcome. Then from the mid 'thirties until the outbreak of the Second World War trade gradually improved.

1939-45

  Shortages of every kind were the common lot of the pottery industry during the war, but J. and G. Meakin managed to export large quantities of decorated ware to the countries of North and South America and a considerable volume of plain ware to all those countries to which deliveries of decorated pottery were prohibited.

  In many markets the pottery shortage became a famine. At one period of the war the Australian Government appealed to the pottery industry, through the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation, for an unlimited quantity of cups, and a target figure of five million pieces was fixed. By a great effort the Eagle and Eastwood factories supplied more than one million of these.

  Since the war the industry has encountered sellers' markets in all parts of the world and has recovered much of the ground lost to Japanese and Continental competitors in the years between the wars. J. and G. Meakin, however, are making the best possible preparation for the eventual return to trading "normalcy" by re-equipping their factories with the latest plant and machinery, thus ensuring that their products can be marketed at prices consistent with maximum efficiency.

  The North American market has always been of prime importance to the firm. Indeed, it was with the aim of winning a substantial volume of trade in the United States and Canada that the original partners built their Eagle factory. 

  The pioneering work of George Meakin in this field has already been described, and mention has also been made of the establishment of the Meakin and Ridgway agency in 1896. Meakin and Ridgway Inc., of 129/131 Fifth Avenue, New York, and Meakin and Ridgway (Canada) Ltd., of 55 Wellington Street West, Toronto, are still flourishing. 

  The Canadian agency is managed by Kenneth J. Ridgway and the New York Office by Bruce M. Ridgway—both sons of John Ridgway, who continues to take an active interest in the business.

“J. and G. Meakin Cumplen”

  The firm has traded in the Republics of Latin America for more than seventy years. Only recently an old J. and G. Meakin invoice—dated 1883, the year of the foundation of the firm to which the goods were shipped —was unearthed in Montevideo. 

  Trade has been fostered over the years by numerous goodwill missions by the firm's directors and travellers, notably a series of visits by H. Leonard Jones between 1900 and 1911, and by the ready help afforded to the designers and modellers of the Eagle and Eastwood factories by South American agents and merchants. 

  This latter has enabled the firm to produce shapes and patterns to meet the exacting requirements of the markets. “Glamour” is a firm favourite, and the coloured bodies, “Celeste”, “Rosa” and “Sunflower”, are widely popular. 

“J. and G. Meakin cumplen”, by the way, is a successful slogan down Argentina way. It means—roughly translated— “J. and G. Meakin fill the bill”.

Agents

Uruguay—Señor Francisco del Rio, Yaguarón 1188, Montevideo.

Venezuela—Agencias N. Dominici C.A., Piñango á Llaguno 2-2, Caracas.

Cuba—Señor Vicente M. Gomez, Amargura 201, Havana. 

Colombia—Bogotá—Gilpin & Bohanna, Apartado aereo 4235, Bogotá.

Rest of Colombia—Wightman & Cia. Ltda., Edificio Mariano Uribe, Medellin.

Trinidad—J. N. Harriman & Co., Marine Square, Port of Spain.

Australasia

  "Sol" ware has been a popular choice in Australia and New Zealand for more than forty years. Representatives visited the two Dominions early in the century and found the firm's goodwill already strongly established. Among other important visits was one by the chairman in 1936. 

Particular favourites in these markets are the "Scenic Series"—such designs as "Sweet Nell of Old Drury", "Yeomen of the Guard", "David Copperfield", "Mr. Pickwick" and "June". 

For many years J. and G. Meakin have been leading suppliers of earthenware to both countries.

  The Australian agency, which has represented J. and G. Meakin since 1900, is in the hands of Molden and Budden Pty. Ltd., of Kirk's Buildings, Post Office Place West, Melbourne C.1, and of Rippon House, 154 Clarence Street, Sydney. This business was established by the late Mr. J. R. Molden and is now directed by Mr. V. S. Robertson.

  In New Zealand the firm's agents are J. H. Oldham and Co. Ltd., of Hannah's Buildings, Lambton Quay, Wellington. This agency was established in 1907 to represent British firms, and has looked after J. and G. Meakin's interests in the Dominion since 1928. 

  The business is in the capable hands of Mrs. A. W. Caldwell, whose husband served the firm well until his death in 1945, and of Mr. D. M. Whitney.

"... the decoration seemed as good as new."

Africa

  In South, East and West Africa "Sol" ware is widely known and approved. 

  One of the firm's representatives told the writer that on a recent visit to East Africa he had eaten from an ancient piece of "Meakin" ware at remote Molo in the White Highlands. "It was in a good state of preservation", he added, "and the decoration seemed as good as new". 

  The firm's agents in South Africa are R. L. Hutty and Co. (Pty.) Ltd., of Walter Wise's Buildings, Joubert Street, Johannesburg, and in East Africa, J. H. Clark Ltd., P.O. Box 196, Government Road, Nairobi, Kenya Colony.

The Far East

  Proof of the energy and drive which characterise J. and G. Meakin marketing is surely provided by the story of the firm's ventures in the Far East. This territory has for many years been considered an unprofitable field for the pottery industry by reason of the activities there of Japanese competitors. 

  To meet these traders on unequal terms and their own doorstep calls for first-rate products backed by intelligent and energetic selling, and J. and G. Meakin are proud of the fact that they have more than held their own in the struggle for the markets of India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya and other lands of the East. 

  Once again the firm's policy of maintaining direct contact with its merchant customers has brought satisfactory rewards. The earlier missions to these countries were conducted by two of the present directors, followed by regular visits by the firm's Far East representative. 

  The agency for the Bombay Presidency has been held since 1937 by Musa Bros., of 77 Guzder Mansion, Princess Street, Bombay.

European Zone

  Trade with the countries of Europe has never been heavy, but a useful volume of business was developed during the inter-war years, particularly with Scandinavia, Holland and Greece. 

  At present shipments to these markets are restricted by the quota system and the demands of the dollar situation, so valued customers are of necessity kept in short supply. When conditions improve every effort will be made to extend this area of the firm's activities.

Agencies

Greece (Thessaloniki and district)—Mr. Hector Capuano, of Boite Postale 322, Thessaloniki. (This firm was founded in 1895 by Mr. N. H. Capuano and is now controlled by his sons Hector and Henry.)

Greece (Athens and Piraeus)—R. and E. Hill, of 1 Paparigopoulou Street, Athens. (Founded in 1880 by Mr. A. Hill, formerly of Birmingham, and now directed by his sons.)

Holland—Firma S. A. Markus of Heerengracht 30, Amsterdam.

Denmark—Mr. V. Heidemann Jacobsen, of Vesterbrogade 47, Copenhagen V.

Home Trade

  As has been shown the J. and G. Meakin enterprise rose to prosperity—as was originally intended—by exclusive concentration upon the needs of overseas markets, and this policy was continued for many years. 

  When productive capacity allowed, however, attention was turned to the home market, and a survey of its requirements was made in London and other important centres. Accounts were opened with many of the leading china and glass establishments in the country.

  The business steadily expanded and "Sol" ware is now obtainable from leading distributors in most of the important shopping centres of the United Kingdom, and is in constant demand by hotels, railways and catering businesses.

  Unfortunately the present controls and restrictions seriously limit both the volume and the variety of goods available for the home trade, but the firm looks forward confidently to the time when its extensive range of products will again be available to clients in that market.

  This, then, is the J. and G. Meakin Story—a story of a century of work and progress. The Directors and Staff venture to hope that their friends, in whatever country they may be, will have found interest in these pages.

LIST OF DIRECTORS

Directors of J. & G. Meakin Ltd. from the time of the Incorporation of the Company.

Secretaries