jmadone
master brummie
looked at this thread and it was very informative. Couldn't understand the comments about the smell though, I always quite liked it and whenever I come across a honeysuckle blossom it reminds me of Brylcreem.
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County Chemicals 'Chemico' County Perfumery Bradford Street
- Thread starter Barry Watkins
- Start date
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
Hi I'm researching this company and it's founder Wilfred Hill.
Wilfred Hill had a long standing association with a man called John (Jack) W Pickavant.
JWP was a Manufacturers Agent with County Chemicals in his portfolio.
Wilfred Hill was also a partner in JW Pickavant & Co when it was founded in 1918/19.
More information on this subject would be very welcome.
You can see our project on the web at sp archive.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
There was a story about Brylcream a long time ago, they had a huge increase in orders from some remote African country so sent a rep out to find out why, he found that they were eating it as a British delicacy.
This story should be taken with a pinch of salt !
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Very possibly, Boots do now say that it is protein enriched ("With quality that has stood the test of time, our protein enriched Original Light Glossy Hold cream allows you to style and condition your hair, keeping you confident in your style) so you never know !
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
This story appears to be an urban myth.
“The tale about a British company suddenly receiving huge orders from an African country, sending a representative to investigate, and discovering that people were eating the product as a delicacy is a well-known business folklore story, not something documented about Brylcreem.”
“The tale about a British company suddenly receiving huge orders from an African country, sending a representative to investigate, and discovering that people were eating the product as a delicacy is a well-known business folklore story, not something documented about Brylcreem.”
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
“Hi I'm researching this company and it's founder Wilfred Hill.”
The founder of the County Chemical Co. was Wilfred Smith and not Wilfrid Hill. Hill appears in the mid-1920s.
(Note the difference in spelling of the first name)
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
I've got a few different sources & various spellings!
Patent records, Portrait, Letter from JWP, Graces..........................still trying to pin it down.
What's the source for Wilfred Smith?
Thanks
Patent records, Portrait, Letter from JWP, Graces..........................still trying to pin it down.
What's the source for Wilfred Smith?
Thanks
Attachments
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
Wilfrid Hill by the patents & JWP letter seems most likely
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
The painting catalogue entry at Bamfords auctioneers - Chemeco should be Chemico, Brylcream should be Brylcreem
J.H. Hutchings, Portrait of Wilfred Hill, founder of Chemeco and inventor of Bryl cream, signed and date, c.1945, oil on canvas,91x61cm
This man was the founder of Brylcream
J.H. Hutchings, Portrait of Wilfred Hill, founder of Chemeco and inventor of Bryl cream, signed and date, c.1945, oil on canvas,91x61cm
This man was the founder of Brylcream
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
County Chemicals Co. The earliest version of the Co appears in trade directories in the 1890s as a small Chemist operation, and run by a man recorded as W Smith. It produced cycle repair compounds lubricating oils, cleaners, polishes and household chemical “sundries”
(See also Alan’s post 6. The addresss was High Street, Coleshill.
Wilfrid Hill appears in the mid-1920s on board director lists. 1929 firm is incorporated.
(See also Alan’s post 6. The addresss was High Street, Coleshill.
Wilfrid Hill appears in the mid-1920s on board director lists. 1929 firm is incorporated.
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
Thanks - that's helpful. Are you getting the director & incorporation from Companies House records? If so I'll get those.
What now looks likely is this timeline:
J W Pickavant leaves the RFC/RAF in June 1918 as a Flight Sergeant Mechanical Engineer/Driver - "chronic bronchitis" as reason for early discharge.
Later in 1918/19 forms J W Pickavant & Co with Wilfrid Hill and Miss M E Baker as Partners. He resumes his pre war occupation which is shown as "Metal Polish Manufacturer" in the Imperial War Museum Records. He also acts as a "Manufacturers Agent" for the County Chemical Company selling products to the early automotive trade.
In June 1921 he, and Miss Baker, join with Marcus and Justin Mindelsohn and J W Pickavant & Co Ltd is registered, with just those 4 as directors.
This must be the point where Wilfrid Hill moves over to County Chemicals in a full time/directorship role - and his career stays with County Chemicals. We suspect that JWP's "Metal Polishing" products & process must have gone to County Chemicals.
In April 1925 JWP emigrates to Canada, leaving the UK company carrying his name behind and in the sole ownership of the Mindelsohn family.
However his association with Wilfrid Hill & The County Chemical Company continues in North America from his base in Toronto. He is known to be still involved selling their products to the North American market, including the freshly invented Brylcreem product in 1928. See clip from his letter to Sykes-Pickavant in 1970.
In this letter he also claims to have been the first importer of a small car to the American continent in 1925.
We've also been able to fact check that by entries in Toronto Trade Directories and by the pic we've located.
The cars in question were from Morris Motors - so quite a big deal.
This venture only lasts a few year and fails costing him around $100,000. However, the World was just heading into the Great Depression.
His success and earnings from County Chemical Products and especially Brylcreem must have been substantial, and he crosses the Atlantic a number of times on White Star ships.
He went on to live a long and prosperous life.
This has taken quite a bit of digging around but I think we've now got a very plausible timeline of events and a very interesting story.
When our project started I had been somewhat dismissive of JWP stereotyping him as a "flash salesman". How wrong I was! I see him now as bit of a hero. From very humble beginnings in Lancashire he survived 3 years on the Western Front, but still came back home very sick. But non of that stopped his pursuit of success.
The connection between the Tools sold by J W Pickavant & Co Ltd and the Chemical products from County Chemicals can be clearly seen with one specific product that was one of the very earliest tools the company sold = Valve Lappers. These are used by the trade with Chemico Grinding Paste (both products are still on sale 100 years later!
What now looks likely is this timeline:
J W Pickavant leaves the RFC/RAF in June 1918 as a Flight Sergeant Mechanical Engineer/Driver - "chronic bronchitis" as reason for early discharge.
Later in 1918/19 forms J W Pickavant & Co with Wilfrid Hill and Miss M E Baker as Partners. He resumes his pre war occupation which is shown as "Metal Polish Manufacturer" in the Imperial War Museum Records. He also acts as a "Manufacturers Agent" for the County Chemical Company selling products to the early automotive trade.
In June 1921 he, and Miss Baker, join with Marcus and Justin Mindelsohn and J W Pickavant & Co Ltd is registered, with just those 4 as directors.
This must be the point where Wilfrid Hill moves over to County Chemicals in a full time/directorship role - and his career stays with County Chemicals. We suspect that JWP's "Metal Polishing" products & process must have gone to County Chemicals.
In April 1925 JWP emigrates to Canada, leaving the UK company carrying his name behind and in the sole ownership of the Mindelsohn family.
However his association with Wilfrid Hill & The County Chemical Company continues in North America from his base in Toronto. He is known to be still involved selling their products to the North American market, including the freshly invented Brylcreem product in 1928. See clip from his letter to Sykes-Pickavant in 1970.
In this letter he also claims to have been the first importer of a small car to the American continent in 1925.
We've also been able to fact check that by entries in Toronto Trade Directories and by the pic we've located.
The cars in question were from Morris Motors - so quite a big deal.
This venture only lasts a few year and fails costing him around $100,000. However, the World was just heading into the Great Depression.
His success and earnings from County Chemical Products and especially Brylcreem must have been substantial, and he crosses the Atlantic a number of times on White Star ships.
He went on to live a long and prosperous life.
This has taken quite a bit of digging around but I think we've now got a very plausible timeline of events and a very interesting story.
When our project started I had been somewhat dismissive of JWP stereotyping him as a "flash salesman". How wrong I was! I see him now as bit of a hero. From very humble beginnings in Lancashire he survived 3 years on the Western Front, but still came back home very sick. But non of that stopped his pursuit of success.
The connection between the Tools sold by J W Pickavant & Co Ltd and the Chemical products from County Chemicals can be clearly seen with one specific product that was one of the very earliest tools the company sold = Valve Lappers. These are used by the trade with Chemico Grinding Paste (both products are still on sale 100 years later!
Attachments
I never knew that Chemico was made in Birmingham. Mom used the pink household cleaner to clean the stove, pots and pans and the Belfast sink. Its smell is evocative and not unpleasant. I think that in the UK it is now sold as 'The Pink Stuff', but retains its original branding in South Africa.
Patrick Hill
New Member
Hi, my name is Patrick Hill and Im the grandson of the founder of Chemico/Brylcreem etc. I have lots of items/knowledge that may be usefull to various members.
My grandfather moved to Withdean, Brighton having handed over control of the business to his 2 sons. The company was famous for many products in the motor trade, household uses, even a golf ball! The cleaning products and BRYLCREEM were well known for their distinctive, attractive smell. BRYLCREEM ( the golden goose!) was sold in 1939.
Do reach ot to me if you want to know more.
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
Hi Patrick
It's good to hear from you.
You might be able to add some extra information to our research.
First take a look here:
And also here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/35a2bc7091.html
Wilfrid Hill had a partnership with the founder of our company story J W Pickavant - you can see quite a lot more on the story from the links I've sent.
The relationship with JWP seems to have started before WW1 but evolved much more in late 1918 and went on into Canada/USA when JWP emigrated to Toronto. It may be that you can shed light on this relationship? We're keen to find any early photos.
Please feel free to message me and we can discuss this further.
Greg Norris
It's good to hear from you.
You might be able to add some extra information to our research.
First take a look here:
Wilfrid Hill had a partnership with the founder of our company story J W Pickavant - you can see quite a lot more on the story from the links I've sent.
The relationship with JWP seems to have started before WW1 but evolved much more in late 1918 and went on into Canada/USA when JWP emigrated to Toronto. It may be that you can shed light on this relationship? We're keen to find any early photos.
Please feel free to message me and we can discuss this further.
Greg Norris
gregnorris55
proper brummie kid
Hi Patrick - did you see my response?
Greg