{"id":6077,"date":"2025-12-16T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/?p=6077"},"modified":"2025-12-31T13:17:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T13:17:20","slug":"history-of-british-needle-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/2025\/12\/16\/history-of-british-needle-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Brief History of the British Needle Company"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text 1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The British Needle Company was founded at the end of 1918 by Mr Frank Hawker, MBE, of Handsworth Birmingham, who had previously established the Carpathian Silver Company in Birmingham in 1886 – a firm which gained the reputation of being the world\u2019s largest makers of Electro-plated trays.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/history01.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 1L” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

An image of the Carpathian Silver Company in Birmingham, and of its founder Mr Frank Hawker, MBE.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text 2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The Birmingham factory was called the Argosy works (Argosy means wealthy merchant ship). Frank continued to use the Argosy name as a brand name and logo for his newly formed British Needle Company.<\/p>\n

Frank then set up his new factory – naturally called the Argosy Works – in Victoria Street, Redditch. The site he chose had once been owned by Henry Lewis needle and fishhook makers.<\/p>\n

In 1919 Mr Edward Keesey joined the company after demobilisation from the Royal Naval Air Service, starting as a company secretary but quickly working his way up \u2018the corporate ladder\u2019. It is quite easy to see why, as he had great organizational skills, was very forward thinking and, speaking to people that remembered him, they also said he was a very fair-minded person, very disciplined and commanded a lot of respect. He was affectionally known as \u2018Captain Keesey\u2019.<\/p>\n

It is really thanks to him that we have such a fantastic company archive as he documented and photographed the company throughout his time there. \u00a0By 1921 he had become a general manger and by 1934 he was a company director. He steered the British Needle Company through various treacherous economic downturns as well as World War 2 and by 1944 the company was one of the largest manufacturers of needles in Britain.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”6074,6075,6076″ posts_number=”3″ show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#b70a4d” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.5)” hover_icon=”U||divi||400″ module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ caption_text_align=”center” animation_style=”slide” pagination_font_size_tablet=”51″ pagination_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_css_gallery_item_title=”display: none;” border_radii_image=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text 3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Looking at the advertising materials<\/a> from this company we can see how innovative they were, and how they placed a great emphasis on the artistic presentation of their goods. They were very careful to catch the trends of the time for marketing purposes (like the fashion for all things Egyptian in the late 1920s –\u00a0 see under Marketing Materials) and they also prided themselves on making sure that none of their products ever looked \u2018dated.\u2019<\/p>\n

This is remarkable when you look at the early photographs which show the almost \u2018Dickensian\u2019 working conditions, which in all fairness would have been very typical of most of the needle factories at the time. However, what makes these photographs special is the care that was taken to name people and to show the jobs they did.<\/p>\n

Undoubtably, the greatest moment in the company\u2019s history was when Princess Margaret visited Redditch<\/a> and was shown around the factory in 1962 \u2013 how proud Edward Keesey must have been!<\/p>\n

Sadly, he died in in 1963 and by 1972 the business was sold to another of the great names in Redditch needle making – Abel Morrall – where the story continued for a while.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – In memory” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Heading” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

In Memory<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Frank Hawker” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

The Will of Frank Hawker<\/h3>\n

Frank Hawker died in 1937. He had had an interesting life, not only was he a leading Birmingham manufacturer (the Carpathian Silver Company) he was also a member of Birmingham City Council \u00a0(for 10 years). In 1928 he was appointed as Honorary Consul for Turkey in Birmingham \u2018to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish citizens to be found in his consular district\u2019.<\/p>\n

His will showed his generosity to family, friends, employees and charity (the Birmingham Children\u2019s Hospital).<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/history05.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 5P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A newspaper article on the will of Frank Hawker, MBE, founder of the British Needle Company.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Edward Keesey” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

An Obituary of Edward Keesey<\/h3>\n

Edward Keesey sadly died only a year after retirement at the age of 67.<\/p>\n

He and his wife had been planning to join his daughter in Australia. His hobbies were listed as sailing at the Barnt Green Sailing club and cinematography – which might explain his early interest in photography and the desire to record as much as he could of the working life of the British Needle Company.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/history06.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 6P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

A newspaper obituary on the death of Edward Keesey, General Manager and Director of the company.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Back Button” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/bnc-archives\/” button_text=”Back to British Needle Company Archives” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_icon=”||fa||900″ button_icon_placement=”left” custom_margin=”24px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A summary of the company’s founding, through to its sale in 1972.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6077"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6113,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6077\/revisions\/6113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}