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Early years

Collection: British Women Trade Unionists on Strike at Bryant & May, 1888    Volumes    Early years
Bryant & May grew from modest roots. The founders, William Bryant and Francis May, worked variously as soap and tea manufacturers and grocers to eventually become the largest British match manufacturers and an important player in both home and export markets, trading in many countries. The documents in this section reflect the progress of their early years, from lone operators to partners in an increasingly important and profitable business.The existence of Charles Dickens' article in the journal Household Words (1852) among these papers proves the firm had an awareness of phosphorous necrosis, the grisly industrial disease linked to matches and white phosphorous. This would come back to haunt the firm in later years. There are very early match receipts which specifically propose using alternatives to white phosphorous. Dangers of death by fire are also referenced in the advertising material as white phosphorous was known to spontaneously burst into flames. Bryant & May used this as a selling point for their non-white phosphorous matches, whilst at the same time selling the white phosphorous 'Lucifer' matches alongside their 'safety' versions.
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View document: Biographical information.

Biographical information

D/B/BRY/1/1/9. Notes on Francis May and his family, comprising extracts from directories, biographies, Bryant papers as well as a memorial card commemorating May's death in 1885.

Date:1825-1885
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-01
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/9
View document: Articles of partnership, 1851.

Articles of partnership, 1851

D/B/BRY/1/1/1. Articles of partnership between William Bryant and Francis May as general merchants.

Date:1851-1851
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-02
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/1
View document: 'Household Words', 1 May 1852.

'Household Words', 1 May 1852

D/B/BRY/1/2/554. Article written by Charles Dickens, which highlights the dangers of matchmaking including phospherous necrosis (Phossy Jaw).

Date:1852-1852
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-03
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/2/554
View document: Correspondence, 1850-1855.

Correspondence, 1850-1855

D/B/BRY/1/1/5. Letters from William Bryant to Francis May, with TS copies. Chronicle the development of business interests from soap to matches.

Date:1850-1855
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-04
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/5
View document: Lundstrom correspondence, 1852-1859.

Lundstrom correspondence, 1852-1859

D/B/BRY/1/1/6. Letters from Bryant and May to C. J. Lundstrom concerning imports of matches, patent business.

Date:1852-1859
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-05
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/6
View document: Bryant's Soap Analysis Book, 1856-1870.

Bryant's Soap Analysis Book, 1856-1870

D/B/BRY/1/1/44. Soap analysis book of Wilberforce Bryant, including printed sales leaflets, recipe for match composition, petition from box makers for more money.

Date:1856-1870
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-06
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/44
View document: Fairfield Works, c1861.

Fairfield Works, c1861

D/B/BRY/1/1/51. Specification for factory and offices at Fairfield, Bow, and plan of British Sperm Candle Company's Works to be let.

Date:1861-1861
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-07
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/51
View document: Patents, etc..

Patents, etc.

D/B/BRY/1/1/34. Agreements, licences and specifications for patents, including Francis May's specification of Lundstrom's patent, 1855-1887.

Date:1855-1887
Contributor:C L R James Library, Hackney
Identifier:72993a-08
Archive Reference(s):D/B/BRY/1/1/34
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