Integration, Innovation, and the Progress of a Family Cotton Enterprise: Fielden Brothers Ltd, 1889-1914

Textile History

Volumn 27, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 77-100

  Toms, J S ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BRITISH; COMPANY INFORMATION; FIELDEN BROTHERS LTD; TEXTILE HISTORY; TEXTILE INDUSTRY;

EID: 0029674826     PISSN: 00404969     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1179/tex.1996.27.1.77     Document Type: Article

References (118)

1. A. Chandler, Scale and Scope: the dynamics of industrial capitalism (Cambridge Massachusetts: Belknap Press, 1990).
2. W. Lazonick, Business Organisation and the Myth of the Market Economy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991).
3. W. Lazonick, 'Competition, Specialization and Industrial Decline', Journal of Economic History, XLI (1981), pp. 31-83.
4. W. D. Rubinstein, Capitalism, Culture and Decline in Britain, 1750-1990 (London: Routledge, 1993); M. Wiener, English Culture and the Decline of the Industrial Spirit, 1850-1980 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981).
5. W. D. Rubinstein, Capitalism, Culture and Decline in Britain, 1750-1990 (London: Routledge, 1993); M. Wiener, English Culture and the Decline of the Industrial Spirit, 1850-1980 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981).
6. R. Pearson, 'Collective diversification: Manchester Cotton Merchants and the Insurance Business in the Early Nineteenth Century', Business History Review LXV (1991), pp. 379-414.
7. G. Jones and M. Rose, 'Family Capitalism', Business History, XXXV (October 1993), pp. 1-15.
8. For a summary of the hypotheses as to why Lancashire failed to simultaneously invest in ring spinning and the automatic loom, see W. Mass and W. Lazonick, 'The British Cotton Industry and International Competitive Advantage: the state of the debates', Business History, XXXII (1990), pp. 9-65.
9. For example, Fortunes Made in Business. Series of Original Sketches Biographical and Anecdotic from the Recent History of Industry and Commerce by Various Writers, 'The Fieldens of Todmorden' (London: Low, 1884), 1, pp. 413-56.
10. West Yorkshire Record Office (WYRO)/C353/475; S. Chapman and T. Ashton, 'The Sizes of Businesses, Mainly in the Textile Industries', Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, LXXVII (1914), pp. 469-555.
11. D. A. Farnie, The English Cotton Industry and the World Market, 1815-96 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1979).
12. S. Kenny, 'Sub regional specialization in the Lancashire cotton industry, 1884-1914: a study in organisational and locational change', Journal of Historical Geography VIII (1982), pp. 53-59.
13. C. Giles and I. Goodall, Yorkshire Textile Mills: the buildings of the Yorkshire Textile Industry, 1770-1930 (London. HMSO, Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, 1992).
14. T. Thornley, Modern Cotton Economics (London: Scott Greenwood, 1923).
15. L. Sandberg, Lancashire in Decline (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1974).
16. Sanberg, ibid.; W. Lazonick, 'The Cotton Industry' in B. Elbaum and W. Lazonick (eds) The Decline of the British Economy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986).
17. Sanberg, ibid.; W. Lazonick, 'The Cotton Industry' in B. Elbaum and W. Lazonick (eds) The Decline of the British Economy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986).
18. M. Rose, The Gregs of Quarry Bank Mill: the rise and decline of a family firm (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986).
19. Ibid., pp. 88-90.
20. Ibid., p. 90.
21. Lazonick, 1986, op. cit.
22. WYRO/353/1 and 475.
23. Diaries of E. B. Fielden, 1888-98 (hereafter, EBF diaries), in private possession and used with the kind permission of Mr B. Law.
24. S. A. Weaver, John Fielden and the Politics of Popular Radicalism (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987).
25. S. D. Chapman, Merchant Enterprise in Britain from the Industrial Revolution to the First World War (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), p. 304.
26. Todmorden Advertiser, 25 October 1889, 3(v).
27. D. H. Aldcroft, The Entrepreneur and the British Economy (2nd Ser. Vol. 17, August 1964), pp. 113-34.
28. The mills closed tended to be peripheral, small scale, or outside the main product range. Thus silk spinning was abandoned at Waterside. Jumb mill was the smallest to survive, being linked to the adjacent Lumbutts mill by an overhead telferage. Despite the remoteness of the site and attendant labour shortages, the two mills were kept open until 1926.
29. W. Lazonick, 'Industrial Organization and Technological Change: The Decline of the British Cotton Industry', Business History Review, LVII (1983), pp. 195-236.
30. W. Lazonick, 'Competition, Specialization and Industrial Decline', Journal of Economic History, XLI (1981), p. 34. M. Frankel, 'Obsolescence and Technical Change in a Maturing Economy', American Economic Review (June 1955), pp. 296-319.
31. W. Lazonick, 'Competition, Specialization and Industrial Decline', Journal of Economic History, XLI (1981), p. 34. M. Frankel, 'Obsolescence and Technical Change in a Maturing Economy', American Economic Review (June 1955), pp. 296-319.
32. W. Lazonick, 'Stubborn Mules: some comments', Economic History Review 2nd Ser., XL (1987) pp. 80-86.
33. Ibid.
34. W. S. Murphy, The Textile Industries: A Practical Guide to Fibres, Yarns and Fabrics (London: Gresham, 1910), Vol. 3, p. 68.
35. J. Nasmith, Students: Cotton Spinning (Manchester: Heywood, 1896), p. 501.
36. Murphy, op. cit., Vol. 3, p. 71.
37. M. T. Copeland, 'Technical development in cotton manufacturing since 1860', Quarterly Journal of Economics, XXIV, 1909-1910, p. 122.
38. Textile Recorder, 13th May 1897, attributed the spread of ring spinning in Rochdale to the previous tradition of throstle spinning; see also Cotton Factory Times, 26 March 1897.
39. Textile Recorder, 13th May 1897, attributed the spread of ring spinning in Rochdale to the previous tradition of throstle spinning; see also Cotton Factory Times, 26 March 1897.
40. Sandberg, op. cit.
41. W. Lazonick, 'Competition, Specialization and Industrial Decline', op. cit.
42. WYRO 353/1, Directors' minutes. Details of new machinery purchased between 1895 and 1900, pp. 182-256.
43. J. Worrall, The Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Directory for Lancashire (Oldham: Worrall, 1891 and 1913).
44. Todmorden Advertiser, 22 November 1889.
45. Textile Mercury, 8 July 1893, p. 28.
46. Nasmith, op. cit., p. 535.
47. T. Thomley, Cotton Spinning, (London: Scott Greenwood and Son, 3rd Edition, 1916, pp. 265-67; Murphy, op. cit., pp. 80-81).
48. T. Thomley, Cotton Spinning, (London: Scott Greenwood and Son, 3rd Edition, 1916, pp. 265-67; Murphy, op. cit., pp. 80-81).
49. J. Nasmith, Students' Cotton Spinning (Manchester: Heywood, 1896, pp. 517-19).
50. Todmorden Advertiser, 22 November 1889.
51. WYRO/353/1, Directors' minute book; Robinwood was respindled with new ring frames in the period 1908-10, pp. 325 and 348.
52. S. B. Saul, 'The Engineering Industry' in D. H. Aldcroft (ed.) The Development of British Industry and Foreign Competition (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1968).
53. WYRO 353/475, Detailed Accounts, and Robinwood Mill Accounts (RMA).
54. The 'industry' is based on a large sample of Oldham companies and a smaller sample of vertically integrated companies. The weaving section of the industry is thus under represented.
55. Todmorden Advertiser, 14 February 1890.
56. WYRO 353/1 Directors' minutes. J. A. Fielden held 40 shares, E. B. Fielden, 80 shares.
57. EBF diaries, passim. Although Board meetings were monthly, E. B. Fielden normally made a second journey to Todmorden in the average month, or managed Fielden affairs from Norfolk street Manchester. He normally visited at least one, and sometimes all three, of the manufacturing sites. Although he clearly took his business responsibilities very seriously, with some exceptions, country sport prowess, such as the number of animals killed, normally accounted for the most detailed diary content.
58. According to Mr J. Hurst, two returns per week were sent for yarn produced and cloth sold. On the basis of the extent of over or under cover, E. B. Fielden would then decide whether to go longer or shorter. The accounts and production cost data for the mills were also sent at less frequent intervals, (e.g. RMA, 1895-1914).
59. S. Weaver, op. cit., p. 25.
60. S. Fielden, 'Autobiography of Samuel Fielden', in P. S. Foner (ed.) The Autobiographies of the Haymarket Martyrs (New York: Humanities Press, 1969).
61. EBF diaries, 10 Wednesday and Thursday 11 April, 1889. E. B. Fielden wanted to discuss the question of the gearing and boilers, but on learning that Samuel Fielden was too preoccupied with the accident to be able to concentrate on the matter, he returned to Dobroyd Castle for dinner.
62. Note from a conversation with Mr J. Hurst.
63. EBF diaries, 1889 and 1892.
64. J. Worrall, The Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Directory for Lancashire, (Oldham: Worrall, 1891 and 1913 editions).
65. Todmorden Advertiser, 9 November 1889.
66. Accounts of Robinwood and Lumbutts mills, WYRO/353/421, 480 and 481. Also RMA, 1895-14.
67. Calculated using the production per pound data in Taggart W, Cotton Mill Management: a practical guide for managers, carders and overlookers (Macmillan, 1923), p. 202.
68. Machinery analysis by mill, Waterside Counting House, 1886 (document in private possession).
69. WYRO 353/1, Board Minutes and WYRO 353/140 Details of new (Butterworth and Dickenson) looms, 1896-97.
70. John Ashton Fielden to E. B. Fielden, 13 January 1895 (document in private possession). He went on to point out that results were unsatisfactory and he should be replaced with a 'modern man'.
71. EBF diaries, 2 December 1892.
72. EBF diaries, 2-3 October 1894. The pretext for Wrigley's dismissal was his failure to prevent the theft of tools from the works by a junior manager.
73. WYRO 353/475, Detailed Accounts. By 1903, the largest single investment was in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, with a combination of ordinary, preference shares, and debentures totalling £19,823. A further £16,906 was invested in the Great Central and Midland Railways. Other smaller amounts were invested in the shares of inter alia, Bolckow Vaughan, Cammell Laird, and the Bleachers' Association.
74. WYRO 353/475, Detailed Accounts.
75. EBF diaries, 6 December 1894.
76. S. D. Chapman, op. cit., p. 68.
77. Calculated from WYRO/353/475, Detailed Accounts.
78. WYRO C353/1 Directors' Board Minutes, p. 280, all futures transactions had to be approved at Board level.
79. Thomley, op. cit., p. 82.
80. EBF diaries.
81. Calculated from Robson, The Cotton Industry (London: Macmillan, 1957), p. 336.
82. The total net losses on futures for the years 1891-94 inclusive were £18,965. Assuming a covered position and falling cloth and/or yarn prices this would have improved trading profit in roughly the same proportion. However, as losses on the trading account were also high, and much worse than elsewhere in the industry (Figure 2) it is likely that some of the loss arose from an uncovered speculative position. The net profits losses from futures in other periods were as follows: 1895-99 £5,123 (profit) 1900-04 £13,436 (loss) 1905-14 £4,352 (loss) Calculated from 'Detailed Accounts' WYRO C353/475.
83. G. Coates to E. B. Fielden, 28 July 1910 (letter in private possession).
84. Textile Mercury, 5 August 1893, p. 110.
85. S. J. Chapman, 'The report of the tariff commission', Economic Journal, XV, No. 59 (September 1905), pp. 420-27.
86. EBF diaries, passim, much business was transacted in Manchester by E. B. Fielden, usually in conjunction with his adviser, Thomas Lodge.
87. The combined estates of John Fielden and Samuel Fielden were £1.64 m. Textile Mercury, 5 August 1893, P. 110; Todmorden Advertiser, 14 February 1890. This was over twelve times the capitalized value of the successor company at £130,000.
88. The combined estates of John Fielden and Samuel Fielden were £1.64 m. Textile Mercury, 5 August 1893, P. 110; Todmorden Advertiser, 14 February 1890. This was over twelve times the capitalized value of the successor company at £130,000.
89. WYRO C353/257, Manchester Accounts.
90. S. D. Chapman, op. cit., p. 303.
91. WYRO/353/420, 480 and 481, Robinwood and Lumbutts accounts, 1893-1914; RMA, 1895-1914. Robinwood increasingly produced exclusively for the weaving shed after 1900, but Lumbutts always maintained a significant level of external sales.
92. Note from a conversation with Mr J. Hurst.
93. EBF diaries; Coates to Fielden, 13 March 1909 (letter in private possession).
94. RMA, 1895-1914. These show clearly the use of unit cost as the mechanism for management control.
95. RMA, 1900 and 1912-13.
96. WCRO, C351/1 Board Minutes, p. 380.
97. Coates to Fielden, 12 December 1908 (letter in private possession).
98. WYRO 475/353 Detailed Accounts. Some modernization occurred after Wrigley's departure, for example the conversion to electric power in 1914.
99. Thornley, 1916, op. cit., p. 247; Nasmith, op. cit., p. 532.
100. Thornley, 1916, op. cit., p. 247; Nasmith, op. cit., p. 532.
101. WYRO C353/1 Directors' Minutes, 2 March 1909, p. 334.
102. G. A. Bennett, An Introduction to Automatic Weaving (Manchester, Harlequin Press, 1948), p. 29.
103. British Northrop Loom Company, Northrop Labour Saving Looms: A Brief Treatise on Weaving and Northrop Looms (The Company, Blackburn, Greenbank Iron Works, 3rd Edition, 1905), p. 10.
104. WYRO/353/1, Directors' minutes, pp. 318 and 352.
105. Bennett, op. cit.
106. WYRO, 353/1, Directors' Minutes, p. 334.
107. WYRO 353/1, Directors' minutes, 1 July 1896, p. 208.
108. J. S. Toms, 'Myth and Reality in Lancashire Cotton: The Progress and Profitability of Ring Spinning, 1878-1914' (University of Nottingham, School of Management and Finance Discussion Paper, 1994), VIII.
109. Thornley (1923), op. cit., p. 302.
110. WYRO 353/1, Directors' minutes, pp. 318-412.
111. T. M. Young, The American Cotton Industry, (London: Methuen, 1902), pp. 139-40. Young assumed a depreciation rate of 15 per cent.
112. Sandberg, op. cit., p. 79.
113. Ibid., p. 77.
114. H. Catling, The Spinning Mule, (Newton Abbot: David and Charles, 1970), p. 189.
115. Board of Trade, An Industrial Survey of the Lancashire Area (Excluding Merseyside), (London: HMSO, 1932), p. 135.
116. Note from a conversation with Mr. J. Hurst, the former company secretary.
117. RMA, 1939.
118. B. Law, The Fieldens of Todmorden (Littleborough: George Kelsall, 1995).