Blanco and Bull

The Wheatleys’ of Evesham

2020-03-16T14:04:16Z

With the help of a descendant of the family a potted history of the Evesham dynasty of the Wheatleys’ is now in place and charts some one hundred and fifty years of trade in the bootmaking and footwear retailing in the Evesham area.

See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/arthur-h-wheatley-ltd/

William Wren & Co Ltd

2020-03-25T16:49:48Z

William Wren & Co Ltd

Just added, a potted history of William Wren & Co Ltd. From humble beginnings in Northampton the company grew steadily to become a well respected household polish brand, becoming part of the Chiswick/Reckitt/Sara Lee empires and ultimately just a brand name in a portfolio.

See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/william-wren-ltd/

Carr & Day & Martin Ltd

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

Just added, a potted history of Carr & Day & Martin now been added. The earliest and biggest company in the UK to commercially exploit manufactured blacking, it was a monumentally wealthy company in the early 1800’s – and has survived in one form or another for over two hundred years.
[divider] See more here:
www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/carr-day-martin/

White cleaners

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

The coverage of white cleaners on this website has been expanded with examples from several manufacturers across a century of production.
[divider] See more here:
Nugget white cleaners
Joseph Pickering’s Blanco
Wren’s Puwite
Cherry Blossom’s Snowene
Meltonian’s white cleaner
Tilley’s White Cake
[divider]

Dales’ Gold Medal Dubbin

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

A new addition to the website are a couple of pages about Dales’ dubbin, rather curiously made from porpoise oil. There is some historical film footage too about the production of porpoise oil too!
[divider] See more here:
Dubbin product info here: Dales’ Gold Medal Dubbin
Company information here: John T. Dales

Properts Ltd updates

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

Information about Propert’s has been updated somewhat with all the information cleaned so far. It’s great to know their 1878 building is not only still standing but in good use still.
[divider] See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/propert-ltd/

The Blacking industry 1842

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

Just acquired – a rather splendid essay of rather astonishing verbosity relating a visit to the Day and Martin blacking factory in Holborn. Replete with excellent engravings the article gives an insight into the size of the boot blacking business and the industrial effort that went into it.
[divider] See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/an-1842-day-at-day-and-martins/

What’s in a name? The Kiwi and Cherry Blossom saga

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

A new section has been added tracing the passing of brand names from company to company showing the importance and value of a trusted and well known brand is worth a great deal to companies.
[divider] See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/sara-lee-and-100-years-of-brand-name-aquisiton/

Latest addition to DIY blanco – 103

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

The latest in the series of simple and and easily reproducible DIY blanco substitutes has now been published. The 103 shoe cream method now joins KG3, 97 and RAF Blue-Grey leaving 61 Buff still to do!

More information:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/repro-blanco/no-103-the-shoe-cream-method/

Australian Blanco – does anyone have any more information?

2013-04-13T07:50:49Z

A Blanco and Bull website visitor Raymond Dive has just raised some interesting information on an Australian made Blanco product used in WWI, WWII and after – a first hand account of manufacture and using indigenous clays. And so the appeal does out – does anyone else have any more information?
[divider] See more here:
https://www.blancoandbull.com/blanco-history/australian-blanco/