"Swan Brand" aluminium ware and electrical specialities - catalogue issued by Bulpitt & Sons, Birmingham, c1935
This must count as one of the smallest catalogues (in terms of size) in my collection - and so as a scale it is scanned against a current UK penny! I recall the Birmingham company of Bulpitts for two reasons - firstly, we often drove past the factory, near Icknield St, and I recall a large "Swan Brand" sign on the exterior of the building. Secondly - many households had Swan Brand teapots and such like so they were a familiar part of domestic life. Bulpitts and been founded in 1868 as brassfounders, a good Birmingham trade, and became known for kettles and such. The company's real leap forward appears to have been two-fold - they helped pioneer the use of aluminium for household good (and I have a 'commemorative Swan Brand miniature teapot from the 1924 Empire Exhibition) and they also helped develop the 'submersible electric heating element' that pioneered modern electric kettles. They deserve a blue plaque for that I'd say!
The company eventually formed part of a local group of companies, BSR (Housewares) that included Judges, the well-known Black Country makers of enamel cookware - and the BSR stood for 'Birmingham Sound Reproduction' as that company had made record player turntables. In time the Bulpitt concern - and the brand name "Swan' - became part of the French concern Moulinex.
This is the front and back cover of this tiny publication - it was likely attached to a product by string as a 'reminder' to purchasers.
"Swan Brand" aluminium ware and electrical specialities - catalogue issued by Bulpitt & Sons, Birmingham, c1935
This must count as one of the smallest catalogues (in terms of size) in my collection - and so as a scale it is scanned against a current UK penny! I recall the Birmingham company of Bulpitts for two reasons - firstly, we often drove past the factory, near Icknield St, and I recall a large "Swan Brand" sign on the exterior of the building. Secondly - many households had Swan Brand teapots and such like so they were a familiar part of domestic life. Bulpitts and been founded in 1868 as brassfounders, a good Birmingham trade, and became known for kettles and such. The company's real leap forward appears to have been two-fold - they helped pioneer the use of aluminium for household good (and I have a 'commemorative Swan Brand miniature teapot from the 1924 Empire Exhibition) and they also helped develop the 'submersible electric heating element' that pioneered modern electric kettles. They deserve a blue plaque for that I'd say!
The company eventually formed part of a local group of companies, BSR (Housewares) that included Judges, the well-known Black Country makers of enamel cookware - and the BSR stood for 'Birmingham Sound Reproduction' as that company had made record player turntables. In time the Bulpitt concern - and the brand name "Swan' - became part of the French concern Moulinex.
This is the front and back cover of this tiny publication - it was likely attached to a product by string as a 'reminder' to purchasers.