Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890)
Biography
Taylor's of Wombwell began as a small local jobbing printer in the 1890s in the then small mining town of Wombwell in Southern Yorkshire. The founder, Albert Taylor, supplied the printing needs of this small community and surrounding area. Taylor's two eldest sons were responsible for catapulting the family business into the world of showbusiness.
Returning home from the battlefields of World War I, Taylor's two eldest sons had a lucky break when they managed, at short notice, to print the publicity for a London theatrical agent whose touring show was just about to open in Barnsley. In order to fulfil the order, the brothers had to saw up the kitchen table in the shape of a gigantic "W" for the posters. Their effort so impressed the agent that he promised the brothers the bulk of his future business. He was true to his word and this proved to be the foundation on which the successful business was built.
By the mid-1920s they were one of the leading printers of entertainment industry advertising in the United Kingdom with music hall, fairground and circus showmen among their national client base. The firm became a limited company in the 1920's; and in the 1950s, Taylor's (Theatrical) Printers Ltd. was established to separate the commercial from the theatrical side of the business.
The chromolithographic pantomime posters the company produced provide a fascinating visual record of how travelling entertainment forms were marketed throughout the twentieth century.
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Charles Taylor Collection
The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.
Circus Markus Poster, 1970
The Tomahawks-whips, knives, hatchets, Gunga-Din and Shapphire, Sensational 20th century Hercules.
Circus Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1965 - 1979
Circus posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.
Fossett Bros. Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979
Poster left blank for overprinting location and date. Knife throwers, The White Yogi, Horses, Ponies. Red and blue type on white background.
Gandey's Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979
Poster left blank for over-printing location and date. Featuring Chi-Lahn-illusionist, Apache Braves-Red Indian Fire Eating Rituals, Brett Mentona-Knife Throwing, Reyall’s Dogs, Alec Halls and his cavalcade of junk, Commanche Spotted Stallion, Tommy the TV Pony, Dr Sparks-the First ever Tour of the UK. The Electric Man, 3 show in one. Circus, Variety, Wild West.
Gandey's International Circus Poster, Week commencing Monday 14 c1977
Sunderland Empire Circus. The Montas Knife Throwers, The Trio Lepinos trapeze act.
Joe Gandey's Circus Presentations Poster, 1970
English Single Most Circus International, Featuring Granada Television Documentary, Delmarrs Equilibrists, Trevor Doolottle acrobatic, comedy and juggling, Cheeko minute Trick Pony, Caprice Alpine Goat, Billy Diamond and Sioux City Sue Knife Throwing, Prince Kahn And Co., Running fox and Juanita Apache Fire Rituals.
Posters, c1937 - 1989
A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.