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Wilsons Group Services (Established c1860)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established c1860 - 1861

Biography

Wilsons is a family printing company. The business started in the furniture making sector, however, Wilson soon started to make printing blocks for the advertising industry. The company established itself within the lucrative world of music hall and cinema and by the early twentieth century they had become one of the leading advertising printers in the country for this sector. Wilsons' complimented the busines by running their own billboard posting business, until legislation on billboard advertising changed in the 1950s.

In the early 1960s, the business was split into Willsons Printers Leicester, which continued printing posters and Willsons Printers Nottingham, which moved into the commercial market. The Nottingham business expanded, acquiring several other print firms and creating two new locations: Willsons Printers (Newark) and Willsons Printers (Grimsby). In the early 1980's production at Nottingham was consolidated into Newark.

The company continues operating today.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

David Braithwaite Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0053
Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs taken by David Braithwaite from the 1950s and used towards his publications alongside older images collected from other sources as well as business records, monographs, articles, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, advertising material, bibliographies, catalogues, programmes, films and some other miscellaneous items.

Dates: c1880 - 1989

Fred Holmes Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0065
Scope and Contents

A collection of material including posters, programmes, handbills, newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to the shows of Jasper Redfern mainly in the Sheffield and surrounding areas. The collection was created by Fred Holmes who was a manager for Jasper Redfern of Sheffield, a pioneer of early film and exhibition. Jasper Redfern was the first man to show films in Sheffield. Also included in the collection is correspondence between Fred Holmes and Jasper Redfern.

Dates: c1895 - 1925

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Subject
Acrobats 3
Aerialists 2
Amusement rides 1
Animal trainers 2
Animals 3