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'Silver by the Ton' tells us
that ILFORD Limited started to mark their anniversaries 50
years after its formation by Alfred Harman in 1879 (Ref.
page 66). Initially the practice was to make presentations (from
1930) of clocks and, later, watches, to those who had been with
the firm for 50 years.
To mark the 60th Anniversary
(named their Diamond Jubilee) a staff Dinner was held on 28th
January 1939 at the Trocadero Restaurant in London.
Almost all the senior staff were present, about 250 in all. The
occasion, including a private room, cocktails, dinner and wines,
cost £340 (equivalent to between £25,000 and £30,000
in 2022).
The celebration was presided over by Major General Sir Ivor Philipps,
who had led the company out of a perilous situation into a position
of considerable influence over a period of 34 years. He was supported
by many who had helped to achieve him: Colonel F.W.Evatt, the
deputy chairman and his chief aide; F.F.Renwick who had led the
outstanding progress in research and development; Olaf Bloch,
another brilliant chemist with a roguish sense of humour, wit,
and charm; B.L.Drake, company secretary and a penetrating judge
of human nature; Andrew Agnew, the tough, Scottish quality controller
and probably the only person at the celebration who had worked
with Alfred Harman in one of the Clyde cottages.
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60th Anniversary Diamond
Jubilee celebratory Dinner at the Trocadero Restaurant, on Coventry
Street, London, 28th January 1939.
The Trocadero was originally built in 1896 as
a restaurant but closed in 1965. In 1984 it was redeveloped into
an exhibition and entertainment centre with a cinema, shops and
amusement arcades, until closure in 2011.
It re-opened in 2020 as the 'Zedwell Piccadilly' hotel, with
728 windowless rooms and a large rooftop bar.
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| The 75th Anniversary
celebration was held in May 1954. By that time Ilford's attempt
to enter the colour market was draining the company of capital,
and scientific effort was being spread over an area almost as
big as that of its large competitors, Kodak and Agfa, both of
whom had greater resources and a long, valuable start in colour
materials. Nonetheless, although the price of silver had risen
by 85 per cent over the previous five years, business was booming.
In 1954, exports rose by 20 per cent and profits by 38 per cent
over the previous year. |
