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Brettells
history dates back to around 1830. In those days accurate
records were not kept and it was common place for people not
to be able to read or write.
As a young boy Henry Brettell
helped his father in a small workshop in the the corner of
a saw mills yard in Regents Row, Haggerston, East London.
Henry's father came from a long line of French cabinet makers
and is credited with starting the business. Together they
produced turnings and tool handles for local traders from
timber off-cuts discarded by the sawmill owners. Power for
the lathe and saw bench was via a leather belt which ran through
a hole in the wall linked to the saw mills line shaft. Consequently
their working hours revolved around the saw mills.
The second generation Henry Brettell
had four sons quite late in life. First son Henry James
Brettell took over the business at the age of 14. The other
sons Will, George and John joined later.
In 1912 they bought a bakers shop in Teesdale Street, Hackney
East London for £200. A line shaft with wooden pulleys
and leather belts supplied power to the hand turning lathes,
saw bench and tumbler situated down stairs. Another belt ran
up through a hole in the floor to another line shaft upstairs
which ran more hand turning lathes. The whole set up was powered
by one 2hp DC electric motor. The old bread oven was used
to burn the wood waste and kept the family warm in winter.
When the supply of wood ran low, work stopped but there was
usually a timber lorry delivering somewhere in the area. In
those days East London was a major source of wood turning
and cabinet making in the UK and the odd plank of timber could
be acquired with the help of a rolled-up cigarette.
In 1914 "& Sons", was added to the name and
war work began making ammunition boxes and other wooden items
for the Ministry of Defence.
Second generation Henry died in 1921. Third generation Henry
now with the help of his younger brothers continued to build
up the business until 1930 when the depression hit. They decided
to close the workshop and wait for the economy to pick up.
Six months later they opened up and carried on. Henry James's
second son James Lawrence Brettell
joined the firm in 1942 at the age of 16. Six months later
Henry collapsed at work and was taken to hospital. The East
End was devastated in the blitz and the workshop in Teesdale
Street suffered minor damage but was patched up. The firm
was now taken over by George Brettell.
During the day belts would stretch so at night they were taken
off and soaked in castor oil. This job was given to the young
James. The next morning the belts were put back on. They would
stand outside while the motor was switched on and the whole
building would start to shake but soon settled down so that
the family could start work. the hand turners would sometimes
have to stop work to a shout of "EASE UP" if a heavy
piece of wood was being cut downstairs.
On Saturday morning James would push a hand cart around the
tool shops of Shoreditch selling file handles, chisel handles
and bradawls. James's younger brother Henry George Brettell
also took turns on the handcart. When he returned, the money
he collected would be shared out and that was their week's
wages. The company now specialised in Lignum Vitea mallets
and Butchers Blocks.
Henry recovered to take the reins while James joined the Army
for the latter part of the Second World War and was posted
to India. When the war was over he rejoined the firm but insisted
his father invest in a new Fells BH rotary knife lathe at
the cost of £150. Henry George Brettell joined the Army
and later left the firm to pursue a career in civil engineering.
Henry died in 1950. Will died shortly after. This left George,
John and James. The business was incorporated in 1955 and
in 1956 moved into railway arches at 350-353 Winchelsea Road,
Forest Gate, East London. George retired in 1967 and James
took over.
In 1970 James's second son Rob Brettell
officially started work aged 15. The company introduced
more rotary knife lathes and expanded the work force to 20.
John continued working until 1971.
The business flourished and in 1980 moved into an 8,500 sq
ft factory at its present site in Chestnut Avenue, Forest
Gate. In 1995 James retired and Rob took control.
H Brettell
& Sons Ltd is constantly striving to invest in new machinery
and technology to meet the demands of today's market and is
still run by its 5th generation owner and managing director
Rob Brettell.
» VIEW
HISTORY GALLERY |
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| Henry Brettell
with 2nd son Will |
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| Henry James
Brettell |
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| James Brettell |
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| The Apprentice |
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