Pattern designers and printers Charlie & Franks?

[emmsthheight]

Hi everyone

We've really reached a brick wall on this.

I'm trying to trace the life of a Geoge Sheffield, artist.  He was born in Cumbria in Wigton and we actually know quite a bit about his paintings.

What we're really trying to trace is his training.

We've been told he was at Manchester School of Art at one stage, and that earlier he trained as a pattern maker to calico printers.  One source refers to an apprenticeship at a  Charlie and Franks Pattern makers and calico printers.

Question is: Does anyone have any information on them?  I looked on Historical Directories and online in general.

Also. where would their archives be?  Would there be samples of his work and where would they be?  In fact with all the changes, where are the best places to look in the area for this kind of work?

Would there be a normal apprentice record, and where would be student records archives for the School of Art?  I've looked at loads of online catalogues and am starting emailing.

In fact anything in the 1850's - 1860's on him?  Werknow about him being in Wales.  We have all the censuses, marriage and birthplaces of his children, with some baptisms.

Sorry it ended up a bit long winded.

Best wishes

Emms 

[mshrmh]

Emms - you've probably already tried these potential sources, but in case

Greater Manchester Country Records Office has some business & other records
http://www.gmcro.co.uk/

Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry has some collections (WDTYA David Dickenson had some finds)
http://www.mosi.org.uk/

Spinning the web is an umbrella site mainly about the cotton industry in the North West
http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/

Hope you have some luck.


Adding:

The School of Art is now part of the Manchester Metropolitan University - they have a library & archive collection mentioned on this link
http://www.specialcollections.mmu.ac.uk/?page_id=15

[Barbara.H]

I would also contact the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, who have a textile collection and links to both the MMU and the Manchester University's History of Art departments. 

Oh they have one of his paintings  Here we go...

http://www.rootschat.com/links/05to/

But I've tried Charlie & Franks (sounds like an ice cream!) in their search and got nothing

  Barbara

[emmsthheight]

Hi Thank you for all those.

I have seen all the sites and tried to cover all searches but not being local, I didn't know which ones most like ly.  I'll email these, buit I didn't want to email everywhere under the sun and epester them while I was working in the dark.

Yes, I saw the painting thank you.  There are quite a lot about but at least oit makes you feel you might be on the trail!  I rang Salford at Peel Park too, but the right person is out until Monday.  I knew I'd been there as a kid, so it was a "Real" place!

Yes, the name does seem a bit unlikely, but I was asured it was written like that.  I wondered about two christian names used as a nick name for those in the know.

I'll keep trying !

Thank you for pulling out the stops and having a go though.

Best wishes

Emms

[mshrmh]

Emms - a few more ideas after a little more searching (on Google & in my memory). There is/was a Calico Printers Association - which leads to an archive at Warwick University featuring a 1949 volume on 50 years of Calico Printing, so potentially right period for you:
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/222cpacl.htm

The National Register of Archives site (was A2A I think)  has more links for the CPA:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=B2966
Several interesting links on there including Salford's Peel Park that you're already trying.

[emmsthheight]

Ah I hadn't thouht of them - I didn't know they existed by that name, but I hadn't thought of looking for an association anyway.

Thank you very much!

Best wshes

Enns

[Barbara.H]

There is/was a Calico Printers Association - which leads to an archive at Warwick University featuring a 1949 volume on 50 years of Calico Printing, so potentially right period for you:
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/222cpacl.htm

I had that book once! Wah!! Gave it to the Oxfam shop (got it for 25p in a jumble sale myself) before I got interested in genealogy. 
It was a history of the CPA itself, not of the calico printing industry as a whole.  It did have lists of names, but they were mostly of workers who had long service records (still in the industry in 1949, had been there for 25-50 years etc) and memorial lists of workers killed in the world wars.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/industrial/industry12.htm

just for background on the printing process. Seems there was much rivalry between the Glasgow and Manchester printers for technical development.  My gt gt gf was a pattern designer in and around Glasgow. Its easier to find out about the printing process than about the designs and designers, which is frustrating.  I suspect from dates and addresses however, that my rellie trained 'on the job' rather than having an art school training.

  Barbara

[emmsthheight]

Hi

Thank you for the replies.  It all helps.  You've given me an idea though.  No time now, but I think there were lists of the various trade associations and where to find apprentices on the Guildhall site.

I'll have a look later, and keep you poted.

Best wishes

Emms

[emmsthheight]

Hio

I'm still drwing a blank here, but I've found a Fraks Design Ltd as late as 1953/4 in Oxford St Manchester.

Maybe a red herring I know, but I'm windering if any kind person with access to directories would look for a Franks  or Charles, or France or any similar name or combination in Designers / Pattern designers, calico printers / designers, printers etc.

Any date, later 18C into 20C even, might give a clue.

Thanks again.

Emms