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Andrew Austin was born at Earls Barton c1860, and he came from Wellingborough to Rushden in the late 1880s with his wife Emily and their daughter Amy. They lived in North Street and Andrew was a boot manufacturer. In 1893 the family was living at 19 Moor Road and Andrew was now a shoe ink manufacturer, trading with Mr Bond as Austin & Bond.
In 1909 the family moved to 39 Church Street. He was now also making polishes and stains, and built a factory in Wellingborough Road, trading as A Austin & Co.
Sometime after the First World War he added soap to the list of products and the company was now titled Andrew Austin (Rushden) Ltd. They traded from a factory in Irchester Road throughout the Second World War.
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Advert from the Northampton Independent Magazine April 1923
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02 February 1900 - Northampton Mercury
Re Andrew Austin, Rushden, Boot Manufacturer, Excelsior Works, Lawton-road, Rushden. A private meeting of the creditors of the above was held on Wednesday, at the offices of Messrs. Cattell and Veil, accountants, Bank Chambers ......
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09 March 1900 - Northampton Mercury
Re Andrew Austin, Shoe Manufacturer, Rushden. Deed of arrangement, filed March unsecured liabilities. £2,418 4a. 5d.; estimated net assets, 12s. 4d.; secured creditors, £312 10s. Trustee, William C. Cattell, High-street, Kettering.
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Rushden Echo, 1st January 1915, transcribed by Kay Collins
WaterproofThe best waterproofing for your boots is Austin’s Dubbin. Guaranteed to keep out the wet and lengthen the wear. Also use Shine Easy Boot Polish. It gives a brilliant and lasting shine and softens the leather. Free from all injurious substances; does not come off in wet weather, soil the dress, or clog the brush. Sold everywhere in 1d., 2d., and 3d. tins. Shine Easy Floor and Furniture Polish unequalled, 1d. and 3d. tins.Manufacturers, A Austin and Co., Rushden.
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In this 1922 they had branched out into household cleaners and washing powders.
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This letter is dated January 1947, when rationing was in force, to Messrs Strong & Fisher says:
We note that you have received 56lbs of Carbolic Bar Soap and replying to your specific enquiry we should advise you that to complete your exisitng soap permit up to the 27th April there is a further 86lbs of Bar Soap due to you. We propose to despatch this to you at the end of February and at the same time return the permit to you. [see opposite]
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Advert from Rushden Echo, 26th October 1917
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1904 advert
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1925 Advert
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Rushden Echo, 16th January 1925
An application from Mr Andrew Austin for permission to erect a soap factory in Irchester-road was referred to the Sanitary Committee.
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A postcard by M Hopwood & Co. Photographer of Westfield Avenue, Rushden. Written on the back - Higham Parade Day 1937 - Austin Soap Factory - Buggins Radio show.
Joan Prigmore with the camera. Back row (l-r): Gwen Haddon, Vera Meadows, Phyllis Parker, Joan Miller. Front row: Audrey Sharman, Alice Shortland, Doreen Munn.
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This block of Austin's Carbolic Soap weighs 150 gramms
It measures 45mm x 45mm x 75mm
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