1905

An 18-year-old named Herbert Thomlinson starts work at the company as a Sales Clerk. He will soon play a very significant role in the future of G . F Smith.

1909

Strathmore Executive Text Book Papers Sample Book

Just one of the many sample books produced by Strathmore at the turn of the century. All sample books at this time contain examples of various applications in commercial print aimed to educate, inspire and encourage printers to use Strathmore Coloured and Textured Papers and Boards. Strathmore is the first paper mill in the world to produce sample books containing examples of commercial print along with a swatch style presentation.

1914

Debt Threatens the Business

As the First World War rages, all of the Strathmore stocks held by G . F Smith’s agents in mainland Europe are either impounded or destroyed. As a result, the company falls into debt with Strathmore, still the owner of all the paper that has been lost.

1915

Mr Thomlinson Travels to America

Despite the impact of the war, Strathmore Paper Mill is confident enough in the ability of G . F Smith to recover that it takes ownership of the company and writes off the debt. Mr Thomlinson travels to West Springfield in Massachusetts via New York to agree the deal. The photographs shown are from Mr Thomlinson’s own photo album (shown wearing the bowler hat), recording his trip across the Atlantic and his time in North America.

1916

A New Marketing Strategy

Mr Thomlinson returns from Strathmore Paper Mill inspired by the mill, its products, its people and its revolutionary marketing and promotional work. He introduces direct mail campaigns, starting with the development of a mailing list of existing and potential customers. To build the list, a student from a commercial college in Hull, Miss Beatrice Harrison, is brought into G . F Smith on secondment. Mr Thomlinson is so impressed with her efforts that he offers Miss Harrison a job as a book-keeper the moment her studies are complete. She will spend the rest of her working life at G . F Smith, becoming Company Secretary in 1947 and a Director of the business in 1949, a position she held until her retirement in 1958.

1918

This photograph shows London staff enjoying the sea air on an away day. Mr Thomlinson takes over from Thomas Brooks Smith and is appointed as Managing Director.

1926

Release of the Caslon Covers & Boards Sample Book

The company starts trading with Scottish paper mill Robert Craig & Son, specialists in the production of coloured and embossed papers and boards at their mill in Airdrie. They manufacture a series of ranges exclusively for G . F Smith, using reel and sheet fed embossing machines to enhance the product.
The first of these exclusive ranges is launched under the name ‘Caslon Covers’ and includes ten colours in both paper and board weights, supplied in Antique, Linen and Ripple embossed textures. Craig’s continue to be G . F Smith’s principle supplier of cover paper and boards until the mill’s closure in 1972.

1935

Release of the Cumberland Covers Sample Book

Such had been the success of the embossed Cover Paper range produced by Robert Craig that in 1932 Mr Thomlinson incorporates a factory into the Osborne Street site in Hull. He installs guillotines, embossers and duplexing machines. These services add flexibility, diversification and improved quality and service to customers. This is followed, in 1935, by the introduction of a department specialising in the production of hand-made envelopes. G . F Smith can now take orders for a minimum of 200 envelopes in four different styles in any size made from any of the cover papers offered in the various ranges. This new service is featured in every subsequent sample book.

1939

Supplies are Restricted

The outbreak of the Second World War dramatically reduces the supply of paper from British and American mills. Many G . F Smith staff leave their positions to enlist or to take work in engineering and munitions in Hull. Many will return to their role once the war is over.

1941

Bombs Fall on Hull

On the night of 8 May 1941 German aircraft drop 157 tonnes of high explosive and 20,000 incendiary bombs onto the city of Hull. 116 people are killed and 160 more are seriously injured. The Osborne Street site, with its machinery, stocks and the company archive is reduced to rubble. By a miracle there are no casualties. Within 48 hours enemy bombs completely demolish G . F Smith’s office on Turnmill Street in London.

1947

New Beginnings on Lockwood Street, Hull

With the war over, the demand for commercial printing papers rises dramatically. G . F Smith has to find new premises from which it can rebuild the business.

The company purchases a three-story building on Lockwood Street in Hull for £5,000. It had been used as a munitions factory and needs significant renovation before being occupied. A shortage in building supplies means a significant amount of recycled material is used in the construction work. When the company takes possession of the building they find a mountain of wooden rifle butts left by the previous occupants. The building contractor uses them to make beautiful parquet tiles for the offices, some of which can still be seen today.

Food and a Sense of Community

Though food is still rationed, the government makes additional supplies available to any business that provides meals to its staff. To promote well-being, Mr Thomlinson uses the canteen to ensure staff will enjoy a nutritious hot meal during the working day at a reduced cost. The canteen serves a two-course meal and a hot drink for one and sixpence a day (equivalent to seven and a half pence today). Junior members of staff pay just a shilling (equivalent to five pence today). Even as late as the early 2000s when the canteen was closed due to a lack of demand the company still charged just seven and half pence for a meal.

Safeguarding Retirement

New premises in Hull and London mean an increase in staff numbers as the business gears up for growth. The company introduces the G . F Smith & Son (London) Limited pension scheme for all employees as a means of helping those approaching retirement and as an incentive to new recruits.

1963

G . F Smith Regains its Independence

Mr Thomlinson, along with Cyril Stephenson, Peter Frank and Ted Southern set about raising the capital to enable the company to regain its independence after 40 years of American ownership. Hammermill Corporation of America, the new owners of Strathmore Paper Mill, undertakes and completes the sale of G . F Smith back to its management team.

The Board of Directors, now in full control of the company, identifies four market opportunities to offer G . F Smith new growth potential. First, there is the company’s independence. Second, there is the impact of the litho printing revolution. Third, the growth and impact of colour communications is by now overwhelming. And finally, the influence of graphic design on print and paper specification is already profound. Promotional budgets are spent educating and inspiring the use of coloured and textured paper; the emerging graphic design community is the principal target.

1964

Release of the Cover Print Media Sample Book

With the introduction of colour television and the new power of colour as an advertising tool, G . F Smith’s range of coloured paper is being utilised in new and exciting ways.

The Cover Print Media sample book is designed to be an educational tool demonstrating the performance of G . F Smith’s covers when printed using litho, letterpress, silkscreen and foiling processes. This publication offers guidance on how to attain the best results and includes printed acetate roamer sheets to aid print colour specification along with a colour selector to show all the available products.Promotional budgets are spent educating and inspiring the use of coloured and textured paper; the emerging graphic design community is the principal target.

1965

Designers Choice

The first graphic design courses are introduced into art colleges. A steady stream of graduates become the first to establish new and vibrant graphic design businesses. This development also leads to designers taking greater individual control of print and paper specification, and places a responsibility on suppliers to help educate and inspire this new and ambitious audience.

Information Graphics

Bill Mackay is appointed design consultant to help build a strong company identity and produce the sample books and promotional collateral. The partnership will last more than 40 years. With Bill Mackay’s help, new promotional material encourages the use of G . F Smith’s papers by focusing on demonstration and education showing how the papers perform with existing and new printing technologies.

This photo shows Bill Mackay (left), Neil Pack (Hull Sales Clerk, who later became a London Director), Ron Jackson (Sales Office Manager) and Doris Coe (Hull Sales Clerk).

1967

Release of The Elements Promotion

A series of four promotional mailers produced by Bill Mackay, these iconic promotions are designed to educate and encourage both designers and printers to print colour on colour. The piece lifts G . F Smith’s profile thanks to strong imagery, an exceptional standard of printing and crisply written copy.

Signs of Change

This photograph shows the Lockwood Street premises in Hull. The new company logo can be seen on the van. Today, visitors will notice that very little has changed (other than the signage boards) since the building was first occupied in 1947.

1972

The Launch of Colorplan

The success of the ‘Plan 8’ range sees the company rationalise the entire product portfolio. Working with Bill Mackay, John Alexander talks extensively with customers and reviews sales of G . F Smith’s ranges and colours. The rationalisation is completed in 1971, and in 1972 the result is called ‘Colour Programme’. Ready for sale, the new range of 40 colours contains existing and many newly created colours. It is launched as Colorplan.

A New World of Colour

This image shows the Colour Programme Selector, launched in 1972. Not only is it the first time that G . F Smith uses the ‘chip’ style of presentation to allow for easy review and selection of a broad range of colour papers, it is the first time any company in the industry uses this now familiar method. Still in use by G . F Smith today, it was soon to be adopted by the majority of the competition.

More Visibility for Colorplan

To make new print and design contacts, G . F Smith attends its first trade exhibition at Nor-print in Leeds. The stand is created to promote the recently launched Colour Programme, which included Colorplan. The stand highlights many of the strong colours available, supported by displays of commercially printed examples. The success of this first venture into trade exhibitions sees G . F Smith regularly taking a stand at major trade shows.

1980s

Samples in the Selector

From the beginning of the decade the ‘Selector’ becomes a primary sales tool. The frequent introduction of new ranges means a new version of the selector is produced every two years and sent out to the entire mailing list. These easy to use sample books are ideal for the company’s own growing sales team and allow customers to make easier decisions on which papers to specify. As the business grows, the sales team meets regularly to discuss customer feedback, new papers and how to stay ahead of the competition.

2005

Celebrating Creativity

The relationship with SEA continues with three sample book collections, each using a different ‘ink cloud’ theme. SEA is commissioned to produce a series of print promotions on Naturalis from G . F Smith featuring the creative work of Peter Blake and Wim Crouwel among others.

2008

Ready for Digital

To meet the increasing demand for papers and boards suitable for digital printing, G . F Smith introduces a Sapphire Coating Press to enable the company to offer their digital collection as a next day service. The promotion that supports this new offering is called ‘Print Test’.