Embedded Files
Duncan Webb Junior replaced his father as head of Molineaux & Webb some time around the end of World War One. In his ten years or so in control of the company, the Manchester glass industry declined markedly. Burtles and Tate, one of the major local glass firms, ceased trading in the 1920s, being bought up by the glass firm of Butterworths. Molineaux & Webb, the first large glass factory to open in Ancoats, was one of the few survivors.
Duncan Webb Junior in 1930
Optical Munitions Contracts between Molineaux & Webb and the UK Ministry of Munitions were wound up in 1919 / 1920, after the end of the First World War. Although Duncan's father seemed to have all but given up registering designs in the 20th century, Duncan Webb Junior marked the start of his reign by registering 7 of the 8 decorative designs of his tenure in the first three years after the war.
The company exhibited at the British Industries Fair of 1923, held in the Midlands. They advertised as: "Manufacturers of Crystal Glassware, Lighting Glass, Moulded and Cut Glass of all descriptions."
What further evidence we have of company activity in the 1920s points to them looking overseas for inspiration, both in the United States and Central Europe.
In 1920 there was an expedition of British glass manufacturers to the Libbey Owens glass factory in the United States. Representatives from Manchester included Duncan Webb Junior, Charles Burtles of Burtles and Tate, and W. Butterworth of Butterworth Brothers. The party arrived in New York, and travelled on to Pittsburgh and Columbus. They did a little sightseeing as well, visiting Niagra Falls. Duncan Webb Junior and Charles Burtles sailed back together on the same ship from Quebec.
The visit to Libbey-Owens was reported in the local American press:
BRITISH GLASS EXPERTS TO VISIT LIBBEY-OWENS
Thirty-Five Glass Manufacturers to Inspect Modern Plant at Kanawha City
During the morning of Wednesday, September 9, the Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass company will be host to representatives of the British glass industry and the British Society of Glass Technology who are touring the United States as guests and under the guidance of the American Ceramic Society of which E Ward Tillotson, of Pittsburgh is secretary.
The party of English visitors, who arrived in New York Friday, are now in Pittsburgh and the vicinity inspecting the various glass industries there and after a week's stay will go to Fairmont and Clarksburg and from the latter city will come to Charlestown. After the visit to the Libbey-Owens plant at Kanawha City, the commission goes to Columbus, Ohio.
Outside of the interest in the size of the local glass plant which is the largest in the world, the visitors are especially interested in the Libbey-Owens window glass machine which automatically makes window glass of any desired thickness.
The party will arrive in Charleston at 7:45am and will be met by Mr. Henderson, manager of the plant, with automobiles to carry them up the river and, after inspecting the huge establishment, they will entrain at 12:50 o'clock for Columbus.
35 in Party
In the party of 35 are included representatives from Sheffield University and the prominent glass companies of the British Isles.
From the University of Sheffield are: W.J. Rees, department of Refractory material; Prof. W.E.S. Turner and W.C. Snodon, W. Atack, B.D. Bushmer, G.P. Ogale and G.D. Kelkar, all of the department of glass technology.
Representing British manufacturers will be: A.S. Giles of J. Stevens and Son, Birmingham; H.H. Asquith of Redsearn Bros Ltd, Old Mill Glass Bottle Works, Barnsley; S. Drake, of Henzell Liddle and Co. Ltd, Ouseburn, Newcastle on Tyne; G.P. Gass, of The Hollins, The Haulgh; W.B. Michell, of Fletcher Sauce Co. Selby; A. Dodds of Sowerby's, Ellison Glass Works Ltd, Gateshead-on-Tyne; T.C. Sutcliffe of J.W. Sutcliffe and Co. London; C.T. Gardnutt of Sowerby's Ellison Glass Ltd, Gateshead-on-Tyne; William Lamont of Lamont Glass Works Ltd, Cold Blow, London; E. Allan of Newcastle-on-Tyne; O. Peacock of B. Peacock and Son, Castleford; H.A. Bateson Esq of Batesman Bros Shekeland Roads, Liverpool; Charles Burtles of Burtles and Tate Ltd, Manchester; Duncan Webb Jr of Molineaux, Webb and Co. Ltd, Ancoats, Manchester; H.S. Jesop and Son of Redsearns Bros; H. Hoel Clark of Beatson Clark and Co. Ltd, Rotherham; H. Gregg of Gregg and Co, Glass Klottingley; W. Butterworth of Butterworth Bros Ltd, Manchester; J. Wolford of Beswick; R. Hodgson of Wisdom Cottage, Brunton Park, Gosforth, Northumberland; Mr. Towers of Lewis and Towers, Balston Junction, London; and J.W. Gifford of Oakland Chard. With the party also are Mrs H.H. Asquith, Mrs. H. Noel Clark, Miss Gass, Miss Gifford and Mrs. Drake.
It is believed that the Charleston Chamber of Commerce may take some action looking toward an official welcome to the distinguished visitors from the city.
In addition to the trip to America, Duncan Webb Junior travelled to Central Europe on business. There is a surviving photograph taken by Duncan in the 1920s of the Josef Inwald glass factory in Teplice, Czechoslovakia. Foreign competition was an increasing threat to Molineaux & Webb in their final years, but it is not known what exactly they were up to in their trip to their competitors.
Molineaux Webb Factory - photo most likely taken by Duncan Webb Junior in the 1920s
John Skerratt
On March 13th 1924 the register of company directors and managers was updated to add the name of Mr. John Skerratt, resident at 104 Cobden Street, Blackley, Manchester. It is unclear whether he was a director or works manager. He became a shareholder in the firm and was still with them when they folded in 1929.
Receiver appointed in 1927
The final share register of 1928 shows Duncan Webb still with a majority shareholding, also looking after the 30 shares of his deceased brother Baden Webb. A receiver had already been appointed to the company in April 1927.
What is notable about the final share document is that it reveals the extent to which the company was in debt. Records for 1888, 1898, 1908 and 1918 show no debt being carried by the company, but in 1928 they owed £4000.
Liquidation in 1929
An Extraordinary General Meeting of the company was held on June 11th 1929 at the Manchester offices of their accountant, Thomas Pilling. A resolution was passed to voluntarily wind up the company. More than half the staff were laid off in June though the company continued to trade. The liabilities of the company had risen to about £7000. Ironically the accounts for the last 6 months of the company in late 1929 show them turning in a profit of about £2000, largely helped by reduced wage costs, and the selling off of their glassware by the Receivers in November 1929.
MOLINEAUX, WEBB, & CO., LTD.
By order of William Scott Esq, Receiver for Debenture Holders
William Davies & Son have been instructed to sell by auction on Wednesday the 6th day of November 1929, at eleven o'clock at the Works, 6 Kirby Street, off Mill Street, Ancoats, in the city of Manchester, the Whole of the MANUFACTURED GLASS WARE of the Company, comprising Antique Glass, Cut Electrio Standards, Scent Bottles, Biscuit Barrels, Compotes and Wine Glasses, Water Bottles, Compotes Nappies, Measures, Celery Glasses, Tumblers, Wine Glasses, Electric Standards, Lamp Chimneys, Salad Bowls, Biscuit jars, Honey Jars, Chemical Ware, and other miscellaneous Glassware. The above will be offered in large or small lots to suit purchasers.
Company Account Books from 1929
The account books survive for the period of May to November 1929 when the company was trading towards liquidation. An analysis of the receipts shows that their main areas of trade were to general and specialist retailers, and industrial manufacturers - particularly in the lighting industry.
Their largest receipts in this time period came from Stonier & Co., who provided the crockery that went down with the cruise ship Titanic! Their most frequent receipts came from national retailer Woolworths. A full analysis of the receipt books is provided in Appendix A.
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