Every industry has its titans, and enamel sign manufacturing is no exception.
The UK, birthplace of the enamel sign as we know it, hosted its share of trailblazers.
These companies not only pioneered the core techniques of the trade but also crafted enduring designs that shaped the profession into a global powerhouse.
Let’s delve into the history of some of the most renowned sign makers in the UK and start with:
Imperial Enamel Co.
Imperial Enamel was one of the biggest rivals to Salt’s Patent Enamels and a fixture in the industry.
According to one of their newspaper advertisements in 1896, the Imperial works in Watery Lane, Birmingham, offered enamel plates ‘in any colours and any design imaginable’, for everything from street signs to gas stoves.
Imperial was also one of the few to expand into manufacturing overseas, setting up a second branch in New York as early as 1898.
Their list clientele was expansive, featuring names such as Bates, Tiger, Redline, London Transport, Western Union, Wells Fargo, Nestle, Bell Telephone and Ivory Soap, among many others.