IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4415
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: GLUCKSTEIN, JOSEPH AND SALMON
Date(s): 1890-1963
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.95 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Salmon and Gluckstein families
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Gluckstein and Salmon families grew to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century through their involvement in the tobacco industry. Beginning as small-time cigar manufacturers, by the turn of the century Salmon and Gluckstein Ltd was the world's largest retail tobacconist, owning 140 shops in 1901. The business was started in 1855 by Samuel Gluckstein who, having arrived in London in 1841 from Germany, began working in the Jewish tobacco industry. The first business operated from Crown Street, Soho, and by 1864, when the firm was incorporated, Samuel Gluckstein had been joined by Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams. By that date the business had relocated to 43 Leman Street.
In 1870 a difference of opinion concerning the sharing of the profits resulted in the firm's dissolution. Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams went on to found Abrahams & Gluckstein, cigar manufacturers of 26 Whitechapel High Street, while Samuel Gluckstein formed a partnership with his two sons Isidore and Montague Gluckstein. They were also joined by Barnett Salmon, a tobacco salesman, who later became Samuel's son-in-law by marrying Helena Gluckstein. In 1873 Samuel Gluckstein died leaving the business to his two sons and Barnett Salmon.
In order to avoid future family disputes the three men decided to form a family fund by pooling their resources. The principle of the venture was to encourage the strong to support the weak, with each member withdrawing what was required. As the number of members increased over the years, a more ordered system developed, but essentially this tightly-organised pooling arrangement formed the basis of the bulk of the family's business activities from the late nineteenth century onwards.
Until 1887 these business interests were centred on the firm of Salmon and Gluckstein, tobacco manufacturers and tobacconists. From 1887, however, Montague Gluckstein became interested in the idea of providing catering services for the large exhibitions which were sweeping Victorian Britain. Judging the business of catering to be beneath them, the family only gave their support to Montague on the understanding that the family name would not be used. Accordingly, Montague began searching for a suitable figurehead for his new venture, finding him in Joseph Lyons, a distant family relation. As a result the family company of J. Lyons and Co. was formed.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Salmon and Gluckstein families, 1890-1963. The records relate to the administrative and financial activities of the Gluckstein and Salmon family 'resource pool'. They are not the records of the individual businesses run by the family. Records include minutes of weekly meetings, income and expenditure ledgers, a salary book, family trees and a series of reference volumes containing copies of important documents and recording decisions taken. There is also a file of accounts for the firm Maxwell and Ponting Ltd.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
This collection has been arranged into one series: LMA/4515/01 ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Conditions governing access:
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Donated to the Archive in 2000.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
See also the records of J. Lyons and Company Limited ACC/3527 and LMA/4183.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: July to October 2009