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Actions	Archive Relating to Textile Printing Blocks and Shipper's Tickets Remove from selection Add to selection TitleArchive Relating to Textile Printing Blocks and Shipper's Tickets ReferenceYA2004.35 CreatorStavert, Zigomala & Co Stavert, Zigomala & Co. was a 'merchant-converter' firm based in Manchester, established in 1849 following the dissolving of a previous partnership. The company traded cotton piece goods that they produced themselves. John Copeland Zigomala was born in Greece in 1816. After the massacre of Scio in 1821 he was orphaned. An American businessman named Mr. Copeland rescued him and took him back to America, where John Zigomala received his education and training. He incorporated ‘Copeland’ into his name as a mark of respect and gratitude. John Zigomala started his business career in America, then moved to Glasgow and finally relocated to Manchester. William Stavert, originally from Scotland, worked as an accountant at 1 Piccadilly in Manchester. The original partnership of William Shorter Stell, Stephen Madison Buckingham, Robert Stavert, John Copeland Zigomala and John Watson was established in around 1837. The firm's offices were at 101 Portland Street and then 6 Minshull Street. The partners were well respected as businessmen and the Stavert, Zigomala brand became regarded as a high-quality product. This partnership was dissolved in 1849. The new company was named Stavert, Zigomala & Co. The Cooper family became involved with Stavert, Zigomala & Co. in the 1860s. The first of the Cooper family to work with the firm was John Cooper. He worked his way up through the company to the position of company director. The eldest son of each generation of the Cooper family also worked for Stavert, Zigomala and became either company directors or partners, the last being Myles Cooper. The two most popular of the Stavert, Zigomala fabrics were known as ‘Piccadilly Drill’ and ‘Stavert Drill’. They were versatile fabrics. For example, the same cloth that was used to make tram drivers' uniforms in Cuba was used by the Cooper family themselves as picnic blankets. After the Second World War, the cotton industry was expected to bounce back to previous levels of production. However, this was not the case and Stavert, Zigomala's business suffered. Myles Cooper sent one of his employees, Eric Duff, on a world-wide business trip in an attempt to regain some of the lost trade they had suffered. However, this brought only limited success with one or two individual businesses in Sri Lanka and Auckland, New Zealand. Large-scale trade proved difficult to find. Business gradually declined through the 1950s owing to the development of cotton industries outside Britain. Stavert, Zigomala lost its last remaining and most important market as a result of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The new Cuban government introduced protectionist economic policies and the United States responded with a trade embargo. Stavert, Zigomala downsized its business, moving to smaller rented premises close to the Minshull Street warehouse. As it still had production facilities that were not being fully utilised owing to the decline in trade, Myles Cooper took over a shirting company called P. Clegg Shirting. This business enjoyed temporary success abroad, trading poplins with Sri Lanka, and in Britain, with the uniform trade. However, as new materials were developed in the 1960s, the shirting business also declined as the competition from polycotton and nylon fabrics proved too fierce. As a result of trading difficulties, Myles Cooper abandoned the cotton business completely. Stavert, Zigomala & Co. became an investment holdings firm and Myles Cooper bought Petco’s Fine Furnishings in Ancoats, Manchester. The Cooper family is still involved with the investment holdings side of Stavert, Zigomala. John Wild Shaw and Latham Date c 1880 - c 1890 Scope and ContentArchive consisting of two large stamp reference books printed with customer information from Star Vale Bleachworks, Horwich; documents from the label and stampmaking companies, including different invoices from ticket printers and trade mark embossers; a delivery note from John Wild, Stampmaker; invoices from John Wild and Shaw & Latham, late 19th century. Extent1 packet, 0.9m long Physical descriptionCondition of the volumes is unacceptable. Condition assessment: The reference books are in an unacceptable condition. There is major structural damage, most notably from extensive tears and creases to the pages. The books are very fragile overall and vulnerable to further damage through handling. There are numerous losses and detached fragments. All edges of the books are creased and torn, with some of the creases extending into the central area of the book. There is a major tear, which extends through several pages in the middle section of the top book. This is made worse by water damage, most significantly to the mid and upper portion, which has caused some of the pages to fuse together. The book cover is stained and delaminating at the edges. On the interior of the book cover there is an inventory (?), parts of this are still legible but other parts are missing. The book cover and pages have distorted in shape. The paper is thin and yellowed, making it vulnerable to further damage. There are tabs of degrading Sellotape visible on the top of the text block. The books are large and the paper is thin, much of the damage can probably be associated with their use in the past as reference books. Flicking through the pages of the books would have put stress on the central area and the thin paper would have easily creased and torn. - Assessed by conservator Kathryn Kreczak, 21/10/2019. LanguageEnglish Archival historyThis collection was purchased in order to better complete the collection of textile trade mark blocks and ephemera already in the Museum of Science and Industry's collection. The collection contains items from Stavert Zigomala, Ralli Brothers and various trade mark block makers. Levelfonds Repository nameScience and Industry Museum Conditions governing accessRestricted access due to condition. Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions. Related object Cooper Collection relating to Stavert, Zigomala & Co. Archives from the Cooper Collection (Stavert, Zigomala & Co.) relating to the activities of Manchester merchants of cotton piece goods. Fabric samples and pattern cards from Stavert Zigomala & Co. Fabric samples and pattern cards from Stavert Zigomala & Co. Related ArchivesCollection of textile printing blocks, face plates, name plates and printing plates, including material from Stavert Zigomala, John Wild, and Smith & Howarth.Y2004.352ObjectObjects from the Cooper Collection (Stavert, Zigomala & Co.) relating to the activities of Manchester merchants of cotton piece goods.Y2002.362ObjectCollection of gold block printed cloth, and brocades, some pattern cords donated by Stavert Zigomala Ltd.Y1973.72Object

TitleArchive Relating to Textile Printing Blocks and Shipper's Tickets

ReferenceYA2004.35

Stavert, Zigomala & Co. was a 'merchant-converter' firm based in Manchester, established in 1849 following the dissolving of a previous partnership. The company traded cotton piece goods that they produced themselves.

John Copeland Zigomala was born in Greece in 1816. After the massacre of Scio in 1821 he was orphaned. An American businessman named Mr. Copeland rescued him and took him back to America, where John Zigomala received his education and training. He incorporated ‘Copeland’ into his name as a mark of respect and gratitude. John Zigomala started his business career in America, then moved to Glasgow and finally relocated to Manchester. William Stavert, originally from Scotland, worked as an accountant at 1 Piccadilly in Manchester.

The original partnership of William Shorter Stell, Stephen Madison Buckingham, Robert Stavert, John Copeland Zigomala and John Watson was established in around 1837. The firm's offices were at 101 Portland Street and then 6 Minshull Street. The partners were well respected as businessmen and the Stavert, Zigomala brand became regarded as a high-quality product. This partnership was dissolved in 1849. The new company was named Stavert, Zigomala & Co.

The Cooper family became involved with Stavert, Zigomala & Co. in the 1860s. The first of the Cooper family to work with the firm was John Cooper. He worked his way up through the company to the position of company director. The eldest son of each generation of the Cooper family also worked for Stavert, Zigomala and became either company directors or partners, the last being Myles Cooper.

The two most popular of the Stavert, Zigomala fabrics were known as ‘Piccadilly Drill’ and ‘Stavert Drill’. They were versatile fabrics. For example, the same cloth that was used to make tram drivers' uniforms in Cuba was used by the Cooper family themselves as picnic blankets.

After the Second World War, the cotton industry was expected to bounce back to previous levels of production. However, this was not the case and Stavert, Zigomala's business suffered. Myles Cooper sent one of his employees, Eric Duff, on a world-wide business trip in an attempt to regain some of the lost trade they had suffered. However, this brought only limited success with one or two individual businesses in Sri Lanka and Auckland, New Zealand.

Large-scale trade proved difficult to find. Business gradually declined through the 1950s owing to the development of cotton industries outside Britain. Stavert, Zigomala lost its last remaining and most important market as a result of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The new Cuban government introduced protectionist economic policies and the United States responded with a trade embargo.

Stavert, Zigomala downsized its business, moving to smaller rented premises close to the Minshull Street warehouse. As it still had production facilities that were not being fully utilised owing to the decline in trade, Myles Cooper took over a shirting company called P. Clegg Shirting. This business enjoyed temporary success abroad, trading poplins with Sri Lanka, and in Britain, with the uniform trade. However, as new materials were developed in the 1960s, the shirting business also declined as the competition from polycotton and nylon fabrics proved too fierce.

As a result of trading difficulties, Myles Cooper abandoned the cotton business completely. Stavert, Zigomala & Co. became an investment holdings firm and Myles Cooper bought Petco’s Fine Furnishings in Ancoats, Manchester. The Cooper family is still involved with the investment holdings side of Stavert, Zigomala.

John Wild
Shaw and Latham

Date

c 1880 - c 1890

Scope and ContentArchive consisting of two large stamp reference books printed with customer information from Star Vale Bleachworks, Horwich; documents from the label and stampmaking companies, including different invoices from ticket printers and trade mark embossers; a delivery note from John Wild, Stampmaker; invoices from John Wild and Shaw & Latham, late 19th century.

Extent1 packet, 0.9m long

Physical descriptionCondition of the volumes is unacceptable.

Condition assessment:
The reference books are in an unacceptable condition. There is major structural damage, most notably from extensive tears and creases to the pages. The books are very fragile overall and vulnerable to further damage through handling. There are numerous losses and detached fragments. All edges of the books are creased and torn, with some of the creases extending into the central area of the book. There is a major tear, which extends through several pages in the middle section of the top book. This is made worse by water damage, most significantly to the mid and upper portion, which has caused some of the pages to fuse together.

The book cover is stained and delaminating at the edges. On the interior of the book cover there is an inventory (?), parts of this are still legible but other parts are missing. The book cover and pages have distorted in shape. The paper is thin and yellowed, making it vulnerable to further damage. There are tabs of degrading Sellotape visible on the top of the text block.

The books are large and the paper is thin, much of the damage can probably be associated with their use in the past as reference books. Flicking through the pages of the books would have put stress on the central area and the thin paper would have easily creased and torn.
- Assessed by conservator Kathryn Kreczak, 21/10/2019.

LanguageEnglish

Archival historyThis collection was purchased in order to better complete the collection of textile trade mark blocks and ephemera already in the Museum of Science and Industry's collection. The collection contains items from Stavert Zigomala, Ralli Brothers and various trade mark block makers.

Levelfonds

Repository nameScience and Industry Museum

Conditions governing accessRestricted access due to condition.

Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.

Related object

Cooper Collection relating to Stavert, Zigomala & Co.
Archives from the Cooper Collection (Stavert, Zigomala & Co.) relating to the activities of Manchester merchants of cotton piece goods.

Fabric samples and pattern cards from Stavert Zigomala & Co.
Fabric samples and pattern cards from Stavert Zigomala & Co.

Related ArchivesCollection of textile printing blocks, face plates, name plates and printing plates, including material from Stavert Zigomala, John Wild, and Smith & Howarth.Y2004.352ObjectObjects from the Cooper Collection (Stavert, Zigomala & Co.) relating to the activities of Manchester merchants of cotton piece goods.Y2002.362ObjectCollection of gold block printed cloth, and brocades, some pattern cords donated by Stavert Zigomala Ltd.Y1973.72Object