Samuel Fox
Samuel Fox (1815-1887) of Samuel Fox and Co
1815 Born in Bradwell, Derbyshire, England one of nine children of William Fox, a manufacturer of weavers' shuttles, and Mary Palfreyman.[1]
Started work as an apprentice wire drawer in Hathersage, then became a partner in a wire drawing business in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield.
1842 Moved to Stocksbridge to establish his own wire drawing business. This business developed into the Stocksbridge Steelworks. He got married during the same year to Maria Radcliffe.
1843 Samuel and Maria Fox had one son, William Henry Fox who never married.
1848 Fox began to sell umbrella frames. Fox continued to innovate and had many patents to his name.
1851 Fox developed the "Paragon" umbrella frame, a U section of string steel that was far superior to its competitors. Development of the product continued until at least 1935. A similar product was used to make Crinoline frames from 1855. Umbrellas with 'Fox Frames' were sold worldwide.
1851 Samuel Fox 35, wire manufacturer, lived in Hunshelf, Penistone with Maria Fox 30, William Fox 7, and his nephews William Fox 28, book keeper, and John Jeffery 21, wire drawer.[2]
1854 He started to cold-roll strips of wire to supply to crinoline manufacturers.
1860 He started to manufacture steel.
1861 A manufacturer, visitor in Pannal, Yorks[3]
1865 Patent to Samuel Fox, of Stocksbridge Works, Deepcar, near Sheffield, in the county of York, for the invention of " improvements in the manufacture of umbrellas and parasols, and in apparatus employed therein.[4]
1871 The business was transferred to a limited company.
1871 Bought the Bradwell Grove Estate, Holwell, Oxfordshire, where his wife and son then lived.
1871 A steel manufacturer, lived in Bradfield, Yorks[5]
1874 Patents to Samuel Fox, of Stocksbridge Works, Deepcar, near Sheffield, for the invention of "improvements in apparatus to be used in rolling steel for the manufacture of wire."[6], and "improvements in apparatus for softening and straightening steel wire and for cutting it into lengths suitable to form the ribs and stretchers of umbrellas", and "improvements in apparatus to be used in rolling steel for the manufacture of wire," and "improvements in the manufacture of steel girders and railway rails."[7]
1881 Steel & Umbrella Manufacturer, lived in Bradfield[8]
1885 Registered the Paragon umbrella frame
1887 Fox died 25th February and was buried near to his estate at the North Cliffe church (near Market Weighton). Throughout his life he was generous and many in Bradwell, Derbyshire and Stocksbridge had cause to be grateful to him for employment and charity. The business was run for a short time after Samuel Fox's death, by his son William Henry.
His son and wife are buried at St. Mary the Virgin church, Holwell, Oxfordshire.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
[[Category: Deaths 1880-1889)