Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Baker, G P & J, Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Baker, Gerorge
  • Parker Knoll Group

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Crayford, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Istanbul, Turkey

Sectors:

  • Distribution - wholesaling, broking, market trading, etc Carpets, home furnishings, etc, distribution
  • Textile production Textile finishing
  • Distribution - wholesaling, broking, market trading, etc Textile yarn, cloth, etc, distribution

Notes:

Traced origins to George Baker who in 1847 arrived in Istanbul and started to import, wholesale and retail textiles and a wide range of other manufactures from Britain. Started to export to Britain Turkish made carpets and by 1880s this became mainstay of business. Early 1890s business divided when carpet and embroideries importing separated from remainder and in 1907 was incorporated as G P & J Baker Ltd. 1890s acquired printing works at Crayford, Kent, and started to produce printed fabrics which became mainstay of business,selling to retailers such as Liberty & Co Ltd and Heal & Son Ltd. Designs often based on pattern books acquired from closing businesses such as Swaisland Printing Co. 1960s acquired by what became Parker Knoll Group

Publications:

Groups: