Cooke, Alf, Ltd

Sectors:

  • Publishing & printing Other printing
  • Paper & paper products manufacture Paper containers & other packaging production
  • Publishing & printing Postcards & greeting cards printing & publishing
  • Luxury / consumer goods production Toys, games, hobby, decoration, etc, products manufacture

Notes:

Traced origins to 1866 when established by Alf Cook, 1842-1902, as a general printer. Quickly emerged as a leading colour printer, sometime reckoned to be the largest in Europe, and received royal warrant in 1886. Incorporated 1903 when major products were catalogues, cash bags, posters, pamphlets for patent medicines, labels, etc. Early 20th century also making cartons and containers for foods, eg chocolates, especially for chain stores. By 1920s playing cards, card games and paper bags manufacture were specialisations. Early 1920s formed Universal Playing Card Co Ltd as a subsidiary. 1921 merged with Bemrose & Sons Ltd of Derby and Norbury Nazio Ltd of Manchester to form Universal Printers Ltd but retained identity as an autonomous unit. 1970s acquired by John Waddington Ltd

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