PART 4
S. Sims & Sons Ltd.
Fabricators of New Whittington
Introduction
Few people pause to consider the manufacture of everyday objects such as shovels, dustbins or washboards.
Yet behind these familiar products lay a highly skilled and innovative industry.
During the early twentieth century S. Sims & Sons Ltd. of New Whittington became one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of shovels and domestic metal goods.
Their products were used throughout the country and reflected a remarkable tradition of local engineering and invention.
Founded by Samuel Sims
The business was established by:
Samuel Sims
approximately fifty years before the newspaper article was published.
Following his death in 1930, the company remained in family ownership.
Directors included:
- W. H. Sims
- R. S. C. Sims
- D. Sims
The firm continued to expand under their leadership.
More Than Shovels
Although best known for shovel manufacture, the company produced a surprisingly wide range of goods.
These included:
- Washboards
- Dustbins
- Cinder sifters
- Poultry feeders
- Steel wringers
- Railway wagon label clips
This diversity helped protect the business from fluctuations in demand.
Patented Innovation
Innovation was central to the company’s success.
Several products incorporated patented designs.
One notable example was the:
Universal Dustbin
which incorporated no fewer than eleven patents.
The company also developed patented wagon label clips used by railway companies.
During one year alone more than one hundred tons of these clips were manufactured.
The Famous Dolly Tub
One of the company’s most successful products was a redesigned washing tub.
The patented steel-rimmed dolly tub was designed to reduce splashing and improve durability.
The article records sales approaching:
One Million Tubs
demonstrating the popularity of the design.
Making the Perfect Shovel
Shovel manufacture required far more skill than most people realised.
Different parts of Britain preferred different designs.
For example:
London
Favoured large square shovels.
Scotland
Preferred smaller tulip-shaped patterns.
The company therefore manufactured a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
From Steel Sheet to Finished Product
Production began with sheets of steel.
These were:
- Cut to shape.
- Pressed into form.
- Heated in furnaces.
- Shaped under heavy machinery.
- Finished and polished.
The finished blades were then fitted with wooden handles.
Modern Manufacturing
The article describes an impressive array of machinery.
Workers operated:
- Presses
- Guillotines
- Rolling machines
- Furnaces
- Lathes
The combination of machinery and skilled labour enabled large-scale production while maintaining quality.
Production Figures
At peak output the company produced approximately:
200 Gross Shovels Per Week
Equivalent to:
Nearly 29,000 Shovels
every week.
This output placed the company among the leading manufacturers in its field.
A Major Employer
Sims provided employment for generations of local families.
The factory contributed significantly to the economy of New Whittington and formed part of a wider industrial landscape that included bakeries, engineering works and potteries.
Legacy
The success of S. Sims & Sons demonstrates how a local family business could compete nationally through innovation, quality and adaptability.
Although the factory has long disappeared, its products once found their way into homes, farms and workplaces across Britain.
The company remains an important part of New Whittington’s industrial story.