Collection GB 0074 LMA/4415 - GLUCKSTEIN, JOSEPH AND SALMON

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 LMA/4415

Title

GLUCKSTEIN, JOSEPH AND SALMON

Date(s)

  • 1890-1963 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.95 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Gluckstein and Salmon families grew to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century through their involvement in the tobacco industry. Beginning as small-time cigar manufacturers, by the turn of the century Salmon and Gluckstein Ltd was the world's largest retail tobacconist, owning 140 shops in 1901. The business was started in 1855 by Samuel Gluckstein who, having arrived in London in 1841 from Germany, began working in the Jewish tobacco industry. The first business operated from Crown Street, Soho, and by 1864, when the firm was incorporated, Samuel Gluckstein had been joined by Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams. By that date the business had relocated to 43 Leman Street.

In 1870 a difference of opinion concerning the sharing of the profits resulted in the firm's dissolution. Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams went on to found Abrahams & Gluckstein, cigar manufacturers of 26 Whitechapel High Street, while Samuel Gluckstein formed a partnership with his two sons Isidore and Montague Gluckstein. They were also joined by Barnett Salmon, a tobacco salesman, who later became Samuel's son-in-law by marrying Helena Gluckstein. In 1873 Samuel Gluckstein died leaving the business to his two sons and Barnett Salmon.

In order to avoid future family disputes the three men decided to form a family fund by pooling their resources. The principle of the venture was to encourage the strong to support the weak, with each member withdrawing what was required. As the number of members increased over the years, a more ordered system developed, but essentially this tightly-organised pooling arrangement formed the basis of the bulk of the family's business activities from the late nineteenth century onwards.

Until 1887 these business interests were centred on the firm of Salmon and Gluckstein, tobacco manufacturers and tobacconists. From 1887, however, Montague Gluckstein became interested in the idea of providing catering services for the large exhibitions which were sweeping Victorian Britain. Judging the business of catering to be beneath them, the family only gave their support to Montague on the understanding that the family name would not be used. Accordingly, Montague began searching for a suitable figurehead for his new venture, finding him in Joseph Lyons, a distant family relation. As a result the family company of J. Lyons and Co. was formed.

Archival history

GB 0074 LMA/4415 1890-1963 Collection 0.95 linear metres Salmon and Gluckstein families

The Gluckstein and Salmon families grew to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century through their involvement in the tobacco industry. Beginning as small-time cigar manufacturers, by the turn of the century Salmon and Gluckstein Ltd was the world's largest retail tobacconist, owning 140 shops in 1901. The business was started in 1855 by Samuel Gluckstein who, having arrived in London in 1841 from Germany, began working in the Jewish tobacco industry. The first business operated from Crown Street, Soho, and by 1864, when the firm was incorporated, Samuel Gluckstein had been joined by Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams. By that date the business had relocated to 43 Leman Street.

In 1870 a difference of opinion concerning the sharing of the profits resulted in the firm's dissolution. Henry Gluckstein and Laurence Abrahams went on to found Abrahams & Gluckstein, cigar manufacturers of 26 Whitechapel High Street, while Samuel Gluckstein formed a partnership with his two sons Isidore and Montague Gluckstein. They were also joined by Barnett Salmon, a tobacco salesman, who later became Samuel's son-in-law by marrying Helena Gluckstein. In 1873 Samuel Gluckstein died leaving the business to his two sons and Barnett Salmon.

In order to avoid future family disputes the three men decided to form a family fund by pooling their resources. The principle of the venture was to encourage the strong to support the weak, with each member withdrawing what was required. As the number of members increased over the years, a more ordered system developed, but essentially this tightly-organised pooling arrangement formed the basis of the bulk of the family's business activities from the late nineteenth century onwards.

Until 1887 these business interests were centred on the firm of Salmon and Gluckstein, tobacco manufacturers and tobacconists. From 1887, however, Montague Gluckstein became interested in the idea of providing catering services for the large exhibitions which were sweeping Victorian Britain. Judging the business of catering to be beneath them, the family only gave their support to Montague on the understanding that the family name would not be used. Accordingly, Montague began searching for a suitable figurehead for his new venture, finding him in Joseph Lyons, a distant family relation. As a result the family company of J. Lyons and Co. was formed.

Donated to the Archive in 2000.

Records of the Salmon and Gluckstein families, 1890-1963. The records relate to the administrative and financial activities of the Gluckstein and Salmon family 'resource pool'. They are not the records of the individual businesses run by the family. Records include minutes of weekly meetings, income and expenditure ledgers, a salary book, family trees and a series of reference volumes containing copies of important documents and recording decisions taken. There is also a file of accounts for the firm Maxwell and Ponting Ltd.

This collection has been arranged into one series: LMA/4515/01 ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also the records of J. Lyons and Company Limited ACC/3527 and LMA/4183.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. July to October 2009 Public administration Health services administration Organization and administration Personnel management Wages Information sources Documents Primary documents Personal papers Family records Management operations Decision making Finance Financial resources Government Expenditure Financial statements Accounting Financial administration Corporate minutes Business records Income Income distribution Income and wealth

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated to the Archive in 2000.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Salmon and Gluckstein families, 1890-1963. The records relate to the administrative and financial activities of the Gluckstein and Salmon family 'resource pool'. They are not the records of the individual businesses run by the family. Records include minutes of weekly meetings, income and expenditure ledgers, a salary book, family trees and a series of reference volumes containing copies of important documents and recording decisions taken. There is also a file of accounts for the firm Maxwell and Ponting Ltd.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

This collection has been arranged into one series: LMA/4515/01 ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also the records of J. Lyons and Company Limited ACC/3527 and LMA/4183.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area