History
| The effective slogan 'Let
Harris Brothers Print It! has been part of Featherstone trade history for many years. In
fact, Harris Bros. are the oldest business still operating in the town. Harry Harris started the business in 1924 when he bought out Herbert Fawbert. Five years later Harris Bros. moved to their present premises in Harris Court, the only true court in Featherstone. The building was an old stable and it still has some of its old features such as the ladder which lead up to the hay loft. |
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| In 1945, Harry died of Parkinson's Disease and his brother Charlie, up to then a back room boy, took over the business. Using beautiful old mechanical machines which puff and hiss, they still produce quality printing. |
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| The company's fame did not
rest solely on printing, for Charlie became internationally famous after some forty years
of waging a public and private war against bad grammar. In 1961 an article in THE GUARDIAN prompted the BBC to invite Charlie to appear on the Tonight
programme where he was interviewed by Cliff Michelmore. As well as in Britain, the
recording was broadcast throughout North America, and created a great deal of
international interest. Such was his influence that in 1996 Charlie was contracted by M.
Charles Voraz, editor of a French journal. He had suggested to the secretary
of the Association for the Defence of the French Language that Mr. Harris be
accepted as homologous member of their association. The following year, Charlie was accepted and so
became the first person to be so honoured. Charlie wrote to many famous people about their bad grammar and also began to produce the famous Harris Brothers blotters. The blotters were given away to advertise the firm - this was an age when people wrote with fountain pens and not ball points. The subjects on the blotters ranged from religious thoughts to German prepositions. The one I (Tony Lumb) like best is about the plural of spoonful. If you take three spoonsfull you would have to take the spoons as well as the medicine. The correct plural, it appears, is spoonfuls. After Charlie died the firm continued to flourish because of the abilities of his sons Michael, Peter and Richard - and they have since been joined by Peter's son, Martyn. |
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