Research on task 2- poster for GF Smith paper.

For task 2 we have been asked to create a poster for GF Smith, celebrating 100 years of their paper. The poster needs to include a photograph of out paper sculpture that we created. I've done some research on the GF Smith company to find out about their history.

GF Smith papers was founded by George Frederick Smith in Hull, East Yorkshire in the 1880s, the company distributed printing papers.When he was old enough, George Frederick's son Thomas Brooke began working at the company alongside his father, which then brought the company to be known as GF Smith and Son. Thomas Brooke was very important to the company as he travelled alot, bringing in international ties to the company, including America, and successfully gaining the rights to sell American paper through the company.
 Unfortunately during the First World War GF Smith and Son did suffer as a company, they were unable to supply decent amounts of paper, and were also unable to get hold of sufficient stocks to keep them going, and they became in debt to American suppliers, debt which the couldn't pay off. Luckily though the American supplier believed in the future success of the company and offered to take over the responsibility of GF Smith and Son. One of the company's present managers Mr H.E Thomlinson was appointed to act as managing director over UK sales and interests, so unfortunately the founding Smith family no longer had any part in the running of the company.
    After the war, GF and Smith was rebuilt and moved to a different premises in Hull, which was larger and allowed them to expand their company. They were able to create envelopes, and guillotine and emboss their papers, after they purchased specialist equipment in the 1920's and 30s. The company was becoming very successful, they had two offices, one in London as well as the one in Hull. During World War II both of these offices were unfortunately bombed and destroyed, all stock and machinery along with it. Mr Thomlinson moved the company to a temporary office, which was in a private rented house in Hull, the first floor were where the offices where and the garage was used as the warehouse. The company stayed at this house for six years, whilst it was being slowly rebuilt again. In 1945 GF Smith bought a new building for their company, still remaing in Hull and began business from here in 1947. This is still part of the company's headquarters today. A year after the opening of their building in Hull, the company bought another building to replace their old one in London.
In the 60's the American company that ran GF Smith were unfortunately taken over, and the new company wanted to shut down GF Smith. So the managing director of the UK sales Mr Thomlinson along with other members of the management team boughtout the American company for the rights to take over GF Smith and run as their own.

This is a poster recently designed for the Exhibition celebrating 111 years of GF Smith Papers.