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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 13 Apr 1946
Page 6 Column 3
HAPPY “VAN HEUSEN” FAMILY
GOLD WATCHES FOR THE PIONEER STAFF
MR. HAROLD HARTLEY'S REMINISCENCES
PEER WHO CHANGED HIS COLLAR
Presentations of gold watches and framed illuminated certificates of thanks for 21 years' loyal service were made to 14 members of the staff and factory by the directors of Messrs. Harding, Tilton & Hartley, Ltd., Taunton, the manufacturers of “Van Heusen” shirts and collars, at a dinner at the County Hall on Wednesday evening.
The recipients were associated with Mr. Harold HARTLEY (chairman and managing director of the Company) at the beginning of his enterprise early in 1923 and share the pride felt by the directors that their products enjoy such popularity in many parts of the world. “We are all a very happy family together,” was how Mr. HARTLEY summed up the relationships between the directors and the staffs.
THE RECIPIENTS
Presentations were made to the following, who are named in order of length of service:- Miss A. VICKERY (cuff examiner), Miss E. E. MARCHANT (assistant welfare officer), Mr. W. E. HORDLE (mechanic), Miss R.COWELL (hand turner), Mrs. E. L. BARRINGTON (collar school), Mrs A. E. S. PARKER (laundry forewoman), Mr S. H. COX (chief engineer), Miss J. M. CRISFIELD (export manageress), Mr. L. W. LANGSTON (wholesale representative and warehouse manager), Mr. S. WHITE (warehouseman), Messrs. E. W. FOSTER, J. W. TEASDALE and J. H. CUNNINGHAM (representatives), and Mr. R. W. E. GREED (collar cutter).
Mr. HARTLEY, who presided, personally thanked each recipient, on behalf of the directors, as he made the presentations.
Others present included Lieut.-Colonel Tom WICKHAM, M.V.O. (deputy chairman), Mr. J. S. BULLOCK (commercial manager and director), Mr. H. F. FORD and Mr. W. M. JAMES (directors), Mr J. T. HOLDEN (production manager), Mr. A. G. MASON (secretary, [sic] and Mr. J. A. LORD (works manager).
EARLY PREJUDICES
Mr. HARTLEY mentioned that the 14 recipients of presentations formed practically 50 per cent. of the original office and factory staff, and in his 52 years' experience of industrial life he did not remember such a fine record. Similar gifts would be made in future to all who completed 21 years with the Company, including war service. At least two others would qualify shortly.
Recalling the sale in this country of the first “Van Heusen” collar in 1923, Mr. HARTLEY said they had many early difficulties and prejudices to overcome, but thanks to the loyalty and unbounded enthusiasm of all concerned, their little success gradually developed into a very great success. Perhaps the greatest difficulty concerned an agreement with the patentee, Mr. Van HEUSEN, but after meeting his solicitor in New York he consented to cancel the agreement and make a new one. From that day onwards the Company began to have a chance of success. “We are the greatest friends and have never been out of touch with one another since that time,” he added.
PRACTICAL ECONOMY
Speaking of the “bright spots,” Mr. HARTLEY gave some amusing reminiscences. In the early days he always carried a few spare “Van Heusen” collars to introduce to potential customers. One hot summer day, on a train journey back from a golf course, his sole companion in a railway carriage was a benign old gentleman with a “miserable specimen of a collar” and he (Mr. HARTLEY) did a very impertinent thing – persuaded him to take it off, and, almost unthinkingly, threw it out of the window. He then produced his correct size from his bag, and when they reached Paddington Station they were on quite good terms. Two days later he received a letter from the man saying he had done him the greatest service of his long life by making him so comfortable, and that as a result he had bought a dozen of the collars. He then found that the writer was Lord STAMP, the great economist, and they remained good friends until, unfortunately, he was killed in an air raid in about 1941.
The would be all very proud if they could see some of the encouraging letters the Company received from all over the world. Only that day a letter from their Danish agent in Copenhagen said that customers, old and new, were crying out for “Van Heusen” shirts and collars, which they hoped would soon be available to them again. “Van Heusen” had been the pioneers of the soft collar for universal wear, and from the beginning had taken a firm stand against price undercutting, which had benefited retailers and the general public.
IN 123 COUNTRIES
Emphasising that the management, staff and workpeople of all grades had been and were a “very happy family,” Mr. HARTLEY referred to the death of a great personal friend, Mr. F L. STOTT, who, with Miss CRISFIELD, was an original employee of the Company and afterwards became a director. “We three – I was then the general manager – for quite a time carried on what little business there was to be done.” Mr. STOTT completed 21 years' service with the Company and his wife had been included in the presentation. (Applause). Miss CRISFIELD, for health reasons, recently relinquished her position as export manageress. The Company's first export order was for 100 dozen collars from Switzerland. In 1939 they were trading in 123 countries.
Lieut.-Colonel Tom WICKHAM, M.V.O., proposed a toast of “Our Honoured Guests,” whom he fittingly termed the”old guard.” He specially mentioned the record of Miss A. VICKERY, who had served the industry in the Company's present buildings – the greater part of the time with other employers – ever since 1892. When he was touring New Zealand and Australia with the British Parliamentary delegation two years ago he found that “Van Heusen” had a wonderfully good name there and he was sure there was a great future for their products through-out the civilised world.
A PROUD ASSOCIATION
Mr. S. H. COX, replying, recalled early difficulties on the engineering and factory side at Taunton and said the staff of all grades were proud to have been associated with a Company which through such hard times had been brought to its present state of efficiency under the able guidance of Mr. Harold HARTLEY.
Miss CRISFIELD said it had been a great privilege for the early staff to be pioneers with Mr. HARTLEY in that “wonderful Company,” in which the family spirit had been maintained from its beginning.
Miss VICKERY, who received a cheque for £21 from the directors when she completed her jubilee in the industry, now received, an illuminated address.
Mr. H. F. FORD stated that the directors had presented Mr. HARTLEY with a silver salver, suitably engraved, in recognition of his 21 years' service.