H. L. Vosz Explained

H. L. Vosz was an Adelaide, South Australia business, for a time Australia's largest supplier of paints and glass, the earliest progenitor of Dulux paints, and became the prosperous glass merchant A. E. Clarkson Ltd.The company was founded in a modest way by a painter, plumber and glazier of more than usual business acumen, who unwittingly became the name behind many of the stained glass windows in South Australian churches and public buildings.

The founder

Heinrich Ludwig Vosz (3 May 1812 – 9 March 1886), was born in Hanover in humble circumstances, and when quite young moved with his parents to Hamburg, where he had to work for a living from age 12. At 15 he was apprenticed to a carpenter and eventually was able to set up in business on his account.He was doing well until the European revolutions of 1848, which destroyed his business, leaving him bankrupt. He emigrated to South Australia aboard Alfred with his wife and two young sons arriving in December 1848. He started work as a joiner in Ackland Street (now that part of Frome Street between Grenfell and Wakefield streets) and was naturalized in August 1849.[1] In 1848 he was selling furniture and in 1849 had a timber yard in partnership with C. E. Berthau.Then came the discovery of gold in Victoria, and in 1851 he joined the rush to the diggings. He returned with enough money to set up in business as painter, glazier and paperhanger, and in 1853 opened a retail store at 82 (renumbered c. 1890 as 88) Rundle Street, selling window glass, paints, and wallpaper.[2] The business prospered and he was able to repay, with interest, his creditors back in Germany. The Hamburg Reform of February 1860 published an article noting his integrity, entitled Ein braver Mann.[3]

Vosz maintained an active interest in current events but apart from a few years (1860–1862) as City Councillor, played no active part in public affairs.He died after several years of intense suffering from neuralgia, which no medical treatment could alleviate,[4] and was buried at the West Terrace Cemetery without ostentation, by Rev. J. Crawford Woods.[5] His business had become the largest of its kind in Australia; his wife and sons had predeceased him[6] and much of his considerable fortune was left to local charities, including £2,000 for the Home for Incurables.[7] Other charities to benefit were The Orphan Home, the Royal Institution for the Blind, the Fund of Benevolence of the GrandLodge of Freemasons of South Australia, the Benevolent Fund of the Irish Constitution of Freemasons of South Australia, the Adelaide Children's Hospital, and the Cottage Homes.[8]

Other interests

Family

Vosz was married to Friederike Dorothea Sophie Vosz, possibly née Hoerber[10] (– 3 June 1875); they had two sons, both born in Germany:

Business continues under the Vosz name

By Vosz's will, ownership of the business passed to his employees who, through their trustees, sold the business to Johann Heinrich Nicholaus "Henry" Schmidt and Theodore J. C. Hantke (1835–1912),[12] [13] both of whom previously held executive positions in the company.

Schmidt became insolvent in 1894 as a result of his purchase of a large share of the company and inability to realise on property which had lost value.[14] He retired from the partnership and sold his share to businessman Alfred Wilkinson (1863–1922).[15]

In 1904,[12] when the business was registered as a Company, he stepped down as manager to take a position on the board of directors.[16] A. E. Clarkson, who joined the company in 1890, was elected manager and secretary.[17]

In 1899 a leadlight and stained glass department was added, which by the 1920s employed 26 staff and two artist/designers.[18] Adelaide's churches were the high-profile end of the market, but much of their business would have been in advertising windows and mirrors for hotels, and decorative windows and panels for more affluent home-owners.

By 1900 the business owned the area bounded by Rundle Street, Charles Street and Fisher Place, as well as stables and yards on Gilles Street, and also occupied several warehouse on Maclaren Wharf, Port Adelaide. Paints and calcimines, were manufactured at Rundle Street, mirrors were silvered and bevelled, stained glass painted and fired by J. F. Williams and his staff, leadlight windows built up, and plate glass cut and curved. Besides glass of every description, the showroom had a range of gas and electric lighting and heating fittings on display.[19]

The company became H. L. Vosz Ltd in 1901. In 1904 the firm was incorporated with a nominal capital of £50,000.One of the company's first decisions was to divest itself of its building and contracting work, and concentrate on retail. Many of the workers and apprentices who lost their jobs prospered as independent contractors.

Around January 1907 manufacture of paints was transferred to purpose-built facilities at Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, and much new equipment brought in.[20] Even so, their Rundle Street showrooms, office and glass workshops were seriously overcrowded, and in July 1908 a new building was opened at 124–126 Rundle Street, alongside the Plough and Harrow Hotel (twenty years later demolished and replaced with the Richmond Hotel) and almost directly opposite the Adelaide Arcade.The shop boasted all the latest decorative styles and innovations in display and efficiency, such as the Lamson cash carriers, and a network of telephones connecting the various offices and workshops. A wide stairway led to the first floor, where displays of lighting and lavatory fittings, leaded lights, stained glass, and other window styles were shown to best effect against the large southern window.Around the walls were displayed church windows and racks with thousands of sample rolls of wallpaper.The basement carried a large stock of plumbers' requirements.Another city block was purchased to house the mirror surfacing and bevelling factory, glass store and cutting workshop.[20]

Clarkson Limited

The name of the company was changed to "Clarkson Limited" at an extraordinary general meeting in August 1915,[21] at a time of heightened antipathy to Germanic names.Albert Ernest Clarkson (10 April 1876 – 26 April 1936)[22] was a majority shareholder in the company and its first manager and secretary.He led the company for some 40 years.[23]

In 1912 the Australasian United Paint Company, Limited. was formed with an office in Lipson Street, Port Adelaide and capital £100,000 to take over the paint business of H. L. Vosz Ltd. as a going concern. Its first directors were George Henry Prosser, Albert Ernest Clarkson, James Montague Sandy, Robert Cochrane, and Robert S. Exton.[24]

In December 1932, Clarkson's remodelled the Kithers Buildings at 135–139 Rundle Street, leaving the facade, and this became the new Clarkson's showrooms.[25]

In 1908 the company had purchased property on the north side of Grenfell Street (146–156) alongside the Hotel Grenfell (later Boar's Head) east of Hindmarsh Square, where they later established a Bulk Store, Trade Depot,[26] and offices.[27] In 1958 their Head Office was relocated to 150 Grenfell Street, and featured a 90feet window.The company moved out of plumbing and much of the retail market and in 1958 sold the Rundle Street building to the Commonwealth Bank.

Stained-glass artists with H. L. Vosz / A. E. Clarkson Ltd

Major works from the Vosz studio

Two windows in the nave of St Peter's Cathedral were installed by the Vosz company, but were from the London firm of Charles Eamer Kempe. One memorializes Dean Marryat and the other, contributed by the children of the church, is a representation of St Hilda.[58]

Other stained-glass makers of Adelaide

One such, a Scotsman named R. Elliott[66] designed the northern windows for the School of Mines' Brookman Hall. Dubbed the Empire Window and featuring Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, they were installed in 1902.[67] He was also responsible for the Coronation Window in the council chamber, Adelaide Town Hall, presented by A. M. Simpson.[68]

His foremost artist was Herbert Moesbury Smyrk (1862–1947), born in Guildford, Surrey,[69] and emigrated to Melbourne, where he entered into a partnership with one Charles Rogers as Smyrk & Rogers, stained glass artists, dissolved in September 1888.[70] Smyrk then moved to Adelaide, where he was active in the Adelaide Easel Club and responsible for some of Adelaide's finest locally-produced glass art. Smyrk left for London around March 1898,[71] but a year later his imminent return to Australia was reported.[72] He was a world traveller with a special fondness for Tahiti. In later years he used "Herbert Moesbury" as his full name.[73] His known works include:

The swimmer and Olympic high-diver Harold Nelson Smyrk was his son.

He also designed Christmas cards and a reredos for the Church of St Augustine in Unley. He died in Brisbane.

Notes and References

  1. News: Advertising . . South Australia . 18 August 1849 . 2 January 2020 . 2 . Trove .
  2. News: Advertising . . South Australia . 25 March 1854 . 3 January 2020 . 1 . Trove .
  3. News: Latest News . . South Australia . 10 March 1886 . 2 January 2020 . 2 . Trove .
  4. News: General News . . South Australia . 10 March 1886 . 2 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  5. News: Thursday March 11 . . South Australia . 11 March 1886 . 27 January 2020 . 5 . Trove .
  6. News: Death of Mr. H. L. Vosz . . South Australia . 10 March 1886 . 2 January 2020 . 5 . Trove .
  7. News: Home for Incurables . . South Australia . 30 June 1888 . 2 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  8. News: The Vosz Estate . . South Australia . 13 August 1927 . 2 January 2020 . 13 . Trove .
  9. News: Towns, People and Things We Ought to Know . . South Australia . 12 October 1933 . 3 January 2020 . 46 . Trove . These anecdotes have not yet been corroborated or dated.
  10. News: Family Notices . . South Australia . 20 October 1866 . 27 January 2020 . 2 . Trove . Emilie Hoerber (married Vosz employee) Hermann Böcker on 19 October 1866
  11. News: An Involved Will . . South Australia . 28 September 1926 . 2 January 2020 . 7 . Trove .
  12. News: Personal. . . South Australia . 30 April 1904 . 5 January 2020 . 28 . Trove .
  13. Web site: Clarkson Ltd BRG 172 . State Library of South Australia.
  14. News: Insolvency Court . . South Australia . 25 April 1894 . 4 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  15. News: Concerning People . . South Australia . 24 January 1922 . 9 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  16. News: Obituary . . South Australia . 16 November 1912 . 5 January 2020 . 41 . Trove .
  17. News: Business Expansion . . South Australia . 1 December 1932 . 9 January 2020 . 14 . Trove .
  18. Web site: South Australia's Glass Merchant: Clarkson Limited . Adelaide City Explorer. Natalie Carfora . 1 January 2020.
  19. News: An Expanding Business . . South Australia . 6 August 1900 . 5 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  20. News: H. L. Vosz Limited . . South Australia . 19 September 1908 . 2 January 2020 . 34 . Trove .
  21. News: Advertising . . South Australia . 5 August 1915 . 3 January 2020 . 2 . Trove .
  22. News: Death of Mr A. E. Clarkson . . South Australia . 27 April 1936 . 3 January 2020 . 15 . Trove .
  23. News: Fine Service to State . . South Australia . 27 April 1936 . 3 January 2020 . 7 . Trove .
  24. News: Company Registrations . . South Australia . 18 May 1912 . 5 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  25. News: Business Expansion . . South Australia . 1 December 1932 . 5 January 2020 . 14 . Trove .
  26. Web site: Clarkson Ltd., Grenfell Street . State Library of South Australia . 13 February 2020. photograph of LHS of establishment
  27. Web site: Clarkson Ltd., Grenfell Street . State Library of South Australia . 13 February 2020. photograph of RHS of establishment
  28. News: Clarkson, Limited. 75th Anniversary . . South Australia . 20 January 1923 . 9 January 2020 . 13 . Trove .
  29. News: Centenary Year For Clarkson Ltd. . . South Australia . 17 February 1948 . 9 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  30. News: Personal . . South Australia . 31 May 1927 . 5 January 2020 . 9 . Trove .
  31. News: The City Council . . South Australia . 19 August 1902 . 9 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  32. News: In Memory of the Fallen Brave . . South Australia . 19 March 1903 . 9 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  33. News: A Painful Accident . . South Australia . 13 June 1903 . 9 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  34. News: Memorial Window . . XVI . 794 . South Australia . 14 August 1903 . 20 July 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  35. News: Church Intelligence . . South Australia . 17 August 1903 . 9 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  36. News: A Stained-Glass Window . . LXXV . 19,941 . South Australia . 10 October 1910 . 8 January 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  37. Web site: The School of Mines and Industry: Stained glass windows . Natalie Carfora . Adelaide City Explorer . 1 January 2020.
  38. News: Decorative Window Art at the new S.A. School of Mines. . . South Australia . 7 March 1903 . 9 January 2020 . 8 . Trove .
  39. News: A beautiful Window . . South Australia . 11 June 1904 . 9 January 2020 . 8 . Trove .
  40. News: Colton Memorial Window . . South Australia . 25 September 1905 . 9 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  41. News: New Window for the Port Adelaide Church . . South Australia . 31 August 1906 . 9 January 2020 . 11 . Trove .
  42. News: General News . . South Australia . 5 November 1906 . 9 January 2020 . 10 . Trove .
  43. News: Mount Pleasant . . South Australia . 14 November 1907 . 9 January 2020 . 5 . Trove .
  44. News: A Handsome Memorial Window . . South Australia . 8 October 1908 . 9 January 2020 . 8 . Trove .
  45. News: Notes on Current Events . . South Australia . 20 November 1908 . 9 January 2020 . 9 . Trove .
  46. News: Church Intelligence . . South Australia . 21 August 1909 . 9 January 2020 . 11 . Trove .
  47. News: Church Intelligence . . South Australia . 20 March 1911 . 9 January 2020 . 12 . Trove .
  48. News: Church Intelligence . . South Australia . 3 April 1913 . 9 January 2020 . 14 . Trove .
  49. News: Methodist Ladies' College . . South Australia . 27 October 1909 . 9 January 2020 . 8 . Trove .
  50. News: General News . . South Australia . 30 October 1909 . 5 January 2020 . 11 . Trove .
  51. News: Memorial Window . . South Australia . 9 July 1910 . 9 January 2020 . 2 . Trove .
  52. News: A Stained-Glass Window . . South Australia . 10 October 1910 . 9 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  53. News: The President at Boordertown . . South Australia . 17 February 1911 . 9 January 2020 . 10 . Trove .
  54. News: Keyneton . . South Australia . 5 August 1911 . 9 January 2020 . 15 . Trove .
  55. News: Strathalbyn . . South Australia . 20 December 1911 . 9 January 2020 . 13 . Trove .
  56. News: The Burra Record. . . South Australia . 4 June 1913 . 9 January 2020 . 2 . Trove .
  57. News: Personal . . South Australia . 5 October 1912 . 9 January 2020 . 18 . Trove .
  58. News: Generall News . . South Australia . 26 January 1910 . 5 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  59. News: The Studio . . Victoria, Australia . 9 July 1927 . 28 January 2020 . 46 . Trove .
  60. News: The Commercial Outlook . . South Australia . 6 September 1892 . 6 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  61. News: The Commercial Outlook . . South Australia . 6 September 1892 . 28 January 2020 . 5 . Trove .
  62. News: The Advertiser . . South Australia . 10 February 1893 . 28 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  63. News: Church Intelligence . . South Australia . 17 May 1893 . 28 January 2020 . 4 . Trove .
  64. News: The South Australian Hotel . . Victoria, Australia . 22 September 1894 . 28 January 2020 . 20 . Trove .
  65. News: Obituary . . South Australia . 15 April 1910 . 6 January 2020 . 9 . Trove .
  66. News: Adorning the School of Mines . . South Australia . 1 November 1902 . 27 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  67. News: School of Mines . . South Australia . 24 February 1903 . 27 January 2020 . 6 . Trove . a thorough description and early history.
  68. News: The Coronation Window . . South Australia . 23 January 1903 . 27 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
  69. News: The Last Moment . . South Australia . 31 December 1896 . 6 January 2020 . 5 . Trove .
  70. News: Advertising . . Victoria, Australia . 21 September 1888 . 6 January 2020 . 5 . Trove . No more heard of Rogers after a disastrous fire in 1896
  71. News: Adelaide Easel Club . . South Australia . 22 February 1898 . 6 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  72. News: Art Notes . . South Australia . 8 March 1899 . 6 January 2020 . 7 . Trove .
  73. News: Man of Many Parts . . South Australia . 3 November 1925 . 7 January 2020 . 8 . Trove .
  74. News: Angaston . . South Australia . 21 March 1904 . 9 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
  75. Book: 150 Years of Stained & Painted Glass. P. F. Donovan . . 1986 . 0949268801.