For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell
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W. R. Loxley and Co.
W. R. Loxley had established the Company in Hong Kong in 1872. J. M. Beattie bought it possibly in 1900. Later two brothers: A. Beattie and M. P. Beattie joined the firm. The business was sold to J. A. Russell and D. O. Russell in 1919 and under the agreement A. Beattie became manager of the London branch.
In 1919 when Archie set up China Minerals Ltd. to search for coal in China, W.R. Loxley and Co. acted as agents for the Company. The Annual Report for Malayan Collieries in June 1920 reported that it's London Agents were now W. R. Loxley and Co, 34, Lime Street, E.C.3.
On 25 March Archie gave power of attorney to Adriaan van der Harst to act on behalf of W. R. Loxley & Company. The Straits Times of 21 April 1920, reported that “ A.A. van der Harst, who spent many years of his business life in Singapore before leaving, about 10 months ago to take an appointment in Hong Kong, has returned and is about to open a local branch of the firm W. R. Loxley and Co., the well known Hongkong merchants”.
1920 Messrs Loxley and Co’s original trademark was three stars which was used on the soap sold in Hongkong. On 14 August 1920 a Chinese man in Hong kong living at No 8 Chun Shing Street was arrested for using the trade mark, and his soap making machinery and several cases of soap were seized by the police, and he was sent for trial.
In September the Singapore papers carried a notice that
MESSRS, W. R. LOXLEY GO. HAVE MOVED TO Ist FLOOR MARSILING BUILDINGS 60, ROBINSON ROAD
On 1 November W.R. Loxley and Co. Ltd of Singapore were reported as being granted a licence : “to deal in metals or metallic ores throughout the Colony”:-
1921
No news or advertising can be found for Loxley in the Singapore online archives for 1921.
Dated 22 May, they appeared in the Straits Times on 24 May, 31 May and 1 June. “ Notice is hereby given that the four Trade Marks of which representations appear above are the property of W. R. Loxley and Company of No. 58 Robinson Road, Singapore, Importers, Exporters and General Merchants and that the same are used by them in connection with paper, hardware, hosiery, haberdashery, piece goods and general merchandise manufactured, imported and sold by them.”
1923 April’s papers reported that Loxley’s were receiving the coal arriving from the Pamoekan Bay colliery: “The Norwegian steamer Hero arrived from G. Batu Besar yesterday with a cargo of coal. The consignees are Loxley and C.” The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 7 April 1923. "The Norwegian steamer Hydra, which arrived from G.B. Besar yesterday brought a cargo of coal. Messrs. Loxley and Company are the consignees. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser , 13 April 1923, Page 10
In April they registered further trademarks of a beetle, elephant and boxers, in July two chickens, and in October a trademark for Wandoo condensed milk.
In May 1923 it was revealed at Archie's court case with Hong Guan that Loxleys was owned by him and used as his business address in Singapore. Mr. A. A. Vanderhaarst as manager of Loxley and Co was called at the trial to give evidence that " Hong Guan had telephoned him in Singapore on several occasions wanting to see Mr Russell."
A trademark of chickens was registered on 16, 18 and 20 July and another of a cow for all the diary goods imported from Australia which appeared in the Straits Times on the 9 and 13 October.
1924 Archie stated during his questioning at the Peck v. Russell court case that Loxley and Co. carried out business in London, Singapore, Hongkong, Canton and Shanghai. While Perrin Cooper worked out of Tientsin and Peking. The Straits Times, 3 April 1924, Page 9
When he was cross questioned about a contract he negotiated with the Eastern Mining and Rubber Company over a coal concession in Teweh he explained that he was interested because J. A. Russell and Co. wanted to establish a branch of Loxleys in the Dutch East Indies. The Straits Times, 10 April 1924, Page 9
In March H.H. Robbins was married in Singapore and was described as of Loxley and Co.
An advertising campaign for " Bovolactin" was launched with the first advert in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser of 21 June 1924, followed by doctor’s testimonials for it on 24 June and another with conditions that it will treat on 26 June. This sequence was repeated on 3, 5 and 8 July. The adverts for Bovo lactin continue through July, August and September, the last appearing on 20 September . Bovolactin made in Twickenham, England appears to contain, chocolate, meat, milk, cream and sugar.
On 10 July the power of attorney to Mr Van der haarst came to an end and he advertised on 14 July that he was now running his own firm trading under the name of Adrian and Co.
On 16 July another trademark was registered.
Lotol insecticide adverts then appeared. The first advert “Arriving shortly” on 3 November. By 5 December it was available in the shops.
On 11 November Royal Beer brewed in Manchester was advertised.
Throughout December, Sego, Lotol and Royal beer were all promoted.
1925 Loxleys started to advertise Royal Liqueur Whisky brewed in Glasgow appropriately on New Year's day in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. On 3 January they also advertised Auld Scottie Whisky.
The advertisements for Lotol, and the two whiskies continued throughout January, until June.
Left:The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 12 January 1925
Right:The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 16 January 1925,
Left: The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser , 19 January 1925.
Right: Registering another trademark in The Straits Times, 23 January 1925
The Malayan Saturday Post, of 21 February 1925, Page 23, contained a wedding photograph captioned: “The wedding of Mr. Henry Woodford of Messrs. Loxley & Co. and Miss Mary Meeter, daughter of Mr. Mrs. A. Meeter, of Sandakan, Borneo, was solemnized at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on 10th January.
The Straits Times, 5 March 1925, Page 8 "Mr. D. A. Hamilton, late manager of Messrs. W. R. Loxley and Co.'s Singapore branch, has taken over the affairs of the Urbaine Fire Insurance Co. and Assurance Franco Asiatique, and assumes control of all offices and agencies of these companies throughout Malaya as from March 1".
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 1 April 1925, Page 12 "SHIPPING NOTES. The Norwegian steamer, Knut Jarl (1,692 tons) arrived from G. B. Besar with coal on Monday. Loxley and Company are the consignees."
Mr. P. Brown of Loxley and Co collided with another motorcycle rider on a dangerous corner of Castle Peak Road in Hong Kong. Both riders were thrown and the other narrowly escaped going over a precipice. Mr. Brown suffered a broken wrist and ankle. They were both taken to hospital. Mr. Brown was described as a well-known Hong Kong resident. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 4 and 5 June 1925.
Right: This truncated version of the Lotol advert appeared in the Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser in 20 June 1925. It then became the only advert for any product from Loxleys and the only version used from July 1925 until 12 March 1927, when the last one appeared.
Right: This old trademark was re-registered on March 17 1926 the address of Loxleys now being 4 and 5 Raffles Quay Singapore.
The Straits Times, 18 , 19 & 20 March 1926.
“Loxleys re-registered their trademark for "CONDENSED MILK manufactured or imported and sold by them in the Straits Settlements, Federated Malay States, Siam, Netherlands East Indies and elsewhere.” The Straits Times, 31 July 1926
Loxley and Co contributed gifts to the Singapore Boy Scouts Instruction camp in August 1926. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 19 August 1926.
STAFF
"The death has taken place at the Government Civil Hospital, Hong Kong of Mr. G. V. Hughes, accountant of Messrs. W.R. Loxley and Co. the deceased, who was 44 years old, went to Hong Kong about seven years ago. Besides a widow he leaves a son who is at Clifton College, and a daughter, Miss E. Hughes, employed at Loxley’s office." The Straits Times, 25 October 1927.
"We regret to record that news has been received of the death from cholera in Bangkok of Mr. B. Markham, who was well known in Singapore, as the representative of Loxley and Co., Wilts United Diaries and other firms". The Straits Times, 4 April 1928
" Mr. W. M. Gordon is retiring from the east this week after nineteen years almost continuous residence out here. He leaves by the Blue Funnel steamer Perseus tomorrow afternoon. Coming out to Malaya in 1910 to Bukit Ijok Estate Selangor, of which he was manager for a period of five year, Mr. Gordon was planting for eleven years before coming to Singapore to join the firm of Messrs. Loxley and Co. Subsequently he spent some time in Brunei and since 1926 has been in the employ of the Vacuum Oil company, Singapore. He will leave behind him a wide circle of friends, among whom he will be greatly missed."The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 1 July 1929
“Hong Kong lost another of its best-known business men when Mr. W. L. Pattenden left for Home on retirement, thus severing a connection with the Colony which has lasted for over thirty years. He will be greatly missed, not only in commercial circles, but also in the social life of the Colony and especially in connection with the church and Y.M.C.A. activities. Mr. Pattenden joined Messrs. Allen Bros., East India Merchants, of London in 1888, and left them to come to the Far East at the end of 1899, arriving in Hong Kong on February 3rd., 1900,as an assistant to Messrs. Gilman and Company, of which he became a partner in 1919, he severed his connection with Messrs. Gilman shortly after the business changed hands, and joined Messrs. W.R. Loxley and Co, as General Manager. The position he has held ever since. During his residence in the Colony, Mr. Pattenden has served as director of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd. and Humphries Estate and Finance Co. Ltd., his wide experience of business matters being of much value to these concerns.”The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 28 March 1930
"The principal business of WRL at its various branches in China was the import of various commodities for distribution to outlets that sold to both foreign and Chinese enterprises and to households in HongKong and other cities, and the sourcing and export of various Chinese goods. One item that gained some prestige was “Loxley singlets” which were regarded by the Chinese as being of the highest quality. Another imported item was “Dubbin” boot polish, and one of Don’s canny Managers managed to persuade a British regimental sergeant major to have each troop on inspection asked what boot polish he had used; even if the boots were shiny, if the answer was not “Dubbin”, the soldier was told to polish them again. The main branch was in HongKong where Don spent most of his time initially. His compradors there were Mr. Fan Shui Nan and Mr. Kui Cheong. Don also imported the chassis of American Dodge cars, and had truck bodies built on these at an assembly line he had constructed in HongKong, where they were considered to be the strongest trucks available in China."From Mike Russell's life of his father Don.
" Don continued to own WRL in London and in HongKong, where his manager was a man named Fritz Meyer who lived with his wife Sheila in an attractive apartment half-way up the Peak. On arrival, a staying guest was always offered a drink in the sitting-room opening out onto the balcony, and his suitcase was taken to his bedroom by one of the servants. When the guest went to the bedroom, he found that his suitcase had been opened, all the clean clothes put neatly into the wardrobe and drawers, and all the soiled ones taken away already for washing. The Comprador for WRL HongKong was a Mr. Yau, who had a large home on the island, in which not only he and his wife lived but also several of his sons and daughters. Many of Mr. Wong’s grandchildren stayed there as well. The extensive house was roughly square-shaped and several storeys high, with a large area for dining and entertaining in the centre extending up to the height of the roof. The bedrooms and living areas surrounded the four sides of this central room on each storey. Whenever Don visited the business, Mr. Yau would give a sumptuous Chinese dinner at his home for Don, the Meyers and other senior WRL staff, lasting two or three hours with many courses and hospitable toasts between each. During the dinner, Mr. Yau’s many grandchildren could be seen peeking through the lattices surrounding the large dining area to watch the proceedings with awe and amusement.
Don finally sold W. R. Loxley (HongKong) Ltd. to Blythe, Green & Jordain Ltd. sometime in the mid-1950s, and it is believed W. R. Loxley (London) Ltd. was wound up and closed shortly later." From Mike Russell's life of his father Don.
" In 1933, Mr. J. A. Russell died and a reorganisation of the businesses took place. Messrs. J. A. Russell & Co. was turned into a Limited Company and Mr. D. O. Russell purchased businesses in Tientsin, Hongkong and London and formed them into private companies, viz. Perrin Cooper & Co., Ltd., W. R. Loxley & Co. (China) Ltd., and W. R. Loxley & Co. (London) Ltd., respectively. There had been some hesitation on the part of Mr. Russell in purchasing the London business as results for the previous years had been bad, but on the assurance of Mr. Beattie that certain profitable business could be carried on, Mr. Russell decided to make the purchase. The Company was floated in 1935. Despite Mr. Beattie’s promises, however, the business continued to wane with resultant losses and in 1937 Mr. Russell’s patience became exhausted and Mr. Beattie was asked to resign."
"During 1945 war Andrew Beattie reappeared on the scene in London and was approached initially by the Malayan Planning Unit concerning the reopening of MCL. The only other director of MCL who had both escaped capture and returned to England was Mr. A.J. Kelman and he heard that the Malayan Planning Unit had been in touch with Andrew Beattie, so he advised WRL & Co. London of this. Protracted discussions took place between WRL & Co. and Andrew Beattie as to which of the two companies was the appointed agent for helping to restart MCL with all the equipment required. This culminated for the time being with a letter headed as Malayan Collieries Ltd. and signed by R.C.Russell as Secretary, stating that Andrew Beattie & Co. (London) Ltd. was the London agents for MCL. Since WRL (London) had been appointed as agents for MCL originally, and as it had a quantity of export goods unsold in England and also a large amount of cargo diverted to Australia since the start of the Japanese occupation, a huge row ensued between Don and Bob after Don’s release from Stanley camp. The details of this whole episode were very complicated and are explained as much as possible in documents written by Don".From Mike Russell's life of his father Don.