John Cave & Sons Ltd

Modern Factory

The founder of this old-established and well-known boot and slice manufacturing business was the late Mr. John Cave, who, from small beginnings, built up one of the largest concerns of its kind in Northamptonshire. In the year 1850 the foundation was well laid by the untiring energy and the well-known integrity of the father of the present principals, whose memory will ever be revered by the people of his native town. In all the relations of life he was characterised by that righteousness that exalteth the individual as well as the nation. He died January 5, 1904, in his eighty-second year.

To meet the growing demands of his business, Mr. Cave found it necessary to provide himself with more commodious  premises. He accordingly built a large factory in High-street. Soon afterwards—on March  6, 1877—this building was, unfortunately, destroyed by fire, Mr. Cave sustaining the greater misfortune of losing one of his sons on that occasion, Mr. Elias Cave, who was killed by a falling wall. With characteristic energy, Mr. Cave set himself to repair his loss, and a new and larger factory rose, phoenix-like, on the ashes of the old one. Twelve years later continued expansion of trade led to an important addition being made, and the installation of up-to-date  plant, the works being then, from their size and their splendid equipment of machinery, amongst the most important in the county. The total number of hands employed was nearly 700, and the weekly output of boots about 10,000 pairs.

Mr Paul Cave-Chairman J Cave & Sons Ltd	Mr Amos Cave
Director-Standard Rotary Machine Co Ltd	Director

Nearly a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Cave took his four sons—Paul, Amos, Frederick, and Arthur—into partnership and the business was carried on under the name of John Cave and Sons. The senior's great age and increasing infirmity compelling him to retire, it was decided, for family reasons, to convert the business into a limited company. This was done on February 9, 1898, Mr. Paul Cave being appointed the chairman. Just 3½ years later, the fine buildings, in High-street, College-street, and Alfred-street, with their valuable contents, fell a prey to the flames. Friday, July 19, 1901, will always be a black-letter day in the history of this enterprising boot town, as by the complete destruction of not only these works, but several other business places, Rushden was visited by the greatest calamity the county has known for many years. Happily, there was no loss of life. The total damage has been estimated at from £60,000 to nearly £80,000, the greater part of which was covered by insurance.

Mr Frederick Cave	Mr Arthur Cave
Director	Managing Director

In considering the provision of new factory, the company wisely determined to avoid a many-storied building. Fortunately, Messrs. Cave were owners of an extensive piece of land in the centre of the town, and were thus able to conform to the most modern principles of boot factory construction, by electing a large one-storey factory in College-street, the warehouse and offices alone being of two storeys. Immunity from risk of fire from a conflagration in the factory is secured by a complete brick wall from foundation to roof, the only communications being protected by fire-proof doors. To the most uninitiated it is apparent that there is an enormous advantage accruing from having all the departments on the same level, as work in the different stages of manufacture can be easily and expeditiously transferred from one department to another. The raw material enters at one end of the factory, and by the time the circuit of the departments is made, it has become converted into footwear, and is packed ready  for dispatch. The new works were built by Messrs. E. Brown and Sons, of Wellingborough to the designs of Mr. Alexander E. Anderson, of Northampton, the well-known architect. The factory is equipped with all the latest and most up-to-date labour-saving machinery, and has a capacity of from 15,000 to 20,000 pairs per week. The company make their own power-gas, and the works are lighted by electricity. The Company are large Government contractors for all kinds of men’s footwear, and are amongst the largest export manufacturers for South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and foreign countries. They make from cheap medium to better class goods, welted goods being a specialty. The works are run entirely by the non-royalty machines, which are practically from their own patents and are built almost exclusively by the Standard Rotary Machine Company, Ltd., which places them in an advantageous position, compared with manufacturers who have to pay heavy royalties.

Messrs. Cave are the manufacturers of the well-known "Commonwealth'' and "Evac" brands of high-class boots and shoes. Their trade mark, "Nothing like Leather", is exceptional value now that so much "other material" is exported to be made up into boots. They claim to be among the largest makers of gent's welted goods in the British Isles, their makes being noted in the trade for their hard-wearing qualities, combined with style, neatness, and workmanship, and are quite equal to the best Northampton made goods. As is well known, they make every variety of gent's boots and shoes, in machine-sewn, stitched, screwed, and welted.

"Goodhurn" legging

With regard to lasts, they are, quite in the front rank, rivalling our American cousins in this respect. They have learnt that the whole secret of successful bootmaking is in perfect-fitting lasts. Probably very few firms have devoted so much time and attention, and have spent so much money in equipment, in this direction.The firm's home trade is a wholesale one, and their goods can be obtained from all leading warehouses, their chief business being done in the Midlands, North of England, Scotland, and Ireland, where good, hard-wearing boots are in such great demand. They have also an extensive and valuable connection in the City and on the South Coast, their interests being looked after by Mr. Cecil Colman, at 18 Jewin-street. E.C., where a full range of samples (both for home and export) can always be inspected. The firm have great facilities for the export trade. Messrs. Paul, Fred. and Arthur Cave having travelled through the Colonies and other parts of the world, and are personally acquainted with the requirements of the  different markets. The goods are thoroughly dried and packed by experienced men before being shipped.We might say that every conceivable kind of gent's boots for the Colonial trade is made by Messrs. Cave. They are also the makers of the celebrated "Goodhurn" legging, which has just been so successfully placed upon the market. The special features of this legging are that one size will fit everybody, thus making a great saving in the stock that has to be kept, and a great convenience in the matter of fitting. A patent cold-process waterproofing solution is also their property. It is absolutely the most efficient waterproofing process on the market, and has been conclusively proved to add very considerably to the wear of boots treated with it.

In concluding this brief sketch, we would say that their range of spring samples now being submitted deserve the attention of the trade, they are composed of all classes of substances, leather, and are made on good-fitting and smartly-designed lasts for the Scotch and North of England trade, and also on smart Anglo-American lasts. Light but hard-wearing for city and town wear, are included in goods at prices which will be hard to beat for the 7s. 11d., 8s. 11d., 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 14s. 6d. trade. Anyone looking out for good, honest, "building-up trade"  lines should make a point of inspecting the same.

Rushden Industry 1900	John Cave's obituary 1904	Troubles in 1906
Biographical Directory 1916	The company in 1935	John Cave & Sons Centenary 1950
Poem	Factory Place	1877 Fire	Fire 1901