Butterworth Brothers Ltd was a glass making company based in Newton Heath, Manchester. Its earliest constituent company, Atherton and Whalley, was founded in 1795, although Butterworth Brothers itself only existed from the 1860s. In 1886 it was incorporated as a limited company, when the then Senior Partner, William Butterworth, became the first Managing Director. His son, Walter Butterworth, was Chairman of the Company from 1894 until 1935, and Walter's son, Lionel Angus-Butterworth, became Secretary. The Company were specialists in industrial glassware, lighting glassware and surgical glass, and were contractors to the Government.
The archive consists of minute books (including one book relating to its associated company Palatine Glass Co of Salford), financial papers, legal transactions, Government and war records and company history. It also includes some Butterworth family personal papers, including correspondence between Walter Butterworth and the sculptor Auguste Rodin, and writings by business historian Lionel Angus-Butterworth, including his unpublished treatise on the British glass industry.
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Directors' minute books, shareholders minute book and minute book of associated company Palatine Glass Co of Salford.
Contains details of profits and loss, goods, discounts, charges, etc.
Details of payments into the company bank account
Company cash book
Includes balance sheets, division of profits, profit and loss accounts and summary of orders
Includes balance sheets, division of profits, profit and loss accounts and summary of orders
Contains details of the company's activities during the Second World War.
Includes historical notes, promotional literature and mounted printing blocks
Includes correspondence between Walter Butterworth and Auguste Rodin, and writings by business historian Lionel Angus-Butterworth, including his unpublished treatise on the British glass industry.