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During the late 1890's London, with a population of 5.5 million,
was the largest city in the western world. It had recently seen
the first issue of the Financial Times, the opening of Tilbury
Docks, the infamous crimes of "Jack the Ripper" and
was about to witness the opening of the first 'tube' railway
and the building of New Scotland Yard. Exports were booming and,
as a result, the box and packing case trade was experiencing
enormous growth.
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Against this background a young man arrived in London from
Canterbury, where he had served his apprenticeship as an ironmonger.
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Frederick Henry
Brundle
Initially working for a company supplying the tea trade, it
wasn't long before Frederick Henry Brundle saw his opportunity
and in 1889, at the age of 31, with the courtesy of a small loan
from his father FH Brundle opened the doors of his business.
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The
Founder outside original premises
At first he limited himself to selling nails and ironmongery
but soon horseshoes and farriers sundries were added to the range.
Around the turn of the century the London dairies alone employed
over 3,000 horses and their shoes needed replacing every month.
FH Brundle supplied the majority of these, along with the tools
required for the farriers and blacksmiths to ply their trade.
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