Quote Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown View Post
I suspect that Number 24 may have been the "registered office" address of the company after its reorganization in 1934, and was probably the residence of either the owner or the book keeper of the business.

I have to say that I was some what skeptical about a lacing manufacturer being located in Birmingham, as I would have thought lace making would have been an offshoot of the rope making industry (laces being somewhat similar to twine or string, or other types of cordage) which was centered in Liverpool at that time.
The actual business end of the business was in West Yorkshire, but in 1933 Andrew Gillis parted company with his younger brother, Clarence, after a dispute over production methods used in their other business, the Gillis Woolens Co. Andrew wanted to add byproduct from the manufacture of his cotton laces to the fibers left over from the production of wool yarns. But Clarence would have none of it, owing to his strong belief in the Virgin Wool. "I'll not have a shoddy product!" Clarence declared.

Andrew went to live with his spinster sister in Birmingham, and re-formed their company in 1934, operating out of her home. His last, heated words to his brother, Clarence, before he left West Yorkshire for the last time were, "I'll know a good yarn when I see one!"

Regards,
Rex.