While tidying up my desk I unearthed an old address book given to me by my father when he worked at the Hooghly Ink Company Ltd in Calcutta. They also had factories in Madras, Bombay and Delhi. This address book dates from the late 1960's and the cover says "Manufacturers of fine printing inks for over 50 years."
Like all firms they had a selection of gifts to give to business contacts and clients, I also had a thread counter, a calendar and pen holder for a desk, an ink blotter, a keyring and of course they produced a calendar every year. That would be interesting to track down a calendar. I do remember that my sister featured on the calendar one year as a young child. I think the business was first set up in India in the 1920's or early based on the statement on the address book it could be earlier but I am not certain? It originally was a subsidy company of the UK ink manufacturer called Richardson's Printing Inks.
My father was the first manager of the Madras branch from 1954 - 1960, his name John Barton. He died last year at the age of 96.
ReplyDeleteHello John. Great to see your comment about your father being the first manager of the HIC in Madras. Maybe you can email me at the following address: rajbrothers@hotmail.co.uk
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