Thomas Tomlinson Cussons

Thomas Tomlinson Cussons (1838–1927) born in Kingston upon Hull, England. Son of George Cussons and his wife Jane Cussons (née Moss). Thomas was the Chairman of the British soap manufacturing company Cussons & Son. Thomas established the 'Cussons' brand which has become one of the largest personal care brands in Britain.

Career

In the early 1880s Thomas opened a chemist in the town of Ossett. In Ossett he also operated as a wine merchant.^[1] He enjoyed an exclusive right to distribute W & A Gilbey Wines in Ossett.^[2] Following the establishment of the Ossett chemist he established an additional chemist in Louth. In 1891 he opened a further chemist in Swinton, Salford.^[3]

Initially the Cussons brand was attached principally to medicine. In 1893 the Cussons range included the following:^[4]

• Cussons "Excelsior" Tic Mixture
• Cussons Compound Rhubarb Pills
• Cussons Antibilious Pills
• Cussons "Excelsior" Black Currant Cough Elixir
• Cussons Effervescing Saline

In 1897 Thomas acquired a glass blowing factory in Harpurhey, which marked the beginning of a great increase in business. Thomas' commercial activities laid the foundations for his son Alex Cussons who would make Cussons into a multinational brand and manufacture the famous Cussons Imperial Leather soap.^[5]

Letters

In 1892 Thomas published extracts from letters of people recommending the Cussons brand.^[6]

Below is an extract from a clergyman to Mr. Cussons dated 28 March 1888:

"DEAR SIR,—I have much pleasure in stating that I consider your MIXTURE a most efficacious remedy for Neuralgia or Tic. I have suffered very much and very frequently from this disorder, and have found MORE relief from your Medicine than any other. I can with confidence recommend it to any persons who are troubled with this pain."

Below is an extract from a Mr S. Smith dated 19 March 1888:

"Mr. Cussons—Dear Sir,—It affords me great pleasure to testify to the quality of your Tic Mixture. My wife suffered most excruciating agony in her face, forehead and eyes through Tic or Rheumatism, which gave her no rest. After trying all kinds of remedies which failed, she was induced by a friend, who had had one of your bottles and which had cured two members of her family, to purchase one of your bottles as a trial, which she did, and after taking four doses she felt herself completely cured of pain. I am perfectly satisfied that the Medicine deserves universal praise, and I shall recommend it to all who may be so affected."

Below is an extract from a woman in service, dated 17 March 1888:

"I now hasten to drop you a few lines in reference to the Medicine you sent the other week; well it completely cured me and I have some of it left yet. I suffered awfully you may be sure and could not attend to my household duties. Mistress had to get our charwomen to come and assist her while I was so bad. Please tell Mr. Cussons that through the merits of his Medicine I am quite a new made woman, and I shall always speak well of his Tic Medicine wherever I may be situated."

References

1. ↑ Ossett-Cum-Gawthorpe Trade Directory 1888
2. ↑ West Riding Yorkshire Trade Directory 1892
3. ↑ Linday, D.T.A. (1976). Soapmaking past and present, at page 20
4. ↑ Cockburn’s Almanack and Year Book 1893, at page 20
5. ↑ University of Salford, Campus Report Autumn 2002
6. ↑ Cockburn’s Almanack and Year Book 1892, at page 24