Lightweight slide storage box
Slide Box
ca.1963
ca.1963
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The first Boots herbalist store opened in Nottingham in 1849 and the business entered the photographic market with the launch of Boots Fine Art Photographic View books in 1897. These were souvenir booklets featuring towns such as Chester and Cambridge that were photographed and published by Boots.
Between 1903-05, Boots began selling photographic materials and established a Photographic Department. In 1905, the chemist introduced '20th Century' photographic materials, the first own-brand photographic products for sale in their stores. By the 1920s, they were offering film and equipment and developing and printing services, including enlargements and lantern slides developing. There was a rapid expansion of photographic services in the 1940s and 1950s and by 1960 there were ca. 1300 Boots stores. The 1960s saw a growth in slide photography and cine film and the introduction of 126 film, a cartridge-based film format.
Albert H Cragg joined Boots in 1912 and began his career in the Printing Department in 1913. After serving in World War 1, he returned to Boots and became a specialist in costing, followed by a years craft and managerial training at the London School of Printing. In 1928 he became the Manager of the Printing Department. Following the destruction of the Printing Department building during World War 2, Cragg supervised its reconstruction. In 1951, he was appointed a Director of Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd.
In 1959, Cragg and Mr. F. L. Buckley were asked to design a colour transparency slide box with the brief that it should be light, durable, functional and 'eye-pleasing'. The final design contained a slotted plastic tray with cushions of foam plastic; each slot was numbered and there was an index card in the lid that also served to keep dust out. It was exhibited at the London Design Centre as an outstanding example of British craftsmenship and in 1963, won an award from the Council of Industrial Design.
Cragg was actively involved in the printing industry throughout his career and was president of the Nottingham and District Master Printers' Association, the British Paper Box Federation and the Printers' Managers and Overseers Association. He retired in 1959 after 30 years service as the Printing Department Manager.
Between 1903-05, Boots began selling photographic materials and established a Photographic Department. In 1905, the chemist introduced '20th Century' photographic materials, the first own-brand photographic products for sale in their stores. By the 1920s, they were offering film and equipment and developing and printing services, including enlargements and lantern slides developing. There was a rapid expansion of photographic services in the 1940s and 1950s and by 1960 there were ca. 1300 Boots stores. The 1960s saw a growth in slide photography and cine film and the introduction of 126 film, a cartridge-based film format.
Albert H Cragg joined Boots in 1912 and began his career in the Printing Department in 1913. After serving in World War 1, he returned to Boots and became a specialist in costing, followed by a years craft and managerial training at the London School of Printing. In 1928 he became the Manager of the Printing Department. Following the destruction of the Printing Department building during World War 2, Cragg supervised its reconstruction. In 1951, he was appointed a Director of Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd.
In 1959, Cragg and Mr. F. L. Buckley were asked to design a colour transparency slide box with the brief that it should be light, durable, functional and 'eye-pleasing'. The final design contained a slotted plastic tray with cushions of foam plastic; each slot was numbered and there was an index card in the lid that also served to keep dust out. It was exhibited at the London Design Centre as an outstanding example of British craftsmenship and in 1963, won an award from the Council of Industrial Design.
Cragg was actively involved in the printing industry throughout his career and was president of the Nottingham and District Master Printers' Association, the British Paper Box Federation and the Printers' Managers and Overseers Association. He retired in 1959 after 30 years service as the Printing Department Manager.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | Lightweight slide storage box (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Strawboard with linen-reinforced hinges and plastic inner tray |
| Brief description | Lightweight slide storage box, designed by Albert H Cragg and manufactured by Boots Pure Drug Co. |
| Physical description | A lightweight slide storage box, strawboard with linen-reinforced hinges and plastic inner tray. |
| Credit line | Given by the Council of Industrial Design |
| Object history | Historical significance: Winner of the Design Council Award in 1963. Source: Judith Wright, Senior Archivist, Boots UK. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Associations | |
| Summary | The first Boots herbalist store opened in Nottingham in 1849 and the business entered the photographic market with the launch of Boots Fine Art Photographic View books in 1897. These were souvenir booklets featuring towns such as Chester and Cambridge that were photographed and published by Boots. Between 1903-05, Boots began selling photographic materials and established a Photographic Department. In 1905, the chemist introduced '20th Century' photographic materials, the first own-brand photographic products for sale in their stores. By the 1920s, they were offering film and equipment and developing and printing services, including enlargements and lantern slides developing. There was a rapid expansion of photographic services in the 1940s and 1950s and by 1960 there were ca. 1300 Boots stores. The 1960s saw a growth in slide photography and cine film and the introduction of 126 film, a cartridge-based film format. Albert H Cragg joined Boots in 1912 and began his career in the Printing Department in 1913. After serving in World War 1, he returned to Boots and became a specialist in costing, followed by a years craft and managerial training at the London School of Printing. In 1928 he became the Manager of the Printing Department. Following the destruction of the Printing Department building during World War 2, Cragg supervised its reconstruction. In 1951, he was appointed a Director of Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd. In 1959, Cragg and Mr. F. L. Buckley were asked to design a colour transparency slide box with the brief that it should be light, durable, functional and 'eye-pleasing'. The final design contained a slotted plastic tray with cushions of foam plastic; each slot was numbered and there was an index card in the lid that also served to keep dust out. It was exhibited at the London Design Centre as an outstanding example of British craftsmenship and in 1963, won an award from the Council of Industrial Design. Cragg was actively involved in the printing industry throughout his career and was president of the Nottingham and District Master Printers' Association, the British Paper Box Federation and the Printers' Managers and Overseers Association. He retired in 1959 after 30 years service as the Printing Department Manager. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.130&A-1965 |
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| Record created | April 26, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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