Thomson & Lewis & Co.
1893 - 1917
Thomson Lewis became Thomson Lewis & Co. in 1893. Once established, the company grew rapidly. It secured several prestigious contracts including those to supply Wellington Hospital, and the Union Steam Ship Company.
As the company developed, several branches were established, making the dating of Thomson Lewis & Co. bottles relatively straightforward. Dates of manufacture can be found on the base of many of these bottles.
Wellington: 1887 - 1981
The 'Crystal Springs Mineral Water Works' was located on the corner of Lorne and Tory Street and was the major Thomson Lewis manufacturing and trading branch.
Wanganui: 1895-1970s
The Wanganui branch remained the property of Alfred Lewis until 1937, despite Thomson Lewis becoming a limited liability company in 1917. The Wanganui branch was the only non-Wellington branch operating into the late 1970's. The original site was at Campbell Street, and was moved to Glasgow Street in 1965.
Petone: 1905-1930
For five years deliveries of Thomson Lewis & Co. bottles were made to the Hutt Valley along the Hutt Road by horse and cart. In 1905, however, a factory was built in Cuba Street, Petone which supplied the Valley until the Second World War, when a shortage of labour forced its closure.
Otaki: 1893-1912.
This branch was situated just off Mill Road. The factory of wood and iron contained a floor space of 2000 square feet, and a 3 h.p. steam engine powered the machinery. The plant was managed by Mr. Henry Knox, who later established his own aerated water business in Wellington. This branch closed in 1912 due to a serious staff shortage bought on by World War One. After the war, increased mechanisation gave resulted in an increased output in Wellington and better roading and transport made it uneconomic to reopen the Otaki branch.
Levin: 1909-1914
A small branch was opened at Levin in 1909 but closed in 1914.
Thomson Lewis & Co. made great use of the 'all way' Codd (marble bottle) which could be poured from any direction as indents in the neck of the bottle were replaced with a bulge in the neck. Codd patented this bottle in 1886 and it was nick-named the 'pregnant lady'.
Given the known operating periods of the Thomson Lewis & Co. branches during the period 1893 - 1917 (prior to the company becoming a limited liability company) and the combination of these branches as embossed on various bottles, dating of bottles is generally simplified.
WELLINGTON 1893
WELLINGTON & OTAKI 1893-1905
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & OTAKI 1895 -1905
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, OTAKI & PETONE 1905 -1909
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & PETONE 1905-1909 & 1914-1917
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, PETONE, OTAKI & LEVIN 1909-1912
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, PETONE & LEVIN 1912-1914
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & PETONE 1905-1909 & 1914-1917
As the company developed, several branches were established, making the dating of Thomson Lewis & Co. bottles relatively straightforward. Dates of manufacture can be found on the base of many of these bottles.
Wellington: 1887 - 1981The 'Crystal Springs Mineral Water Works' was located on the corner of Lorne and Tory Street and was the major Thomson Lewis manufacturing and trading branch.
Wanganui: 1895-1970s
The Wanganui branch remained the property of Alfred Lewis until 1937, despite Thomson Lewis becoming a limited liability company in 1917. The Wanganui branch was the only non-Wellington branch operating into the late 1970's. The original site was at Campbell Street, and was moved to Glasgow Street in 1965.
Petone: 1905-1930
For five years deliveries of Thomson Lewis & Co. bottles were made to the Hutt Valley along the Hutt Road by horse and cart. In 1905, however, a factory was built in Cuba Street, Petone which supplied the Valley until the Second World War, when a shortage of labour forced its closure.
Otaki: 1893-1912.
This branch was situated just off Mill Road. The factory of wood and iron contained a floor space of 2000 square feet, and a 3 h.p. steam engine powered the machinery. The plant was managed by Mr. Henry Knox, who later established his own aerated water business in Wellington. This branch closed in 1912 due to a serious staff shortage bought on by World War One. After the war, increased mechanisation gave resulted in an increased output in Wellington and better roading and transport made it uneconomic to reopen the Otaki branch.
Levin: 1909-1914A small branch was opened at Levin in 1909 but closed in 1914.
Thomson Lewis & Co. made great use of the 'all way' Codd (marble bottle) which could be poured from any direction as indents in the neck of the bottle were replaced with a bulge in the neck. Codd patented this bottle in 1886 and it was nick-named the 'pregnant lady'.
Given the known operating periods of the Thomson Lewis & Co. branches during the period 1893 - 1917 (prior to the company becoming a limited liability company) and the combination of these branches as embossed on various bottles, dating of bottles is generally simplified.
WELLINGTON 1893
WELLINGTON & OTAKI 1893-1905
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & OTAKI 1895 -1905
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, OTAKI & PETONE 1905 -1909
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & PETONE 1905-1909 & 1914-1917
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, PETONE, OTAKI & LEVIN 1909-1912
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI, PETONE & LEVIN 1912-1914
WELLINGTON, WANGANUI & PETONE 1905-1909 & 1914-1917
