“… perfect letters at any size … first time that had been done”
Edmund became Chairman of Signs and Plastic
Products when he handed over the role of Managing Director to son John in 1990. But he is still very much hands on in the business, involved in the office, looking after the company’s machinery and buildings, and doing local deliveries. “Business has been a bit quiet lately, what with so many
“We made thousands … one for just about every school and factory” John Pearson who took over as Managing Director of Signs and Plastic
Products from his father in 1990.
stamping machine, he could even stamp out letters on vinyl, a material not then widely used in the sign trade. “This was way before Letterset had self adhesive letters,
although the ones you rub on were available,” he says. ”It took a while for the idea to take off but gradually a few local authorities started using the self adhesive letters, and it grew from there.” But not all Edmund’s entrepreneurial ventures are sign
related. In the mid 1960s he invented and patented a guard on paper trimmers that became used throughout Great Britain. “At that time it was the only one accepted by the factory
and schools inspectors. They ruled that all these paper trimmers had to have this protective guard, which was good news for our business. We made thousands and thousands, one for just about every school and factory back then.” Signs and Plastic Products moved to its current location,
the Pearson Building in Bright Street, formerly the sorting office of the Post Office in Middlesbrough, in 1975. At that time the A66 ‘Northern Route’ through Middlesbrough was being built and it was important for the future of the business to be on the south side, with easy access to Middlesbrough and beyond. Using his experience in different businesses and his
own enterprise, Edmund has advised both individuals wanting to set up in business and established firms for decades. He has run many successful seminars and training events, worked with the local Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in setting up the Teesside Small Business Club around 1971. In addition, he has served on Middlesbrough Council from 1992-2004. Edmund is also probably one of the oldest students
to achieve a City & Guilds qualification, which he did in 1999, aged 71. “I’d always looked after our electrical machinery but new
insurance regulations meant I needed specific qualifications, so I took and passed my City & Guilds Certificates, for electrical inspection and testing, and installation,” he explains.
Model demonstrating the patented paper trimmer guard Edmund designed in the 1960s.
ISSUE 132 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Sign Update 61
companies closing down and schools and the like doing bits on their own computers, but we’ve seen economic lows and highs before. Also, a few former customers have bought their own engraving machines but that can end up costing more than buying from us. One council started making its own road signs but was paying more for the aluminium blanks than the price of a finished sign,” says Edmund. Despite notching up more than 50 years in the sign trade, Edmund doesn’t have any plans to retire yet. “Much has changed over the years but I’m still enjoying it and have no intention of stopping yet,” he concludes. Edmund and Signs and Plastic Products can be contacted on telephone 01642 246087 or via
www.spp.uk.com
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