Object number
2011/11
Collection
Creator
Description
This black and grey striped milkman’s coat, with two pockets and the United Dairies ‘UD’ logo in red was made by Practical Uniforms of London and probably dates from the 1950s. The coat was part of the collection of Malcolm Norris which he started in 1969, and by the time of his death in 2010 consisted of approximately 700 horse brasses, 65 smocks, antique farming tools, and various other artefacts.
Physical description
3/4 length coat, black and white vertical pin stripes
Four buttons down the front.
One chest pocket and two deep lower pockets
Slits on either side of the lower pockets.
'UD' in red with black border embroidered on the chest pocket.
Chest pocket has small division to hold writing implement.
Label on the lower inside reads:
Practical Uniforms
London S.W. 12
Fully Shrunk
name (blank)
size 52 (in biro)
Label Text
Milkman's coat. This milkman's coat would have been worn by an employee of United Dairies, which merged with Cow and Gate's to form Unigate in 1959. United Dairies was one of the first companies in Britain to pioneer the sale and distribution of pasteurised milk in the 1920s. Milkmen were introduced to the UK in the mid-19th century, when fresh milk was carried into cities by new railway lines. Due to its short shelf life in the time before refrigeration, it was more convenient for milk to be taken straight to the doors of customers. Cheap supermarket milk, with a longer shelf life, has led to a decline in milkmen.
Archival history
MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – 'Short description (free text): Milkman's uniform coat featuring the logo of United Dairies, a company that specialised in milk and dairy product processing and supply. Manufactured by Practical Uniforms of London. Probably dating to the 1950s. // … // Physical description (free text): 1 milkman's 'overall' jacket in black and grey stripes, featuring the United Dairies 'UD' logo in red on chest. Made by Practical Uniforms of London. Features four black buttons on front, two large external pockets, double-pleat on rear to form waist, and hemmed slots at rear sides that allow access to user's back pockets. Label stitched inside reads: 'Practical Uniforms // London S.W.12 // FULLY SHRUNK // NAME // SIZE 40 ['40' scored through] [insert] 52 [end insert]'. // … // Associated information (free text): This artefact was purchased with the help of funds provided through the Heritage Lottery Fund project entitled 'Collecting Twentieth Century Rural Cultures'. It once formed part of the collection of the late Mr Malcolm Norris (1935–2010). Mr Norris is said to have started his collection in 1969 with a chance find of a horse brass depicting a wheatsheaf. Having felt he had amalgamated enough artefacts to hold an exhibition, he mounted his first display at the Cranleigh Agricultural Show in Knowle Park in 1976, with only a small amount of the collection going on show. Following this success he periodically exhibited his complete collection at a number of shows and events throughout the country. He held his last show in 1996 in Sevenoaks, Kent before deciding to ‘mothball’ his collection. Following his death in 2010, his family decided to disperse the collection, which was sold at public auction in Reading on 14 September 2011. This item formed Lot 942 in an auction of some 1362 Lots. // References: Thimbleby and Shorland, 'Dispersal Sale of a Private Collection' (Thimbleby and Shorland Catalogue, 2011) - annotated copy in accession file.’
Production place
Greater London [region]
Production date
1950 - 1959
Object name
Material
Technique
Dimensions
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
