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J&L WHITE
In 1946 Jack and Laurie White returned from Army service in WWII. Previously having done a bookbinding apprenticeship with their Uncle Crosbie, a paper ruler & Bookbinder in the CBD near Spicers Paper. Jack and Laurie were connected with Melbourne's old printing families, which gave them work, they borrowed funds from their grandmother (a Crosbie), and proceeded to acquire equipment. Beating the W.A. Government Printer in obtaining the last new pen ruling machine, which had been crated in London during WWII, by one hour.
By 1949 they had also obtained a quad crown flat bed Miehle letterpress printing machine, and proceeded to manufacture purpose made leather bound ledgers for Australia's banks, Victorian government departments, Stationers ( especially Norman Bros.) and major corporations.They also designed and produced the 'Crescent' stationery range, of which the Daily Cash Summary is still widely sold. The most famous was their "Evergreen Perpetual Diary"range
In the late 1980's Laurie White, pretty much alone and a recent widower, approached Law Bindery to buy him out. Law Bindery merged the two firms, taking on all staff of which one is still with us. Laurie White until in his 80's, stayed with the new firm for many years, as Edward one of the new owners couldnt bear to retire him.
Nowadays with the demise of handwritten ledgers, the firm has complimented its bookbinding skills by replacing the old machinery with specialised mechanical equipment, and high end digital technology. Much of this plant is unique in Australia.
This enables it to not only design, but to produce short run products to exacting standards for its clients who range from students, to well known corporations and public identities.
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Law Bindery
In the 1970s Arthur Sly suggested to Edward Congdon that they go into business together and they started C& S Bookbinders, later to become Law Bindery. Arthur suggested the idea as Edward, a University student, had been interested in the book arts aesthetically, whilst Sly, a Chemist/iInvestor, claimed to have an altruistic interest
Arthur was employed as chief Chemist at Kodak and had already become wealthy in his own right through investments and accession. Whilst Edward worked part time in restaurants and share traded to maintain his income stream. They matched each other's finacial contribution dollar for dollar whilst also undertaking other entreprenerial activites to maintain cash flow.
Edward, who's father died tragically, when he was 5 leaving him the eldest of a family of 5, started bookbinding as a hobby when 14, and later, while studying Economics and Statistics at Monash University by scholarship, started attending night courses designed for Bookbinding apprentices, at the then Melbourne School of Printing & GraphicArts.
KevinMeddings of M&M bookbinders gave them an old Brehmer sewing machine which M&M were scraping and Edward got it working. This, combined with machinery that he had been collecting over the years, provided the business with its initial plant.
By the early 1990's, after they bought J&L White, Mr Sly wanted to liquidate the firm and to leave with his profits. Fortuunately, due to altered personal relationships, Edward felt vindicated in changing the priorities of a discretionary trust that he had established, thereby giving the firm access to funds which were used to purchased new premises for it, and to buy out Mr Sly's shareholding in it.
The subsequential involvement of the Trust has allowed the company to remain independent and liquid.
The firm Whites LawBindery P/L now services a niche market in the economy and its reputation stands independently. It has no reps and solicits no customers by representation, 90% of our customers come from recommendation !!
We are involved in many aspects of the graphic arts and looking at the skyline of Melbourne and various infrastructure projects across the nation, the Company feels proud to have been involved in their initial conception and pitch. We feel proud to have been involved in the recent growth of Australia's infrastructure and national income, not only here, but also internationally, and we hope to be given the opportunityto use our skills to serve you equally as well. |
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