Fox Umbrellas

It all started in 1868 during the reign of Queen Victoria. Mr Thomas Fox opened a shop in Fore Street in the City of London (later becoming London Wall after the bombing during World War Two when the roads were rebuilt) making and selling umbrellas. Some 12 years later he sold the shop bearing his name to Samuel Dixon, the grandfather of June Dixon. Unfortunately we have no records of what happened to Thomas Fox, and some stories say he was a bit of a gambler and owed money to Samuel Dixon and that was how the business came into the hands of the Dixon family. In the 1880's a major change in the manufacturing process took place with the introduction of the steel umbrella frame invented by Mr Samuel Fox. Up to this time the umbrella frame was made of whalebone. It was in 1848 that Samuel Fox, a wire drawer by trade, started to make solid steel ribs in Stocksbridge, Near Sheffield. After World War I Samuel Dixon's son took over the running of the business which he again expanded and improved the production methods, whilst keeping the very high quality of the merchandise. During World War II the company manufactured flare parachutes which introduced them to the new invention nylon. The Dixon family was quick to realise the advantages of nylon instead of silk and became the first to introduce the material into umbrella covers and they were first shown to the general public in the "Britain Can Make It" exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, 1946. During this year June Dixon came into the business and again introduced new methods of production, but making sure the hand made traditions were kept. We have also supplied to the English and Japanese Royal families, also the late President of the USA J.F. Kennedy. We also make for film companies, television and stage, notably the John Steed umbrella in the Avengers, all the umbrellas in the film 'Around the World in 80 Days' starring Jackie Chan. Recently we made the umbrella for Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde, Missy's umbrella in Doctor Who and umbrellas for both "The Crown" and "Peaky Blinders" TV series.

Quoted from foxumbrellas.com, in Fox Umbrellas's own words. We have not edited it and we do not vouch for it.