GASAA COMPANIES

Frequent name changes, amalgamations, changes in ownership and "take-overs" make it impractical to trace with accuracy the evolution of GASAA's member companies over the years particularly as the detail of many of those changes was not publicly known even at the time.

It is not possible to trace members of the "first Federation" because there are no records of who they were. Their membership arose from their membership of a State Association and, without having State membership records of the period, there is no reliable starting point.

As a matter of general interest, however, some comment is made of the companies, which were Foundation Members of the "new" Federation in 1938. Being direct members of the new Federation their names are in the national records. It is stressed that the information about their subsequent fortunes, which is set out below is based largely on the recollections of a number of individuals each of whom would concede the fallibility of memory. For that reason the information presented may well contain some inaccuracies.

• Apex Engraving Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company founded in the early 1930's by H G Zimmerman and Arthur Leyshon. The latter was President in 1962/64. Merged with Duographics Pty Ltd in 1980 at which time trading ceased under the Apex name. Don Zimmerman (a son of H G) and Ray Risstrom are the 1993 proprietors of Duographics.
• W T Baker Pty Ltd: W T Baker was a member of the NSW Association as early as 1908. The business was bought immediately prior to World War II by John Sands Pty Ltd, a large and long established printing company. It continued to operate as a trade house until 1963 at which time it was absorbed into John Sands.
• Ben Jordan-Dolphin Pty Ltd: This was the Melbourne "arm" of the Sydney company of Ben Jordan Pty Ltd. The Jordan family had a major interest. The Melbourne company was taken over by E (Ernie) R Scott and became Scott Graphic Arts. It merged with C H Taylor Pty Ltd and later became jointly owned in the 1960's and 70's by Sydney's Bacon & Co (A T Day) and Alfred Johns (C J Rush). R S McDougall (later a President) was a Director of Scott Graphic Arts in 1964/68. Scott Graphics eventually became part of the Show Ads Group.
• S A Best Pty Ltd: A Brisbane company formed by Sydney Arnold Best who was very active in the Queensland Association and at national level. Started a subsidiary in Newcastle which became a member of the NSW Association. The Theaker family came to own the Brisbane business. It later passed to W Ryan but ceased trading at that time under the S A Best name.
• British Australian Photo Process Engraving Co: A Sydney company located in Bathurst St. Joined the NSW Association in 1934. Messrs Butterworth, (Harry) Bradbury, Ayres and Grumitt are believed to have been the proprietors in the 1929 period. It continued to trade until well into the 1950's.
• S R Delmont Ltd: An Adelaide company. Stephen R Delmont was GASAA's second national President (1925/27). The company continues to operate in 1993 under the helm of Stephen's grandson David.
• A H Enticott & Co: A Melbourne company. AH Enticott is shown in NSW records as having been a member of the Victorian Association circa 1914. He was a Life Member of the Victorian Association. The company continued in the family's hands until it ceased trading in 1990.
• Freshwater Pty Ltd: A Sydney company begun by Ben Freshwater. Joined the NSW Association in 1934. Was continued by his son-in-law, E S (Ernie) Wright. The name changed to CGI (Combined Graphic Industries) but the company ceased operating in the late 70's.
• F A Harris: A Sydney company primarily owned by F A (Fred) Harris and which commenced shortly before World War II. It closed its doors temporarily during the War but reopened. Finally ceased operating in or about the '60s. Towards its end it was operated by George Hayes and Roy Hutchison.
• Hartland & Hyde Pty Ltd: An old Sydney company, which was a Foundation member of the NSW Association in 1908. The "Hartland" of "Hartland & Hyde" parted company from E J Hyde in the 1930's. Three generations of the Hyde family (E J, E A J, and Michael) were successively involved in its management to 1992. A major reconstruction of its affairs took place in 1992. A company, H & H Services Pty Ltd, commenced operating at that time.
• A A Lawson Pty Ltd: A Sydney company started by A A (Bert) Lawson and continued by his son (also "Bert"). Sold to the Ward family. W H (Bill) Ward was at one time a President of the NSW body. He sold the company to C (Colin) Gee who continued to trade as Colin Gee Pty Ltd.
• A W Letts & Co: A Sydney company. Joined the NSW Association in 1934. Was run for a period post World War II by Les Padman and Doug Cassingham both of whom came from Morris Productions and went to Press Etching in Brisbane during 1959. A W Letts & Co ceased trading at that time.
• Lyell-Owen Pty Ltd: Owned in 1938 by A Lyell (President 1927/29) and (Oscar) Owen. Was continued by O Owen's son C (Clarrie) and, on his death, by C Owen's son John. The name was changed to Owen Printing Plates. Closed down in the '70s.
• Modern Reproduction Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company established in 1937 by Frederick J Nicoll. On his death in 1953 his son Garnet and uncle, Les Nicoll, assumed responsibility followed in 1961 by Garnet's sons Graham and Ian. F J Nicoll was an important person in the foundation of the employees' Union (the Victorian Process Engravers Association) in or around 1912. The company continues to operate.
• Morris Pty Ltd: A Sydney company. Now Morris Productions. Started by E R (Ebenezer) Morris and later owned by the Edwards family (Senior and Junior). Both were national Presidents. Is currently controlled by the third Edwards generation (George R Edwards). Withdrew from platemaking in the 60's in favour of metal plate engraving (nameplates). Now manufactures printed circuit boards. Apart from the Edwards family, E J (Eddie) Murch was a regular representative at Association activities.
• Omega Process Engravers: A Melbourne company of which T Johnson was proprietor. He was also the proprietor of Show Ads. Omega was involved in engraving and Show Ads in litho. His wife was a Sidwell. Members of the Sidwell family now operate Show Ads-Omega. (See Show Ads).
• Patterson Shugg Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company established by Jno Patterson and Charles B Shugg. The latter's son C P (also Charles but known as Carl) Shugg was President in 1934/36. The company set up Directoplate (to handle litho) and other subsidiaries for gravure and electronic engraving. Then linked with Robinson Engraving to form Allgraphics, which briefly was owned by David Syme. Allgraphics eventually became absorbed into the Show Ads group.
• L Ponsford & Co Pty Ltd: A Sydney company. Joined the NSW Association in 1934. J Leonard Ponsford was elected NSW President in 1937. It ceased trading in 1943 soon after the death of its proprietor.
• Porter & Barnett: An Adelaide company. R H (Reg) Porter was President 1958/60. The company ceased trading under its name in about 1984 following his death.
• Prebble & James Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company. Was a member of the Victorian Association circa 1914 according to a note at the back of the first NSW Minute Book. A M (Bert) Gange of that company became an Honorary Member. Was eventually absorbed by A H Hughes.
• Publicity Engraving: A Queensland company. C P (Charles) Theaker represented the company in the early days but little is known of it. C P Theaker came to be associated with S A Best Pty Ltd and Publicity Engraving ceased being mentioned in the records.
• Randle Photo Engraving Co Pty Ltd: A Sydney company. A Foundation member of the NSW Association in 1908. Fred A Randle Snr was the first President of the "first" Federation in 1923. Fred A Randle Jnr was President in 1967/69. The company was absorbed into Hartland & Hyde in 1983.
• Royal Process Engravers Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company. Ernest Sylvester Bolle of the company was one of only two people to have been twice President. The other was R S (Bob) Robey. Royal Process Engravers became Robinson Process Engravers in the 1950's.
• John Sands Pty Ltd: Was a long established large printing company based in Sydney. Ceased trade house activities in its own name. Purchased W T Baker & Co.
• Show Ads Art Photo Engravers: A Melbourne company. Continues to operate in 1993 and has proven itself one of the largest and most successful pre-press trade houses in Australia - perhaps in the world. Its initial proprietor was T (Tommy) Johnson whose wife is a member of the Sidwell family. The Sidwell family continues to operate the business. It has absorbed a number of other pre-press houses over the years and now trades as Show Ads-Omega. (See also Omega Process Engravers).
• Star Engraving Co Pty Ltd: A Sydney company. In 1938 it was owned by Roy Selig and Stan Whitehouse. The company was acquired by Sydney Horwitz in 1947 (approx). On his death it was managed by his widow (Mrs Nuri Horwitz). Mrs Horwitz has subsequently become known as a writer of childrens' stories using the name of Nuri Mass. She sold the engraving part of Star to G (George) Perry in the early '70s who owned it until his death in 1988. It continues to be operated by his son, also George, and still uses the "Star" name.
• C H Taylor Pty Ltd: A Melbourne company. C H (Claire) Taylor was a President of the Victorian body in 1925/26. The company was merged with Scott Graphics which, in turn, eventually became part of the Show Ads group.
• R J Thomas: A Melbourne company. Is known to have been operating at 479 Collins St at least as far back as 1919. R J Thomas was a Life Member of the Victorian Association. No other information about the company is known.

Berri – 1959
Back Row: R Needs, K.Gillespie, J. Clark, I. Mooney, B. Higgins, N. Dickson, H. Richardson, R. Allen, A. White, L. Shanks, D. Levido, H. Griffith, J. Maunsell, R. Doyle, R. Robinson
Second Row: G. Francis, R. Hallet, C. Williams, W. Iddon, E. Clark, A. Gange, D. Swarbrick, R. Woodhead, G. Sargant, E. Wright, B. Jordan, R. Crush, E. Hyde Jnr, E. Nelson, V. Loader.
Third Row: H. Elderfield, L. Middows, J. Fenwick, r. Castle, E. Davidson, J. Ridland, R. Johnson, Mrs Horwitz, L. Aynsley, E. Murch, C. Williams, c. Rush, E. Easling, F. Harris, D. Murdoch.
Front Row: R. Hughes, A. Leyshon, f. Randle Jnr, C. Macdonald, R. Porter, N. Burston, C. Theaker, R. Young, D. Davis, G. Harris.