E. S. & A. Robinson

E. S. & A. Robinson was a British paper, printing and packaging company founded in Bristol in 1844. In 1966 it was merged with John Dickinson Stationery to form the Dickinson Robinson Group (DRG) creating one of the world's largest stationery and packaging companies.

The company was founded in 1844 by Elisha Smith Robinson who was joined by his brother Alfred in 1848. The company prospered quickly by making paper bags for grocery stores and then branched out into printing items such as the tradesman's almanack, elaborate notepapers and bound ledgers.

By 1860 the company had eleven lithographic presses, two lithographic machines worked by steam power and a machine for making paper bags. As paper merchants it held the greatest supply of paper in any firm in the kingdom.

In 1870, after further enlargement of the premises in Redcliffe Street, Elisha declared to the architect, the builders and the clerk of works: "Gentlemen, I have the finest printing factory in the West of England, and neither I nor those who come after me will ever want to enlarge it." By 1887 the company had a new block of buildings at Bedminster, and this in its turn was only to suffice the company for five years.

This block of buildings, formerly the colour printing factory located in Bedminster, is still standing and in use today. Part of the site is occupied by Cameron Balloons and the five-storey factory building has been developed into residential apartments. The converted Robinson Building and East Street Church today contains over 100 homes.

Robinsons acquired the printing works of Ensor & Co. in Marsh Street in 1872.

In 1873 Elisha Robinson bought the rights to an American patent for a paper satchel bag (inventor: Margaret E. Knight) which in addition to making everyday shopping easier, eventually revolutionized the trade in paper packaging of materials such as Portland Cement and flour.

Elisha's sons Edward and Arthur Robinson joined the company respectively in 1869 and 1874.

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