Letterheads dating from 1900 and later:

Two letterheads, both probably being invoice forms. The upper one is a pre-'Archer Cowley & Co' letterhead of 'Archer & Co', but still being used in 1900 for an invoice to Mrs E.M. Grierson, whose warehouse rent for 26 weeks from 24th June 1899 to 25th December 1899 at one shilling ("1/-") per week, is 26 shillings, or one pound six shillings i.e. £1-6-0d.

Notably the Archer & Co letterhead makes various statements of interest, these commencing at the top with: "New Royal Pantechnicons  36 & 37 Pembroke Street; Castle Street" - whatever that means, which I am not quite sure. And it is added: "Patronised by The Royal Family, Clergy, Gentry, etc etc." and "Every description of furniture warehoused in separate lockup rooms". And the letterhead graphic shows a railway train, somewhat in 'storybook' style, but giving a very clear image of how Archer & Co's customers goods could expect to be handled,' Actually, 1899 is long after Archer & Co became Archer Cowley & Co, I believe, so if so, why he would be using an out-of-date invoice, I cannot imagine, unless it was an ingrained tendency to 'use up' things that still usable. Perhaps that partly explains James Archer's accumilated wealth?  

The other invoice is to: Messrs Halls Oxford Brewery at a date that seems difficult to determine. Yes, 30th January, but which year is not clear. It may be 1911, but I cannot be sure. Interestingly, Messrs Halls Oxford Brewery were very much in the business that James Archer's father John Archer had been in until well beyond the middle of the 19th century, but had been squeezed out of it by (I believe) the competition from industrialised beer-making in (for example) the West Midlands, as a consequene of the industrial revolution that had been going on. (18.3.2018).

qaa© Philip B Archer 2014