A private limited liability company, Messrs. B. Ladds Ltd., has been registered with a capital of £15,000 in £1 shares, as boot manufacturers. The subscribers are Mr. B. Ladds and Mr. B. H. Ladds, of Rushden, who are the first directors.

Rushden Echo, 7^th March 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Factory Supper—The employees of Messrs B Ladds held a tea and social in the Adult School Hall on Friday last, arranged by a workers’ committee, of which Mr F Stringer was the secretary. A very good company was present. After a most enjoyable meal, a whist drive and games filled the first part of the evening. The whist winners were: Ladies, 1 Miss D Stringer, 2 Miss Eva Bryant; gentlemen, 1 Mr Goosey, 2 Mr W Wiggins; consolation prize, Miss W Stringer. The M.C. was Mr J Marshall Bailey. Dancing followed. Refreshments were served under the supervision of Miss Ethel Ladds.

A RUSSIAN export order worth thousands of pounds is fast becoming a distinct probability for a small Rushden firm manufacturing in the shadow of footwear giants.

If it materialises the order would be the largest export consignment ever sent out by B. Ladds Ltd., who are already heavily committed to exports.

Although the firm are renowned for producing extreme styles of shoes — blue and purple colours are popular — the Russian order would be for a conventional shoe, which could have been manufactured by one of the giant firms.

Managing director, Mr B Ladds explained that one snag, at the moment, is that the price of the shoes is a little bit low. They want a better quality, more expensive shoe. The lines chosen would retail in this country at around four to four and a half gunineas.

Some of the bottom was cut out of the home market for the firm when the winkle picker era passed. The firm — which employs about 100 people turned their sights further afield and now 45 per cent of their output is exported.