Cherry Blossom (Shoe Polish)

The first and now the only UK manufacturer of shoe polish.

At the turn of the 20th century Dan and Charles Mason ran the Chiswick Soap Company in West London. In the manufacturing and distribution process they were concerned at the amount of wasted tin plate left over in producing containers for the soap.

By 1905, appreciating the growing demand for wax boot polish, the brothers realised that this discarded tin plate could be used to make small tins ideal for polish. They therefore employed a chemist to come up with the right formulation and launched their first time tin in 1906.

The iconic "one penny tin" with its original "butterfly" twist opener was introduced in 1907 as was the name "Cherry Blossom Boot Polish". Further mechanisation at the factory enabled them to introduce other size tins.

In 1912 they sold off the soap company and concentrated on the manufacturing of polish and renamed the company, The Chiswick Polish Company.

Then Reckitts, a company who manufactured their own range of polishes, purchased a substantial share of the company and their experience was used to good effect to expand the business by concentrating on the manufacture and sales of wax polishes.

In the 1920's they went on the acquisition trail and by 1928 had become the predominate force in the market with other brands such as Meltonian and in 1929 renamed themselves Chiswick Products Ltd.

In 1938 they acquired another boot polish company, William Wren and during the war Chiswick Products made fuel drop tanks for fighter aircraft to enable them to accompany bombing missions into Germany.

Padawax, a major step forward for convenience, was introduced in 1960. You could now apply polish with just the sponge and buff with a cloth.

1983 saw the "butterfly twist" tins replaced by the "snap open" variety and in 1986 New Meltonian and Cherry Blossom Shoe Care Plus was introduced – a liquid wax shoe cream designed for fast and easy application and fast shine.

Now the Cherry Blossom shoecare range is manufactured in Alfreton, Derbyshire, and as the materials used in the manufacturing of shoes have changed to include suede, nubuck, corduras and canvas as well as the traditional leather, so too have the products on offer from Cherry Blossom.

Cherry Blossom is the original, and now, the only shoecare brand manufactured in Great Britain.

http://www.cherryblossom.co.uk/