There were pills for everything ...

... even these.

(Pre-1928)  I like 'containing nothing injurious' ~ well yes, I should hope not.
This is an extremely rare example of a label that didn't feature the face of Richard Parkinson ~ instead we're treated to ... well, is that supposed to be Queen Victoria?  If it is, you might think that would date the label to somewhere before 1901.  Not necessarily, though: Parkinsons were never shy of playing the nostalgia card with their labelling.
P.S. I suppose an 'occasional pill' is a distant relative of the occasional table.  [Yeah, funny, Ewie.]

One from home

Parkinsons advertising sign on the Culvert canal bridge ~ entrance to Yorkshire Street, Burnley, probably 1910s/20s.  The bridge was demolished decades ago and replaced with a far less interesting one.

Reproduced from ... oh I don't know, wherever it was I found it.

Ghost signs

These hand-painted advertisements were once a common feature of gable-ends throughout the North of England and beyond ~ sadly most of them are long gone

This one's on Rochdale Road, Walsden, near Todmorden.  I suspect it's actually the remains of more than one advert, painted at different times.  Shame about the ivy.

I had a go at 'repainting' it but (inevitably) got bored very quickly.  [Both these photos are my own, hence the poor quality]

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS! [07/04/12]
The nice people who own the house have recently ripped down a lot of that ivy to reveal more:

 Thanks, folks :O)

 Lorne Road, Leicester [photo by Amy Barnes, reproduced by kind permission of ghostsigns.co.uk]

Southfield Lane, Bradford [photo by John Grogan, reproduced by kind permission of ghostsigns.co.uk]

No idea where this one is because I've forgotten where I found the photo ...

Queensway, Rochdale [photo by me]

And finally ...

 A cutting from the [erm ... erm ... I must start labelling stuff ...], 1960s/70s.  Briston is in Norfolk, between Fakenham and Sheringham (apparently)

Do you know any of these men?

The photo shows a party of Parkinsons Ltd employees about to set off on a works outing, dated 10th October 1936.  If you know anyone in this picture, please let me know.

In fact, I'd be pleased to hear from any former employees, or their descendants, who might have photos or reminiscences they'd like to share.

Feelin' croaky? - Try Kilkof from Parkinsons

"Croaky" the frog became something of a mascot for the company.  I'm estimating this advert dates from the 50s or 60s.  (NB ~ this image is not owned by me)

P.S. Any resemblance between this product and one currently being manufactured under the same name is purely coincidental (as they say).

Blood and Stomach Pills!

Yes, I know, it's a bit of a hackneyed cliché these days, but Parkinsons used to manufacture these in their zillions.  Below are some packaging and labels for Blood & Stomach pills.

(front)

(back)

(pre-1928)

(pack, after 1928)

(modern reproduction tin by Robert Opie)

(small tin ~ red)

(small tin ~ black)

(packaging [wrap] ~ this image is not owned by me)

Richard Parkinson (1816-80), founder of R Parkinson and Sons (later Parkinsons Ltd, Burnley)

Introducing my great-great-great-grandfather, Richard Parkinson.  He was born at the Lanehead Inn (aka: the Fanny Grey), Salterforth, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, on 16th November 1816.  Some time in 1818 or 1819 his father moved the family to London, moving back again to the area and settling in Colne some time before 1828.  The young Richard apprenticed as a cordwainer [shoemaker].  On 1st September 1839 he married Miss Mary Watkinson, and the couple moved in next door to Mary's widowed mother at Smithy Lane, Trawden.  Their first child - Ann - was born there before the year was out.  Eight or possibly nine other children followed, including my great-great-grandfather Isaiah, born 1846.  In 1848 Richard went into business, with his brother Thomas, as a drysalter [chemist] in Nelson and Hollin Bank, Brierfield; at around the same time he moved his growing family from Trawden to Little Marsden.  When the Hollin Bank premises were damaged by fire, Richard moved the business to Hammerton Street, Burnley, and his family took up residence just round the corner in Coal Street.  Toward the end of his life he took his two eldest sons into the business, which traded under the name R. Parkinson & Sons until 1928, thereafter becoming Parkinsons Ltd, Burnley.  He died at Ilkley on 12th January 1880, and was buried at Burnley Cemetery.

At one time his image ~ this image ~ was known by millions across the world, being used on the company's packaging long after his death.  If he has the air of a high Victorian Methodist lay preacher, well, that's because he was.