Description:Phillips' High Quality Tape being woven on tape looms.
In 1747 John and Nathaniel Philips took over their father's linen tape-weaving business and established the company 'J. & N. Philips', based at Tean Hall. A loom house and warehouse were added in the 1770s. In 1823 a four-storey mill building, designed by James Trubshaw of Little Haywood, was added to house steam-powered looms. in the 20th century a large garment making department was added and the company diversified into making anything from medal ribbons and clothing labels, to artificial arteries for use in major surgery. J. & N. Philips closed in 1970, but the factory continued as Tean Hall Mills before merging with its sister company, Rykneld Mills of Derby, to become Rykneld Tean Ltd. in 1990. Tean Hall Mills finally ceased production in the mid 1990s but the company of Rykneld Tean Ltd. continues manufacturing at Hansard Gate in Derby.
This photograph is from a J. & N. Phillips promotional booklet published shortly after the company started manufacturing labels in 1948.