Samuel Fox – English Inventor of The Metal Ribbed Umbrella
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As the Umbrella is associated with England and It's weather I thought it would be interesting to write about the inventor of the Metal Ribbed collapsible umbrella invented in England In 1852 by Samuel Fox. He was born on the 17th June 1815 in Bradwell, Derbyshire.
An umbrella is a device used for temporary shade or shelter from precipitation. They can be made by stretching a fabric or other material over a wire frame. Umbrellas carried by hand are now usually used as rain shields, although their first use was for shielding from the sun; however, as tans became more sociably acceptable, this usage declined. An umbrella made for protection from the sun, is called a parasol. These are often meant to be fixed to one point and often used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture, or on the beach for shelter from the sun.
The first all umbrella shop was called "James Smith and Sons". The shop opened in 1830 and is still located at 53 New Oxford Street in London, England.
He started work as an apprentice wire drawer in Hathersage then became a partner in a wire drawing business in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield.
He moved to Stocksbridge in 1842 to establish his own wire drawing business. This business developed into the Stocksbridge Steelworks. In 1842, Mr. Samuel Fox set up the “Fox Umbrella Frames Ltd” at Stocksbridge, UK. FoxUmbrella Company started with a rain umbrella. He is the first person who invented the U-shape ribs (called “ Paragon”) and used it in his Paragon Umbrella.
“Paragon” used to be one of the oldest famous brand names in the UK. Its rain umbrella used to be the most famous brand in the umbrella field.
In 1842, Fox married Maria Radcliffe (born 20 January) at Stannington, Sheffield). They had one son, William Henry Fox (1843–1920) who never married.
In 1851 he and his company Fox Umbrella Frames Ltd. developed the "Paragon" Umbrella frame, a U section of string steel that was far superior to its competitors. Development of the product continued until at least 1935. A similar product was used to make Crinoline frames from 1855. Umbrellas with 'Fox Frames' were sold worldwide.
In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed umbrella design. Fox also founded the "English Steels Company", and claimed to have invented the steel ribbed umbrella as a way of using up stocks of farthingale stays, steel stays used in women's corsets.
Fox bought the Bradwell Grove Estate, Holwell, Oxfordshire in 1871. Upon his death, he was buried near his estate at the North Cliffe church (near Market Weighton). His son and wife are buried at St. Mary the Virgin church, Holwell, Oxfordshire.
The first all umbrella shop was called "James Smith and Sons". The shop opened in 1830 and is still located at 53 New Oxford Street in London, England.