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Huntley, Boorne and Stevens, famous for producing the elaborate biscuit tins for sister company Huntley & Palmers, struggled to stay in business during World War One, despite producing 19 million articles for the war effort. As biscuit tin production dried up, the factory in Reading turned to making ration tins for army biscuits, chocolates and cigarettes as well as boxes for fuses and surgical supplies. Other specialist items included smoke canisters, water bottles and stampings for use in the early manufacture of aircraft.

Controversially, despite being a Quaker company, it鈥檚 also reported to have produced more than six million detonators.

The biggest mystery surrounding the company concerns newspaper reports and accounts from the time which state Huntley, Boorne and Stevens played a key role in the development of the prototype for the steel helmet. Manufacturing, however, was clearly carried out elsewhere.

As men were called up to fight, women worked increasingly in their place, even taking on heavier jobs such as soldering. By 1916, 200,000 tin boxes were produced each week by women.

The struggling company was bought and amalgamated into Huntley & Palmers early in 1918.

Location: Huntley, Boorne & Stevens, Southampton Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2QL
Image: Sentry tins, courtesy of Reading Museum (Reading Borough Council)
Presented by 主播大秀 reporter, Janice Hunter

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