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Lackersteen & Co
FoundedJanuary 1, 1857; 167 years ago (1857-01-01) in Sydney, Australia
FounderAugustus A. Lackersteen
ProductsJams and condiments

Lackersteen & Co was a condiment importer in Sydney in 1857,[1] and later became a jam and condiment manufacturer. When it was established by Augustus A. Lackersteen, the company initially simply imported curries, chutneys and preserves. It went bankrupt in 1870. It was later run by Lackersteen's son, Augustus Lacy Clive, and then changed focus from importing to production, they created tomato sauce, chutneys and preserves from local produce.[2] Products including marmalade were made from harvested produce from their orchard in Gosford, which was later owned by Augustus Lacy's son, Archie Ernest Lackersteen.[3] In 1879, Augustus Lacy claimed that they were the only preserver of bottled fruits in the colony.[4]

Augustus Alexander Lackersteen applied for trademark registration in Sydney in April 1867.[5] On 18 April 1867, a fire broke out at the Reibey Cottage on 394 George Street, which adjoined the John Sands building.[6] All of the Lackersteen stock was lost (reported as Lackerstein, sic).[7] This was called 'Sands' fire', affecting the pickle merchant.[8]

In 1922, their gazette listing noted their jam and condiment manufacturing as well as preserving and canning. Their capital was £25,000 in £1 shares with Augustus as the permanent managing director.[9]

In 1935, Lackersteen's advertised in Nesca home hints and cookery, that their tomato sauce and marmalade had been in use by the public for 76 years (i.e. 1859).[10][11][12] This same figure was used in newspaper advertising in 1940.[13]

In March 1944, Lackersteen & Co., Ltd, was purchased by The Producers' Co-operative Distributing Society, Ltd. (P.D.S), as a going concern.[14] This was via a cash purchase of the shares, and made Lackersteen a P.D.S. subsidiary.[15] In February 1945, the P.D.S. declared that it had nearly trebled the organisation's output, but could not meet all orders due to a bottle shortage.[16]

In July 1945, the P.D.S. clarified that the organisation contracted 50 acres of land at Goolagong to grow vegetables including cauliflowers and onions, and planned to later open a tomato pulping plant. Previously, tomatoes were imported from other states.[17]

The Glendowner mansion in Ryde was occupied by the Lackersteens in 1907 until it was demolished in 1964.[18]

Branded Lackersteens [sic] marmalade was still being advertised for sale in May 1990.[19] In 2002, John Newton's column review of marmalade noted that Lackersteens tinned 'Seville Orange marmalade since 1876' was available for sale in supermarkets.[20]

Products and processes

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In 1879, Lackersteen hosted a stand at the Sydney International Exhibition, showing preserved tomatoes, bottled fruits, jams, pickles, spices and sauces. He had previously won first prize at various exhibitions between 1866 and 1877 for quality and the preparation of goods.[4]

In 1913, Lackersteen's two sons managed an orchard, 'Tembani', near Gosford, which grew plums, peaches, oranges, lemons, passionfruit and tomatoes.[21] In 1916, they cut down the passionfruit and replanted with Jonathan apples. Other fruits which continued were Wickson apples, Satsuma and Shiro plums.[22]

In 1890, Lackersteen's Excelsior jam was sold in glass jars for 9d at F. Witherspoon in Honeysuckle Point.[23] The Excelsior jams and marmalades continued to be advertised in 1893.[24]

In 1919, Frank L. Lackersteen visited tomato-growers in the Hawkesbury district, and planned to establish a tomato pulping factory in Richmond. It was noted that the company had been doing business in the district for over 50 years (circa 1869).[25] In March 1920, it was determined that it was not feasible to establish the factory due to difficulties in obtaining materials and machinery.[26]

Lackersteen's tomato sauce was a well-known product line throughout Australia,[27] and was described as preserved tomatoes in bottles on the 'French plan' (being only fruit pulp, with water evaporated). The tomatoes were purchased, as well as grown in Marrickville, along with the chillies for Cayenne pepper.[4] In 1929, tomato sauce was sold for 9d a bottle by grocers Moran & Cato Ltd.[28]

In 1929, their mint sauce was sold by the British New Guinea Development Company Ltd. in Papua New Guinea.[29] In 1931, their marmalade and mint sauce were being sold by Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. in Port Moresby.[30]

In 1933, after extensions to the plant of their Bathurst pulping factory, Lackersteen produced new lines of tinned apples (apple pulp and slice) and tinned preserved cauliflowers. These were in addition to existing products of tomato sauce, tomato soup, chutney, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, preserved fruits and preserved olives.[31] Further details of products from that year are listed in advertising by Reid and Fotheringham, Macksville. Their store was appointed as a distributor of Lackersteen lines including Seville orange marmalade (in jars and tins), tomato sauce, pure malt vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mint sauce, and Spanish olives. Clarke famous Indian chutney, and sweet sliced chutney are also listed,[32] but an 1893 advertisement clarifies that Lackersteen was the sole agent for the chutnee [sic] and curry powder products by Messrs. Clarke Son & Co.[24] In 1934, Lackersteen exported both tomato sauce and tomato ketchup, plus many items listed above with the addition of tarragon vinegar and piccalilli (mustard pickles).[33] In 1935, other products were clear mixed pickles and mustard pickles, as sold in Boans in Perth.[34]

Lackersteen's mint sauce was sold in 1940 for 8d a bottle.[35]

Packaging

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In 1879, the jams were put in earthenware pots and tumblers, rather than tins, to avoid corrosion.[4]

In September 1897, Lackersteen published a public notice that refilling their branded tomato sauce bottles was illegal and would result in prompt action.[36] In 1964, a public notice stated that the branded bottles of companies including Lackersteen, remained as their property and were not authorised to be refilled, destroyed, damaged or used again for any purpose, but to be returned to the companies.[37]

In 1899, the owner, Augustus Lacy Lackersteen, was involved in a legal case against William Peacock (trading as O.K. Jam Company) regarding their tomato sauce bottle packaging. The style of bottle resembled that of Lackersteen, which could mislead purchasers. The case resulted in an injunction.[38] Examples of the brown stamped Lackersteen's bottles are in the collections of the City of Parramatta, the Sydney Quarantine Station Movable Heritage Collection, and the Western Australia Museum. In October 1985, the Macquarie University acquired an 1860 example of the Lackersteen tomato sauce bottle for their historical collection.[39]

References

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  1. ^ "Primary production decline alarms P.D.S." Northern Star. 27 January 1945. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Kindness spread". Northern District Times. 24 May 2006. p. 25.
  3. ^ "Kindess spread". Northern District Times (Sydney, Australia). 24 May 2006. p. 25.
  4. ^ a b c d "Sydney International Exhibition: New South Wales". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 November 1879. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Government Gazette Notices". New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900). 9 April 1867. p. 922. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Destructive fire in George-Street". Sydney mail. 20 April 1867. p. 4. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Destructive fire in George-Street Sydney". The Manning River News and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales. 27 April 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Notable fires of the fifties and sixties". Old Times. 1 (2): 153. May 1903.
  9. ^ "REGISTERED COMPANIES". Dun's Gazette for New South Wales. 27 (24): 386. 19 June 1922.
  10. ^ "The Nesca Home Hints and Cookery Book Page 024". Living Histories. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. ^ Nesca home hints & cookery book. 1935.
  12. ^ Collections, Special (2012-07-02), The Nesca Home Hints and Cookery Book Front cover, retrieved 2023-10-09
  13. ^ "Advertising". Smith's Weekly. 24 February 1940. p. 22.
  14. ^ "BUSINESS CHANGES, etc". Dun's Gazette for New South Wales. 71 (10): 83.
  15. ^ "P.D.S. new subsidiary". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 March 1944. p. 5.
  16. ^ "Arrangement of British farmers' tour criticised". Northern Star. 10 February 1945. p. 4.
  17. ^ "For Goolagong, not Cowra: tomato pulping plant". The Lyndhurst Shire Chronicle. 26 July 1945. p. 1.
  18. ^ "A dream that became a nightmare". Old Bike Australasia. 54. 1 July 2017 – via Pressreader.
  19. ^ "Advertising: Owl: just around the corner". The Canberra Times. 9 May 1990. p. 23.
  20. ^ Newton, John (20 July 2002). "You spin me right rind, baby - where to buy marmalade". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  21. ^ Penang (12 April 1913). "Fruit-growing: a Brisbane-water orchard". The Australasian. p. 12.
  22. ^ "On the Penang: Passions and citrus: Irrigation on a mountain". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 July 1916. p. 7.
  23. ^ "Advertising: F. Witherspoon, grocer and importer". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate. 13 June 1890. p. 6.
  24. ^ a b "Special advertisements: A.L. Lackersteen & Co. ..." Daily commercial news and shipping list. 13 June 1893. p. 2.
  25. ^ "Tomato pulping factory". Windsor and Richmond Gazette. 31 October 1919. p. 5.
  26. ^ "Proposed pulping factory: nothing doing". Windsor and Richmond Gazette. 19 March 1920. p. 2.
  27. ^ "Table delicacies: Lackersteens are pioneers in food products". The farmer and settler. 23 November 1933. p. 12.
  28. ^ "[Australian grocery shop advertisements of the Depression era]". Trove. 1929. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  29. ^ "Advertising". Papuan Courier. 5 July 1929. p. 6.
  30. ^ "Advertising". Papuan Courier. 26 June 1931. p. 6.
  31. ^ "THE LACKERSTEEN'S: A Progressive Firm: Valuable Additions". National Advocate (Bathurst). 17 June 1933. p. 2.
  32. ^ "Advertising: The store for value". Nambucca and Bellinger News. 13 January 1933. p. 3.
  33. ^ "New South Wales export manifests". Daily commercial news and shipping list. 5 May 1934. p. 6.
  34. ^ "Advertising: Grocery specials: Today at ...Boans". The West Australian. 26 April 1935. p. 4.
  35. ^ "Advertising: Grocery specials". The Muswellbrook Chronicle. 11 October 1940. p. 2.
  36. ^ "Advertising: Public notice". Evening news. 25 September 1897. p. 1.
  37. ^ "Public notice to bottlers, bottle dealers etc., re. property branded bottles which are not sold". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 January 1964. p. 21.
  38. ^ "Action between sauce manufacturers". Daily Telegraph. 1899-10-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  39. ^ "Mosman mayor rules out Bali for sake of stomachs". Sydney Morning Herald. 31 October 1985. p. 43.
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