The story of Waterman’s, the company synonymous with the best in British box making, begins in 1897, when Jacob Waterman began making boxes at home in Whitechapel for local businesses like milliners, shoes makers and dress makers. What began with cardboard and rolls of paper to make boxes stored under the bed – soon expanded into a flourishing little enterprise, which to this day remains in same area of East London, within yards of those early beginnings. The business made covered and wire stitched solid board boxes .

Though the company’s records were largely destroyed during the Blitz in 1940, it is understood that during World War One Waterman’s turned their box-making machines to the manufacture of boxes for ammunition holders, whilst trying to support its tradition local box business through this tough period. After the war the business grew in line with the local economy and the growing importance of the Port of London and Docks.

In 1936 Jacob Waterman died at the age of 77 and the Business continued to be run by his son Isaac. During the 1939-45 conflicts, Waterman’s were involved in the manufacture of boxes for the M.O.D. It was at that time common practice for M.O.D inspectors to regularly check and stamp every box. During this time many other family member were involved in the business as it struggled through the war years.

Up until the occupation of the Netherlands in 1940, Waterman’s bought supplies of board for box making from Holland. According to a family legend, one of the last shipments from Holland contained a much more valuable cargo .The story has it that a member of Dutch nobility escaped by hiding amongst the board on this merchant vessel to avoid capture. In 1941 the factory was severely damaged during a bombing raid and fortunately Waterman’s were able to move some production to any empty building on the other side of Assembly Passage.

Under Isaac Waterman’s leadership the company was incorporated in 1942 and the business was registered as I. Waterman (Box Makers) Ltd. The Initial I was used in the name simply because so many people had mistaken Jacob’s J as an I. Therefore to avoid further confusion, Isaac therefore decided to go with majority view.

In 1954 Isaac Waterman died and his son Ashley took over the running of the Business. During this post war period Waterman’s grew and its factory expanded and it ventured into the manufacture of an entirely new type of box for single shirts, starting with Rael Brook and moving on to supply other leading manufactures. The same type of box is still made today but the innovation started a trend in innovation at Waterman’s.

Isaac Waterman