J. Arthur Dixon
John Arthur Dixon (18 June 1897 - 19 May 1958) was the British founder of the eponymous manufacturer of greetings cards and postcards.
Dixon was born at Cross Hills, Keighley, Yorkshire, the eldest son of Charles C. Dixon.[1]
In 1926, he moved to Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, where he bought a small printing business. Dixon was a keen photographer, and in 1937 he produced his first Christmas cards. Initially,he was producing postcards under contract for W. J. Nigh & Sons Ltd, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
From 1937 (evidenced by a postmark on a colour tinted photo card of Shanklin Old Village) he was producing postcards on his own account.[1]
In 1951, production began at an 87,000 sq ft factory was built at Newport, Isle of Wight, leased from the Ministry of Aviation. The factory was a former aircraft hangar at Parkhurst Forest.[2]
In 1951, more than 14 million greetings cards were produced and in 1955, nearly 30 million postcards. In 1958, the company began producing guidebooks.[1]
Dixon died on 19 May 1958 at the Royal Isle of Wight County Hospital, Ryde.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "J Arthur Dixon". Wootton Bridge Historical. Wootton Bridge Historical. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "J. Arthur Dixon works, Newport". Domesday Reloaded. BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2013.