Dodwell & Company Ltd, 天祥洋行
George Benjamin Dodwell 1851-1925
Dodwell & Company (天祥洋行) was one of the leading British merchant firms, active in China and Japan during the 19th and 20th century. It was a direct rival to Jardine, Matheson & Co.
“It was established in 1858 when W R Adamson and Company (silk dealers) set up in London, with its head office in Shanghai and branches in Hong Kong, Foochow and Hankow. It began to build up an export business in tea and silk, and also a general import business, and began to acquire shipping agencies. The name changed in 1867 to Adamson, Bell and Company.
[All the information in this article comes from source 1 unless otherwise indicated.]
In 1872 George Benjamin Dodwell joined the company in Shanghai, and in 1891, by which time both Adamson and Bell had retired, he formed Dodwell, Carlill and Company to take over Adamson Bell’s agencies. Also in 1891 the head office moved to London. By this stage the firm was exporting tea, porcelain, silk and other Chinese produce from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama and Kobe, and importing flour and lumber from Tacoma on the Pacific coast.
In 1897 a branch was opened in Colombo, chiefly exporting tea to Russia. In 1899 Dodwell and Company Limited was registered as a private limited company. G. B. Dodwell was its first chairman. From 1899 to the First World War, tea sales declined and general merchandising and the shipping agencies became more important. Japan also became more important to the company, chiefly through the export of coal to Singapore and Shanghai.
HK Daily Press 17th August 1923
This entry was published in 1908: “Messrs. Dodwell & Co., Ltd., were established in Hongkong on January 1, 1899, the firm, until that date, being known as Dodwell, Carlill & Co.
They are general merchants, importers, exporters, and general and shipping agents, and undertake commission business of every description. Their headquarters are in London, and they have branches also at Shanghai, Hankow, and Foochow in China; Yokohama and Kobe, in Japan; Colombo, Ceylon; San Francisco, Tacoma, and Seattle, U.S.A.; and Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The directors are Messrs. George B. Dodwell, chairman, A. J. H. Carlill, T. M. Dermer, F. D’Iffanger, F. Dodwell, H. A. J. Macray, G. H. Medhurst, G. J. Melhuish, G. S. Thomson, and E. S. Whealler. Mr. G. H. Medhurst, who is a member of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, is the manager, and Mr. E. G. Barrett, sub-manager, of the Hongkong branch.” (2)
From the 1920s onwards, Dodwell’s trade in the Far East generally fluctuated for various reasons, including the Second World War and the Chinese revolution. However, post-war recovery in Japan was rapid, and the company had begun meanwhile to expand in other directions, including rubber and textiles, and also motor vehicles. Dodwell Motors, a subsidiary, was formed in Hong Kong after the war. It amalgamated in 1969 with Inchcape’s Metro cars to form Metro-Dodwell Motors Limited, which took over all British Leyland franchises in Hong Kong.
HK Daily Press 12.12.1930
HK Sunday Herald 29.10.1950
Advert 1953 Courtesy: IDJ
From the mid 1950s, Dodwell specialised as buying agents for department and chain stores throughout the world, opening their own retail stores in some places, including Kenya and Hong Kong.
Advert 1963 Courtesy: IDJ
Trade Bulletin, Hong Kong: Commerce and Industry Department, May 1964, pp.14-15. Courtesy: PRO/HK Memory Project
From “The Port of Hong Kong” 1966
In 1972 the whole share capital of Dodwell and Company Limited was acquired by Inchcape and Company Limited. Dodwell had offices successively in Billiter Street and St Mary Axe.
Sources:
- AIM 25 -Dodwell & Company Archives in London and the M25 area
- Wright, Arnold, : Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and Other Treaty Ports of China: Their History. People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Britain Publishing Company, Ltd., 1908.
See:
- Dodwell & Company – wikipedia
- George Benjamin Dodwell biography, Dictionary of Hong Kong Biography, ed M Holdsworth & C Munn, HKU Press, 2012 This wonderful book collects in one volume more than 500 specially commissioned entries on men and women from Hong Kong history.
- Gwulo.com – Dodwell related information
This article was first posted on 2nd February 2017.
Related Indhhk articles:
- Beer in Hong Kong – Part Four – The Hong Kong Brewers and Distillers Ltd 1930-1935 The brewery chairman was Stanley H Dodwell
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My father worked for Dodwell for more than 40 years Retiring in 1978 or 79 as the head of the Personnel Department. His office was on the 3rd Floor in the HSBC building the most left corner office. Before becoming the Personnel director he worked in the insurance department with his office in the Alexandra House across the street next to the Prince Building. He was also the second in commander of the CAS in Hong Kong. He moved to California that same year and passed away in 1996 at the age of 83.
I believe my grandfather, Jose Maria Britto, worked for your company in the 1920s. Is there any information you can provide me about him and what he did in your company? Thanks for your assistance.
Looking for a raymond cheung who worked for dodwell trading co in Hong Kong. About 1989 /90. My son was a afs student whom he hosted and is keen to meet him again . Other known name is cheung kin .man. worked as a sales Executive.
My great-uncle passed last year. He was about 95. He worked in Japan right after WWII. Married a full japanese lady.
I just came across his business card:
Edmund Lamay
Dodwell & Co., LTD
c/o Desco Building
No. 254 Yamashita-Cho Naka-Ku
Yokohama. Tel. (2) 7031-4
Does anybody know the christian name of captain broadbridge who was the ships master when yoshino maru caught fire and sank in japan on 10.10.1902
I thank you in anticipation
It appears that one of my family worked for Dodswell in Shanghai , James Valentine worked ? as sub manager under mr Carhill.
Would you know any more about him please
AJH Carlill was my Great grandfather’s brother.
In the late C19th, H A J Macray was Sub-Manager for Shanghai and Hankow under AJH Carlill.
There is a Robert Keith Valentine who was appointed to the board in 1958.
Do you have any dates for when James Valentine worked in Shanghai?
with kind regards,
Jo
DEAR SIR,
WE ARE INTERESTED TO WORK AS YOUR COMPANY AGENT IN PAKISTAN FOR PROMOTING YOUR COMPANY BUSINESS IN PAKISTAN ON MUTUAL INTEREST BASIS EITHER ON COMMISSION OR ON A FIXED MONTHLY SALARY OR BY OPENING OF YOUR COMPANY BRANCH OFFICE IN PAKISTAN.
WE ARE INTERESTED FOR WORLDWIDE MANUFACTURERS PARTICULARLY OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT, MEDICAL, SURGICAL, EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENTS, LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS/INSTRUMENTS REPRESENTATIVE / AGENTS IN PAKISTAN FOR PROMOTING THEIR PRODUCTS IN PAKISTAN.WE NEED AGENCY OF THE FOLLOWING MANUFACTURERS ALSO:
PARTICULARLY WE WANT TO APPOINT US AS AUTHORISED AGENT FOR PAKISTAN OF YOUR COUNTRY MANUFACTURER OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT FOR GETTING BUSINESS TO THEM AND PROMOTING THEIR PRODUCTS IN OUR COUNTRY PAKISTAN. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HELP US.
WE MOSTLY REQUIRED PRODUCTS EQUIPMENTS/SPARES OF THE FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER:
M/S. ALSTOM, UK/CANADA/USA/FRANCE/AUSTRALIA
M/S. VOITH, GERMANY
M/S. GENERAL ELECTRIC, USA/CANADA/UK
M/S. FERRANTI P[ACKARD CANADA
M/S. WOODWARD GOVERNOR USA
M/S. INGERSOLL-RAND SWIZERLAND
M/S. ABB SWEDEN
M/S. FLYGT PUMP SWEDEN
M/S. GENERAL ELECTRIC CANADA
M/S. ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH
M/s. FLUID PUMPS & VALVES
ETC;
AIRCRAFT ENGINE & PARTS
HYDRO & THERMAL PLANTS
WE ARE INDENTOR AND WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AS AGENT IN PAKISTAN FOR YOUR COMPANY FOR WHICH PLEASE SEND US AN “AUTHORISATION CERTIFICATE” THAT “KHALIL TRADING CORPORATION” IS AUTHORIZE TO GET TENDER FORM AND TO DEAL OTHER RELATED MATTERS ON OUR COMPANY BEHALF”
THEN WE WILL GET DEMAND/REQUIREMENT/TENDER FORMS OF OUR DIFFERENT CLIENTS FOR YOU AND SEND IT TO YOU.
YOU WILL GET RATES FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WILL SUBMIT US IN TIME.
WE WILL GET SUPPLY ORDER AND LETTER OF CREDIT IN YOUR FAVOUR.
THEN YOU WILL SHIP THE MATERIAL AND YOU WILL RECEIVE PAYMENT AND THEN YOU WILL SEND US OUR COMMISSION. IF AGREE, PLEASE SEND US YOUR DETAIL.
WE ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL WORK ACCORDING TO YOUR SATISFACTION.
WE HOPE TO RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM YOU SIDE.
THANKS
BEST REGARDS
FAITHFULLY YOURS
SIRAJUDDIN KHALIL
MANAGING DIRECTOR
KHALIL TRADING CORPORATION
31-PALOSI MAGHDARZAI
P.O.BOX 820 PESHAWAR UNIVERSITY
NWFP PAKISTAN
PHONE 0092915702624
FAX 0092915704693
CELL 00923139092739
E-MAIL arifuddinkhalil@yahoo.com