John S. Brown & Sons, Manufacturers of Linens - from The Industries of Ireland, 1891

John S. Brown & Sons, Manufacturers of Table Linens, Diapers, Sheeting, Cambric Handkerchiefs, Shirting Linen, &z. Warehouse: 12, Bedford Street, Belfast.—This old and distinguished house, which has operated in connection with the Irish linen industry for upwards of a century, established itself in Belfast in 1860, an 1 has occupied its present large and handsome warehouse in Bedford Street since 1877. Here upwards of seventy assistants are employed, and complete facilities exist for the proper conduct of a business which has become one of the most extensive and important in its line in the city. Messers John S. Brown & Sons have their large and splendidly-equipped power-loom works at Edenderry, on the Lagan, about five miles from Belfast. This factory is fitted with a large and valuable plant of the most improved modern machinery, and it is especially noteworthy that the firm construct all their own looms and other apparatus, being thus enabled to fully meet all the requirements of their industry in the manner suggested by their own long and comprehensive experience. For practical organisation of working resources, perfect sanitation, complete equipment in every department, and large productive capacity, these works at Edenderry are as notable as any in the Belfast district. They employ a very numerous force of hands, and their output embraces a great variety of power-woven and hand-made table linen, sheetings, towellings, diapers, shirting linen, and cambric handkerchiefs. The firm have their principal speciality in table linen, to which they have long devoted particular attention ; and for artistic beauty and elegance of design, combined with perfection of texture and finish, we have not seen any linens of this class which excel Messrs. Brown's irreproachable manufactures. Similar commendation may be unhesitatingly accorded to the various other linen textiles produced by the house under notice, and the rare merit and beauty of these fabrics will be further appreciated when we say that they have won eminent medallic honours at the Exhibitions of London, 1851, 1862, and 1870; Dublin, 1835 and 1872; Belfast, 1870; Paris, 1867; and Philadelphia, 1876. This list of awards includes gold medals gained at Paris (1867), and London (1870). Messrs. John S. Brown & Sons conduct a wholesale and export trade of remarkable magnitude and influence, and their manufactures are sent to almost every market in the world, always meeting with a favourable reception and an increasing demand. The firm are largely represented by travellers and agents at home and abroad, and have warehouses at 26, Gresham Street, London, E.C., and 116 and 118, Franklin Street, New York. The well known trademark of the house, a shamrock, is woven into all goods manufactured at the Edenderry Works. Messrs. John S. Brown & Sons are held in the highest esteem and respect as representatives of Ireland’s greatest national industry, and they hold larger contracts probably than any other linen firm in the United Kingdom, including large orders from the British Government, several leading railways, and a number of important hotels in various parts of Great Britain and Ireland.

Source: The Industries of Ireland, Part I Belfast and Towns of the North, Historical Publishing Company, 1891

The company is mentioned in several advertisements in St Paul Globe.