CHAPTER IV
A Fire at the Dairy and a problem with unlabelled Cream
1912 – MARCH: A FIRE!
Ten months after Francis Harry Cable purchased the Model Dairy another article appeared in the Bexhill Chronicle, this one dated Saturday 9th March 1912.
The Bexhill Chronicle, Saturday, March 9, 1912
ANOTHER FIRE
DAMAGE AT THE MODEL DAIRY
The house of Mr. Cable, the proprietor of the Model Dairy, Marina, was the scene of an outbreak of fire late on Tuesday evening.
The fire apparently originated in the couch in the drawing-room, but the cause is unknown. Mr. Cable came out of the next room, and was about to go out and post a letter, when he noticed that the drawing-room was full of smoke.
Realising that something serious was happening, he broke the glass of the alarm box at the Metropole, and returned to the house.
With the assistance of a tram conductor and driver, who happened to be on the spot Mr. Cable quickly extinguished the fire with buckets of water. A considerable amount of damage was done to the furniture, including the couch, and the door of the drawing-room was badly burnt and charred, and the damage is estimated at about £70.
The fire rocket was exploded at 11:35, and thirteen of the fourteen firemen were at the fire station within five minutes awaiting orders, Captain F.G. Wise being in charge.
The Brigade were, however informed that their services were not required as the fire had already been extinguished.
REVIEWED
1912 – MAY: AN AWARD FOR FRANK
The Bexhill Horse Show prize giving is one of the oldest-established sporting events in that town, with a history dating back to 1903. The show is primarily equestrian includes showjumping, driving, showing classes and a dog show plus trade stands.
Frank Harry Cable entered a competition on Whit-Monday on 27th May 1912 in the “Lover of Animals” category, but I have no idea what they may have been, but it was a category in which he achieved first prize!
BEXHILL CUP DAY
SPLENDID EXHIBITION AT THE HORSE SHOW.
POPULAR HOLIDAY ATTRACTION.
Whit-Monday was Cup Day at Bexhill.
LIST OF AWARDS
Dairymen’s Two- wheel Turnout (nine entries). – 1 and silver cup, Mr. G. Shoesmith, Belle Hill; 2, Mr. W Hardie, Manor Farm Dairy; 3, Messrs Waite and Whybourne, High-street; v.h.c. and “Lover of Animals” first prize, Mr. F. Cable, Marina Model Dairy; “Lover of Animals” second prize, Messrs. Waite and Whybourne. Also entered: Mr. H. Shoesmith, Belle-hill.
REVIEWED
The Bexhill Horse Show – 27th May 1912 which was attended by Frank Harry Cable
1912 – THIS, I BELIEVE IS FRANK HARRY CABLE!
This photograph shows a milk delivery cart belonging to the Marina Model Dairy, the name of the dairy can be seen on the oval board above the wheel at the back. It is believed to have been taken c.1912 and it is my belief, the gentleman holding the reins, is FRANK HARRY CABLE!
As mentioned, the photograph is c.1912, the year after Frank Cable took ownership of the Marina Model Dairy in May 1911. In May 1912 Frank Harry Cable, of the Marina Model Dairy, won 1st Prize in an event at the Bexhill Horse Show. At the front of the cart the words ‘1st Prize’ can be seen. I have also compared the gentleman with a picture known to be of Frank Harry Cable, a copy of which I am seeking to obtain, and I’m pretty sure it is of the same person.
Additionally, as Frank Harry Cable was the owner of the Marina Model Dairy why wouldn’t it be him in this photograph? Why would he want someone else to take the spotlight? I’m reasonably sure the person in this photograph is Frank Harry Cable.
A milk delivery cart belonging to the Marina Model Dairy, together with, most probably, Frank Harry Cable. c.1912
A milk delivery cart belonging to the Marina Model Dairy, together with, most probably, Frank Harry Cable. c.1912
Click on the photograph to see a larger view.
Image Credit: Bexhill Museum.
1913 FEBRUARY: FRANK GETS ADDITIONAL PREMISES
Frank Cable is reported to have acquired a property in Devonshire Road, Bexhill to give his business a facility in one of the major streets in Bexhill.
The Chronicle, Saturday, February 15, 1913
News Notes of the Week
Mr. F. Cable, of the Marina Model Dairy, has secured the premises at the corner of Devonshire and St. Leonards Roads, and is fitting them up for a branch of his business.
REVIEWED
DEVONSHIRE ROAD BEXHILL
On the map below right, the location of Model Dairy, 9, Devonshire Road, Bexhill is marked with a red circle. It is on the corner of Devonshire Road and St. Leonards Road. The building, as it would have been in Frank Harry Cable‘s time, no longer remains. The photograph on the right, which is contemporary with the time Frank was owner of the dairy, is behind the tram and is also marked with a red circle. (Click on the images to see a larger view)
Devonshire Road, Bexhill. The location of Frank Cable’s Model Dairy.
1915 – NOVEMBER: FRANK APPEARS BEFORE MAGISTRATES
As reported in a local paper ‘The Chronicle’, Frank Harry Cable appears before the magistrates at Bexhill Petty Sessions facing a relatively minor charge. At this time Frank is 34 year old and has owned the dairy for over four years.
PRESERVED CREAM.
MUST BE SOLD IN LABELLED RECEPTACLES.
At the Bexhill Petty Sessions yesterday [Editor’s note:12th Nov 1915), before Mr. W.R. Dewing and other magistrates, Frank Cable, of the Model Dairy, 9, Devonshire Road, Bexhill, was charged with, on the 15th September [Editor’s note:1915], selling preserved cream, delivered by Daisy King, in his employment, which had not been labelled, in the proper way, as directed by the Food and Drugs Act.
Mr. F.W. Morgan, who represented the defendant, pleaded guilty.
Mr. J.J. Murray, inspector under the Food and Drugs Act for the East Sussex County Council, prosecuted, and stated that the proceedings were taken under the regulations and provisions made under the Act, that where preserved cream was sold in receptacles (in other words, cups or mugs) it must be labelled in a manner prescribed by the Act, and the amount of preserved cream must be named on the label. On the 15th September he sent his deputy to the defendant’s premises on Devonshire Road to purchase half a pint of cream. Half a pint of fresh cream was supplied to his deputy in a receptacle, and he paid for the cream. There was no reference made to the preservative being in the cream; there was no label on the receptacle, and it did not give any instructions as to the nature of the cream in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The Committee of the County Council gave instruction that the defendant should be written to in order to give him the opportunity of an explanation as to why the receptacle was not labelled, but the letter of explanation received from the defendant was not considered satisfactory. The letter the defendant had written was produced, and it admitted that there was .19 of boric acid in the cream sold, and explained that the cream had been sold by Daisy King, who had not been long in his employ, and that she had not put the label on the cup, though they were labels in the shop. The Mayor asked if the preserved cream was cheaper than ordinary cream. Mr. Murphy said he believed there was no difference in price. The defendant confirmed this statement.
The Magistrates’ Clark read the certificate of the County Analyst (Mr. A . Woodhead, M.Sc., F.I.C., of Uckfield College), who was present in Court. Mr. Morgan said that defendant was bound to plead guilty, although he knew nothing of the sale of this particular lot of preserved cream, he admitted he was responsible for the act of his assistant. The defendant had been obtaining these cups from a firm who had already agreed to supply them ready labelled. The firm sent some cups without labels, and the fact that they were not labelled was not noticed by the assistant in charge of the shop at the time, and she sold the cream in the cup without a label, though there were labels in the shop. There was no difference in price, no question of taking any advantage of the public. It was very difficult to get assistants who had not been long in the business to realise what the various regulations applicable were. The cream, however, supplied in this case was not an article inferior in any way to that was been intended to be purchased.
A fine of 5s. was at first inflicted. Mr. Murphy applied for the costs of the analysis, as stated that it would be £2 2s. The magistrates, having consulted the Clerk, imposed a penalty of £2 2s, which included cost. The money was paid by Mr. Cable.
REVIEWED
FOOTNOTE: It is highly probable that the aforementioned ‘Daisy King’, the newly employed assistant, who was responsible for this ‘offence’ on 15th September, was the successful applicant to an advertisement that appeared, around four weeks earlier, in the ‘Sussex Express, Surrey Standard and Kent Mail’ on Friday 13th August, 1915.
SITUATIONS VACANT – FEMALE
YOUNG LADY wanted to assist in shop – Apply, personally, F. Cable, Model Dairy, Marina. a21b
REVIEWED
Next Page: Further appearances before the Magistrates