Details

Name

Joseph Wright

Brief Biography

by 1884 - 1933, British / Scottish

Occupation

umbrella makers

Description

Joseph Wright was a Scottish umbrella manufacturer and proprietor of the Glasgow Umbrella Manufactory, maker of the Royal Drooko umbrella. Joseph Wright was born in 1849 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, the son of James Wright, a hair dresser, and his wife, Margaret Shearer. The Census for 1881 records Joseph Wright, 32, umbrella manufacturer, living with his father on Academy Street, Coatbridge. Two years later his first listing in the Post Office Directory for Glasgow is as 'Wright, Joseph, umbrella maker and hairdresser' in Coatbridge. By 1884 Wright had opened premises at 48 Argyll Arcade, Glasgow, and placed his first advertisement in The Glasgow Herald on 21 November 1884 for his umbrellas made with dagmar silk covers that were 'guaranteed not to cut'. The listing goes on to state that 'all umbrellas re-covered bear our name and trade mark - the dog Wallace carrying the umbrellas'. An advertisement in The Glasgow Herald on 14 September 1886 marks the first mention of the company's name as the Glasgow Umbrella Manufactory and the Drooko umbrella, named after the Scots' term 'drookit' meaning drenched. It stated that 'Her Majesty was presented a few days ago with a specially made Umbrella from Mr Joseph Wright's noted manufactory, 48 Argyle Arcade, Glasgow. The handle of the umbrella is a round globe of fine gold representing the world, studded over with precious stones to represent Her Majesty's dominions. [...] The material of which the umbrella is made is the latest of Mr Wright's inventions, which he has named "Drooko", the first specimen of which has been sent to the Queen.'

In 1888 the umbrellas were re-branded the 'Royal Drooko' with other noted owners including Princess of Wales, the actresses Lillie Langtry and Ellen Terry, and prime ministers, William Gladstone and Arthur Balfour.

The firm became successful with shops opening at 106 Argyle Street in 1888, 71 Union Street in 1892, 405 New City Road in 1895 and 441 Sauchiehall Street in 1898, as well as in Edinburgh, Greenock, Ayr and briefly London. The 'Royal Drooko' was also available to the public via mail order with advertisements as far afield as New Zealand. The umbrellas were made initially in Coatbridge but by 1894 a factory was established at 219 Argyle Street, Glasgow, moving to 6 Jamaica Street in 1909. The business became a limited company trading as Drooko Limited in 1913 or 1914. Joseph Wright died suddenly, aged 66, at Wemyss Bay Railway Station on 16 November 1915. The business continued trading over the next two decades. By the mid-1920s the main office at 6 Jamaica Street had closed and several of the Glasgow shops relocated with the Directory listing 71 Union Street, 46 Queen street, 48 Argyle Arcade and 7 Charing Cross in 1925. By the early 1930s Drooko Limited was beginning to wind down with only the flagship store at 48 Argyle Arcade being retained. Drooko Limited stopped being listed in the Glasgow Directory in 1934.