Wig

A

Avantbo

Registered Guest
Hi not logged in for a while, hope everyone is keeping well.

Been tremendously busy photographing and cataloging my own collection and still a way to go.

Need help on a London Wig and Theatrical Supplier, I can find almost nothing on them.

J.H. Spanns

Had commercial premises/shop front located at 7 Lisle Street, WC2.

Found a photo of the shop dated 1949, prior to this the premises was occupied by a company called " Bioscope Film and Supply Company, this was in 1915, but are not related I don't think.

So between those two dates although the company could have been trading elsewhere.

Does any one know of J.H. Spanns, Circa would be good and when they stopped trading?
 
Your search might be more fruitful if you search under 'J.H. Spaans' (with two 'a's and one 'n'). I found a wig box with that address on etsy, dated 1930s, an undated wig in the National Trust collection (no date but seems to have some age) and a 1960 programme that mentions them at the Lisle St address (see pdf here). I found a bunch of other links too: I recommend you try another search and see if you can find what you're looking for.

Nicole
 
Circa Vintage Clothing said:
Your search might be more fruitful if you search under 'J.H. Spaans' (with two 'a's and one 'n'). I found a wig box with that address on etsy, dated 1930s, an undated wig in the National Trust collection (no date but seems to have some age) and a 1960 programme that mentions them at the Lisle St address (see pdf here). I found a bunch of other links too: I recommend you try another search and see if you can find what you're looking for.

Nicole
Click to expand...
Thanks Nicole,

I had found the links you mentioned, it's where I got most of what info I had came from.

The other links you mention I had delved into some to see if I could get a lead but came up empty.

The Spanns name while a little unusual in this country is a popular name in the Netherlands regions and the other links you mentioned link to those Spanns in the chemical and scientific community.

I was hoping someone might tell me what the J and the H stood for. Again I took some pot shots at popular Dutch first names--nothing.

I went boggled eyed searching a few phone directories, finding the address was not difficult but can't find any info/links when they were first established, in fact anything on who they were accept for the info in my and your posts.

The premises its self has a minor role in our history but Spanns probably held a lease only.

Hair pieces/wigs of theirs are held in private collections and some museums but no info at least none I found.

Thanks for the link to the Panto' program, so they were still around in the early 60s, good to know.

Further links or info would be appreciated from members.
 
Avantbo said:
Thanks Nicole,

I had found the links you mentioned, it's where I got most of what info I had came from.

The other links you mention I had delved into some to see if I could get a lead but came up empty.

The Spanns name while a little unusual in this country is a popular name in the Netherlands regions and the other links you mentioned link to those Spanns in the chemical and scientific community.

I was hoping someone might tell me what the J and the H stood for. Again I took some pot shots at popular Dutch first names--nothing.

I went boggled eyed searching a few phone directories, finding the address was not difficult but can't find any info/links when they were first established, in fact anything on who they were accept for the info in my and your posts.

The premises its self has a minor role in our history but Spanns probably held a lease only.

Hair pieces/wigs of theirs are held in private collections and some museums but no info at least none I found.

Thanks for the link to the Panto' program, so they were still around in the early 60s, good to know.

Further links or info would be appreciated from members.
Click to expand...

Hi there,

I've been doing some research and came across this thread. JH Spaans was my grandfather, the JH stands for John Henry, he was named after his father Jan Hendrik who was from Rotterdam.

Any information you have would be most grateful. If you have any questions I'll try and answer them the best I can.

Thank you,

Gemma
 
Avantbo said:
Hi not logged in for a while, hope everyone is keeping well.

Been tremendously busy photographing and cataloging my own collection and still a way to go.

Need help on a London Wig and Theatrical Supplier, I can find almost nothing on them.

J.H. Spanns

Had commercial premises/shop front located at 7 Lisle Street, WC2.

Found a photo of the shop dated 1949, prior to this the premises was occupied by a company called " Bioscope Film and Supply Company, this was in 1915, but are not related I don't think.

So between those two dates although the company could have been trading elsewhere.

Does any one know of J.H. Spanns, Circa would be good and when they stopped trading?
Click to expand...
I remember JH Spaans very well and used to go to their shop when I was around 17 years old as I wanted to become a wigmaker which I did. I often bought small theatrical items from the shop and Miss Spaans would come from out of the back holding a piece of hair and a knotting hook which is used to attach the hairs into wigs. The shop smelled of theatrical spirit gum which was used to glue beards and moustaches onto the face for theatre. The shop had a mahogany counter with a glass and mahogany show case on it housing a selection of their pre made facial hair. There were a couple of wax display busts one which I bought from them as I thought it a beautiful thing. They had a shop window at number 7 filled with all manner of styled period and character wigs. I remember a 1950s film in which a character who was a murderer trying to disguise himself went into the shop in the film in order to purchase a false beard and moustache ! I remember they closed I think in the 1970s? when Miss Spaans by that time was retirement age. Very fond memories .
 
irememberwhen said:
I remember JH Spaans very well and used to go to their shop when I was around 17 years old as I wanted to become a wigmaker which I did. I often bought small theatrical items from the shop and Miss Spaans would come from out of the back holding a piece of hair and a knotting hook which is used to attach the hairs into wigs. The shop smelled of theatrical spirit gum which was used to glue beards and moustaches onto the face for theatre. The shop had a mahogany counter with a glass and mahogany show case on it housing a selection of their pre made facial hair. There were a couple of wax display busts one which I bought from them as I thought it a beautiful thing. They had a shop window at number 7 filled with all manner of styled period and character wigs. I remember a 1950s film in which a character who was a murderer trying to disguise himself went into the shop in the film in order to purchase a false beard and moustache ! I remember they closed I think in the 1970s? when Miss Spaans by that time was retirement age. Very fond memories .
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, my apologies for not answering sooner.

So they stopped trading in the the 70s?
 
Gemma Spaans said:
Hi there,

I've been doing some research and came across this thread. JH Spaans was my grandfather, the JH stands for John Henry, he was named after his father Jan Hendrik who was from Rotterdam.

Any information you have would be most grateful. If you have any questions I'll try and answer them the best I can.

Thank you,

Gemma
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, do you know when the London shop was opened.

Was the Father " Jan Hendrik " a wig maker in his own right?
 
I honestly dont know their family history only that I used to visit the shop and looked upon the wonderful hair goods with awe ! I was sad they closed but I imagine Miss Spain's as I heard her called retired and I dont know any other family facts. I kind of imagine that her father was a wigmaker originally. I also dont know when the shop was opened but it had wonderful mahogany cabinets inside reminiscent of of late 1800s or maybe early 1900s.
 
irememberwhen said:
I honestly dont know their family history only that I used to visit the shop and looked upon the wonderful hair goods with awe ! I was sad they closed but I imagine Miss Spain's as I heard her called retired and I dont know any other family facts. I kind of imagine that her father was a wigmaker originally. I also dont know when the shop was opened but it had wonderful mahogany cabinets inside reminiscent of of late 1800s or maybe early 1900s.
Click to expand...
Thank you. :)
 
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