A Long and Established History
In the mid 1860s the larger trading companies in Bridgetown had their own small printing departments. These inefficient and expensive departments were necessary to produce the business stationery. With the advent of steam powered cargo ships, it became possible for businesses to order their stationery from Britain as delivery times to Barbados were now shortened.
The Barbados Recorder
It was at this time that Frederick Cole, then employed as a printer with one of these companies, bought up as much of the printing equipment as he could. Fred named his company Cole's Printery and opened his doors to all customers. Years later Charles Frederick Cole inherited the business from his father Fred and expanded it making a name for the company by publishing the works of Edward Cordle and other social commentators of the time. He also founded the newspaper The Barbados Recorder and introduced The Handy Barbados Diary, while continuing the job printing section.
In 1929 Charles' son Frederick James Cole joined the company and continued the publishing section by restarting the newspaper, which had been closed earlier by his father. Fred introduced modern typesetting equipment, enlarged the press and binding departments and opened a stationery retail department. He was ably supported over the next four decades by his wife Rosie and sister Ena.
Cole's Adopts New Printing Technology
Until the mid 1940s printing had remained craft based, much as it had been for the past 500 years. When Fred and Rosie's eldest son John entered the printing tradition, it was essential that he train as an apprentice studying under Mr. Godfrey Skeete, head of the typesetting department and later Mr. Barnwell the foreman. John was exposed to hot type setting, composing and proofreading. He travelled to England to further his studies and saw there new technology being used in the printing industry. John returned home to Barbados in 1959 becoming the fourth generation to enter Cole's Printery.
Cole's Printery began to use the new worldwide printing technology. Processes such as lithographic or offset printing, automatic feeding presses and film typesetting required new skills. In 1960 Cole's Printery stopped printing the tri-weekly newspaper The Barbados Recorder, and instead focused on job work such as books of various formats and a range of diaries.
In 1968 Fred Cole sole proprietor, changed his company into a limited liability company and gave his four children; Barbara Ann, John, Julian and David controlling interest in it. David and Julian joined John in their new enterprise, leaving the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society, and Barclays Bank respectively.
Fire Destroys Building
In 1970 a disastrous fire swept through the block which housed the Printery on the corner of Middle and Victoria Streets. Temporary premises were loaned by J.A.K. Archer & Co. Ltd., and a well equipped newspaper plant was rented to the company while they planned the relocation and construction of new premises. This plant was owned by the Democratic Labour Party and Cole's contract with the political party included producing a weekly edition of their newspaper The Democrat.
In 1973 Cole's Printery built a new factory at Wildey and moved in with new equipment and some of their old machinery salvaged and rebuilt from the fire. In 1973 Fred Cole retired after 44 years with the company. His sons John, Julian and David continued to expand their clientele by seeking business in the recently independent small Caribbean nations, particularly Trinidad and St. Lucia.
In 1977 Rosie Cole retired from the Printery after many years of dedicated service. Two years later in 1979 Rosie died. In the same year Julian emigrated to Canada after spending 11 years with the company.
Expansion into Tourism
Cole's Printery continued to expand and with Edghill Associates invested in an eight acre property which opened in 1981 as Casuarina Beach Club. After David's death in 1985, his wife Sonia (Bonnie) became a director and later Manager/Director playing an important role in its further development. Bonnie took the lead in establishing environmentally friendly management practices, and saw that the hotel supported other areas of the broader community, notably fine arts and organisations which assisted in social concerns.
James takes Cole's forward
David and Bonnie's son James joined the printery in 1986 becoming the fifth generation of the Cole family to be involved in the family business and in Barbados' printing industry. James started from the bottom and worked his way through the various production departments whilst taking various technical and accounting courses mainly in the U.S.A. James has helped to streamline many areas of the operation, and has been instrumental in introducing some of the most modern printing equipment into the family company, while looking out for new areas of investment. In 1993 James was appointed a director of Cole's Printery and three years later in 1996 he became a director of Casuarina Beach Club. In the same year, John Cole retired after 37 years in the industry. In 2004 John, Julian and Barbara Ann sold their shares in Cole's Printery Ltd. James Cole now takes Cole's Printery forward as Manager/Director celebrating over 140 years of printing excellence.
Many individuals have assisted in the development of Cole's Printery. We sincerely thank all of the dedicated employees who over many years gave their all to ensure that the company survived and rose to play its part in the overall development of our nation. After 140 years, Cole's Printery remains a successful and enterprising printing business still serving Barbados and the greater Caribbean.
