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Richard Johnson and Nephew was a British iron manufacturer based in Manchester, with its origins dating back to 1773. The business originally evolved from a Manchester pin-making shop into Richard Johnson & Brother under John Johnson’s sons, Richard and William. After William’s death, Richard partnered with his nephew, John Thewlis Johnson, leading to the official name change to Richard Johnson & Nephew in 1865.
The company became famous for revolutionising the global wire industry through two significant technological breakthroughs in the early 1860s: the world’s first continuous wire galvanising plant and the first successful continuous rod rolling mill.
The company was highly influential, providing wire for early cross-channel and transatlantic telegraph cables, as well as the Niagara Suspension Bridge and the UK’s National Grid.
In 1971 the firm of Oliver Jessel acquired nearly 40% holding in Richard Johnson & Nephew. Jessel would join the board and take over as Chairman. He then actively sought to steer the company toward consolidation. At the same time he began a program of corporate takeovers, mergers and major industrial layout updates.
As part of this drive, a new corporate identity was sought out. One that would bring continuity and consistency to the growing group, leverage economies of scale, and increase the overall perception of the brand as it expanded and intended to expand over the coming decade.
At the time, the Richard Johnson and Nephew Group included a number of subsidiary companies and affiliates. These included Johnson & Nephew (Non-Ferrous) Limited, Johnson & Nephew (Steel) Limited and Johnson & Nephew (Mill Street) Limited.
In order to bring these into coherence, two key assets were devised, a J-N monogram and a new corporate alphabet.