FORTUNES MADE BY ADVERTISING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4417, 22 May 1922, Page 1

FORTUNES MADE BY ADVERTISING.

£653,056 FROM BIRD’S CUSTARD

POWDER.

Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, o£ Tudor Grange, Solihull, Warwickshire, chairman of Messrs Alfred Bird and Sons,.Ltd., manufacturing chemists, of Birmingham, who died from the effects of a street accident on February 7, aged ’72, left "estate of the gross value of £653,656 12s 9d, with net personalty £571,371 14s 3d. The duties on the property .will amount to more than £186,000.

/ 9ir Alfred Bird was principally associated in the public mind with the '‘custard powder” bearing his name. The business had a very modest beginning, but by judicious and constant advertisement Bird’s Custard Powder is known throughout the world. The enormous value of advertising is shown by the fortunes left by the proprietors of widely advertised goods. Lord Burton, of the firm of Bass, the Brewers, left’ £7,000,000; Sir Frederick Wills, the tobacco merchant, left £2.918,114, and three other partners in the firm, Lord Winterstoke, Mr H. O. Wills, and Sir Henry Wills, also died millionaires. Mr Peter Robinson, the draper, and Mr William-Whiteley, the general provider. bequeathed £1,119 5 66J and £l,452,825 respectively, Among other big advertisers’ fortunes are: Sir Henry Tate, sugar refiner, £1,263,565 ; Mr G. T. Fulford, “Pink pills,” £1,311,000 ; Sir J. Blundell Maple, furniture, £2,158^202; Mr Charles Lea/ Lea and Perrin’S Sauce, £1,070,137 ; Mr Francis Reckitt, Reckitt’s Blue, £1,007,165 ; Mr C. W. Post, "Grape Nuts,” £4,294,423; Mr J. C. ®no, fruit salts, £1,611,607 ; Mr H. JSteinz, pickles and Bailees, £1,122,000.