The colour manufacturer T. W. Harrison his son, S. T. Harrison in partnership with George P. Rataud built on the site of the Tintorex Works, Hanley and formed themselves into the Potters Decorative Supply Company. 

The  Works burnt down in March 1905 and a new company Ratauds Ltd, was formed to take over the business of the Potters Decorative Supply Company. This new company operated from the Helvatica Works, Parker Street, Hanley. Harrison & Son were not part of the new company. ^[1]

After the introduction of decals, low-paid working-class women known as decal girls applied decorations onto blanks under the watchful eye of a male superintendent. This labor strategy allowed potteries to cut production costs significantly. The widespread use of decals thereby furthered the deskilling process that had begun with the adoption of printed embellishments in the 1870s."

"Trenton [NJ, USA] decorators had failed in their attempt to broach the mass market by experimenting with decals. Making decals compatible with ceramics presented a complex challenge. European ceramists had toyed with decals since the late 1830s, and their technology did not achieve perfection until the 1890s, when potters, color manufacturers, and ceramics printers pooled their expertise to create a special paper that suited both pottery shapes and enamels. 

By 1898, firms like the Potters’ Decorative Supply Company and the Chromo Transfer Company, both in Staffordshire [England], used duplex paper to make decals for English and American potters. In the twentieth century, English printers such as the Universal Transfer Company in Hanley continued to refine decals through the use of rotary offset printing and photolithography. These firms employed staff artists, who created entirely new designs and who adapted drawings supplied by potteries for chromolithographic printing. Ceramics printers made decals to manufacturers’ specifications and guaranteed not to sell those designs to competing potteries. In time, decal manufacturers would eclipse china decorators as the pottery industry’s embellishing experts."

Imagining Consumers: Design and Innovation from Wedgwood to Corning - China Mania ^[2]

• Around 1884 Pierre Georges Rataud of Limoges, France came to Stoke-on-Trent, England with a view to introducing an improved method of decorating ceramic ware. 
  
  This initial venture did not succeed and he returned to France. A few years later he returned to England and went into partnership with the established colour and glaze manufacturer Thomas William Harrison who was based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. 

"In 1870 T. W. Harrison built the Providence building in Wilson Street, Hanley, and in 1897 he pulled down a number of cottages in Wilson Street and in partnership with George P. Rataud, and his son, S. T. Harrison [Sydney Thomas], built on the site of the Tintorex Works, forming themselves into the Potters Decorative Supply Company. 

The Tintorex Works was burnt down in 1904 [actually March 1905], and the land passed into the possession of Harrison and Son (Hanley), Ltd., in 1906."  

Raw Materials for the Potter - Harrison & Son (p.93).

 

 

Tintoretto Works Wilson Street
for Ceramic Litho Printing 

This Harrison & Son letterhead (dated 25th November 1898) identifies a number 
of undertakings including the lithograph printing works in Wilson Street Hanley
- which was a partnership with  Pierre Georges Rataud. 

NOTE: The name of the works has been variously referred to as Tinoretto, Tintorex and Tintoret

• The success of the Potters' Decorative Supply Company was no doubt due to the reputation of the well established Harrison & Son businesses. 

• In 1904 the Potters' Decorative Supply Company exhibited at the 1904 Universal Exposition in Saint Louis, US.

Official Catalogue of Exhibits Universal Exposition Saint Louis 1904

• The Tintorex Works was totally destroyed by fire on March 18, 1905. Following this the Potters' Decorative Supply Company was then wound up. 

• Pierre G. Rataud joined his younger brother Paul A. Rataud, who for the previous three years  had carried on a small, though very successful ceramic transfer works at Parker-street, Hanley, and together they formed a new firm, registered under the title of Ratauds, Ltd. 

• Ratauds Ltd, was formed to take over the business of the Potters Decorative Supply Company. This new company operated from the Helvatica Works, Parker Street, Hanley. Harrison & Son were not part of the new company.

Ratauds Limited at the Helvetia Works, Hanley: 
1905-1914

After the closure of the Potters Decorative Supply Company a new company was set up to continue the manufacture of lithographic transfers.

This business was situated at the Helvetia Works, Hanley. These works had previously been used by the colour manufacturers Albert Wenger Ltd until their move around 1900 to Etruria. 

• Ratauds Limited was registered on the 15th July 1905 (company number: 85256). The capital of the company was 15,000 shares at £1 each. 

"To carry on the business of manufacturers and dealers in Ceramic Lithographic Transfers for the decoration of earthenware, china, glass and other goods, and... to acquire and take over  as a going concern the business and undertaking now carried on at Hanley, in the County of Stafford, by Paul Alfred Rataud.." 

• The original subscribers were:

• Paul Alfred Rataud died in France in December 1911, "where he had gone for the recovery of his health".  Pottery Gazette, April 1912. The London Gazette. 

• In 1914 Ratauds built the Alliance Works in Meigh Street, Hanley. 

Parker Street, Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent

Ratauds, Limited,
ceramic transfer manufacturers,
Helvetia Works

Ratauds Limited, Helvetia Works, Parker Street, Hanley, Staffs
Pioneers of the Ceramic Industry in England

Absolutely the finest ceramic transfers on the market
Unequalled for Quality & Price
Dépôts at Limoges, France
Trenton and East Liverpool, U.S.A.
where large stocks are kept

The business of Ratauds, Ltd., ceramic transfer manufacturers, Helvetia Works, Parker-street (off Marsh-street), Hanley, affords a remarkable instance of how industries can be imported from one country to another. 

Mr. P. G. Rataud, the head of the company, was a native of the famous town of Limoges, France, which is noted for its china manufactures and its magnificent school of art adapted to the requirements of that industry. He was brought up from childhood in the pottery trade, and, some twenty two years ago, he was induced to come over to this country with a view of introducing a newer and more artistic method of decorating ware. But he met with little encouragement from the manufacturers and workpeople, who preferred the old processes to which they were accustomed, and seemed to do all in their power to thwart and frustrate his efforts. 

Mr. Rataud returned to France, much disappointed and disgusted, and devoted a short period to perfecting the ideas he had already formed. He was strongly convinced that there was a great future for this business in England, so he saved what money he could, and came back again to start in a small way of business, determined to sink or swim. Before very long, Mr. T. W. Harrison, of the well-known colour works, an able and far-seeing business man, offered to go in partnership with him, with a view to the development and extension of this artistic method of decorating ware. Owing to its rapid and successful development, the concern was turned into a limited company in 1898, under the style of The Potters’ Decorative Supply Co., Ltd., which was carried on in the handsome and commodious premises known as Tintoret Works, Wilson-street, Hanley. This was, unfortunately, totally destroyed by fire on March 18, 1905. The company was then wound up, and Mr. P. G. Rataud joined his younger brother Mr. P. A. Rataud, who for the last three years had carried on a small, though very successful ceramic transfer works at Parker-street, Hanley, and formed a new firm, registered under the title of Ratauds, Ltd. 

Having acquired some adjoining premises, altogether covering a floor space of something like 15,000 square feet, they have now a very large works, devoted solely to ceramic transfer manufacture. The firm laid down entirely new machinery and appliances of the most up-to date patterns, with a view to maintaining the high standard and reputation enjoyed by the Potters’ Decorative Supply Co., of which they bought the goodwill. In this they have been remarkably successful, and are producing ceramic transfers of first-class quality. 

We are informed that they supply all the leading pottery manufacturers of this country, and many in Germany and Limoges, in which latter place they have a depot. They are also fully represented in the United States, both at Trenton, N.J., and East Liverpool, Ohio, where their goods have a high reputation. Their method is described as being most artistic, for, when well executed, every touch of the artist is faithfully portrayed in every transfer, and the close connection between the designer and the finished product is an essential feature of all true art.

The Pottery Gazette, January 1 1906

Ratauds Ltd., of the Helvetia Works, Parker-street, Hanley, are known far and wide, both in this country and abroad as manufacturers of ceramic Transfers. The company claim to have been the pioneers of the ceramic transfer industry in England. 

Well over a quarter of a century ago M. Pierre Rataud, the head of the company, first turned his attention to ceramic transfers whilst painting flowers in Limoges. He worked for numerous firms, amongst others Messrs. Field Haviland, Chas. Haviland, and Gerard. 

Twenty-four years ago he came to England, and for a number of years was a member of the artistic staff of S. Bridgwood & Son. Longton, and Mintons, Ltd., of Stoke. During this time he endeavoured, with somewhat indifferent success, to introduce transfers. For a long time it was difficult to persuade the master potters to take them up. A number of firms used them in a tentative sort of way before M. Rataud commenced manufacturing them on his own account, but he asserts that there was no ceramic transfer industry at all in this country until he set up his small works in Victoria-square, Hanley, fourteen years ago. 

At first the task of popularising the transfers was very uphill work, but he placed on the market a range of patterns applicable to table, toilet, and fancy ware, which gradually "caught on", and eventually created a great demand. 

In course of time M. Rataud joined Messrs. Harrison in partnership in the Potters’ Decorative Supply Co., Hanley, and was assisted for a time by his brother, M. Paul Rataud, who, however, afterwards set up in business for himself at the company’s present works in Parker-street. 

Disaster befell the Potters’ Decorative Supply Co.’s works about a year and nine months ago, when the premises were completely destroyed by fire, and after this calamity the brothers Rataud joined forces at Parker-street, and purchased the goodwill of the Potters’ Decorative Supply Co. Since then the Helvetia Works has been considerably extended, and is today even larger than were the works of the P. D. S. Co. 

A staff of eighty is kept constantly employed, the business increases from day to day, and a large trade is transacted with all parts of the world, many orders, curiously enough, being received from Limoges, where the brothers Rataud first became associated with the trade. The fact that the company to-day supplies the largest firms in the Potteries, and also most of the leading firms at Limoges and in the United States is sufficient testimony to the esteem in which their goods are held. 

On the occasion of our visit to the works, M. Pierre Rataud showed us numerous letters from large local firms expressing satisfaction with the goods supplied. The following are typical examples 

"We have received a report respecting the transfers sent out recently. They are, by far, in advance of anything we have seen before, and in fairness to you, I have pleasure in now saying how pleased I am with the work you have done. The patterns were exquisitely drawn and splendidly printed."

 Again, 

"We wish to compliment you on the quality and finish of the sheets and the general excellence of your work. We consider this litho the finest we have yet had, and our clients are very pleased with the goods that have been delivered of this pattern." 

Numbers of the company’s customers, of course, have patterns specially reserved for themselves, but others buy from the open stock, which is extremely large. The transfers shown us, manufactured both for overglaze and underglaze work, were remarkable for their daintiness and exquisite colouring, combining, as they did, the artistic qualities of both French and English taste. A charming range of patterns for dinner ware is held. 

In a number of cases the effect had been to impart to trial pieces of earthenware an appearance so much like china that many not conversant with the trade might easily be mistaken as to the nature of the body without closer examination. The underglaze patterns are calculated to excite more admiration even than the overglaze. The colours come up with a fine brilliancy which impart a beautiful finish to the charming floral designs, roses, peach blossoms, &c., we were shown. The underglaze transfers are especially suitable for hotel and other ware in constant use, which is liable to be repeatedly plunged into water containing soda and other chemical ingredients, the influence of which would be liable to cause overglaze colours to wear away and gradually disappear. The use of underglaze transfers naturally obviates this liability. The company does not confine its attentions to floral decorations, the transfers cover every kind of ornamentation, and are held in greatest variety. Ratauds, Ltd., have depots at Limoges, and at Trenton and East Liverpool, U.S.A., at each of which places large stocks are held.

The Pottery Gazette, December 1 1906

Ratauds Limited at the Alliance Works, Hanley: 
1914 - c.1986

• In 1914 Ratauds moved to the Alliance Works in Meigh Street, Hanley. 

• Around 1948 Ratauds came under the control of the Capper family who operated Ben Capper Ltd - also a transfer manufacturer. 

• In 1957 the directors of Ratauds were: Harold Capper (Chairman and Managing Director), Charles Percival Wright and Rees Thomas Charles Jones. 

• Ratauds Ltd and Ben Capper Ltd continued to operate as two companies. 

• April 1982 a motion was passed that directors of Ratauds Limited "shall be appointed by Ben Capper Limited". 

• Ratauds Meigh Street works were demolished as part of the clearance to build a ring road in Hanley's. The 'Potteries Way' opened in October 1986.

• Ratauds production moved to Capper's works in Morley Street, Hanley

The 1960 advert is for 'Litheen' 

"Lithographic water slide Transfers" "Its easy, they just slide on in an instant, no special skill required" 

"Output per operative can be increased by as much as 100 per cent by the use of this simple process which can be carried out by unskilled labour - It is so easy"

Advantages listed are:

• No stripping sheets

• No cutting out

• No sizing ware

• No rubbing down

• No soaping

• No soaking off paper

• No mending due to frizzling, etc.

Litheen transfers are only made by Ben Capper Ltd and Ratauds Ltd.

Pottery Gazette Reference Book 1960 

The City of Stoke-on-Trent Official Handbook 1977

Ratauds Limited at the Capper's works, Morley Street, Hanley: 
 c.1986

• around 1986, when Ratauds Meigh Street works were demolished for road development, Ratauds production moved to Capper's works in Morley Street, Hanley

• By 1994 Ratauds Limited had become a dormant company but the Ratauds name was continued as Capper Rataud Ltd. 

• 3rd December 2001 the Capper Rataud Ltd shares were transferred to Emery Colours Limited of Napier Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Ratauds - a dormant company: 
 

• 3rd December 2001 the Capper Rataud Ltd shares were transferred to Emery Colours Limited. On the 11th December 2001 the shares held by Emery Colours were transferred to James M. Brown Limited. (Both companies of Napier Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent).

• In the James M. Brown Limited accounts of 31 December 2002 it was noted that Brown's held 100% of the shares of both Emery Colours Ltd and Ratauds Ltd. Ratauds was recorded as a 'dorman company' 

• December 2010 the ultimate parent company was Tennants Consolidated Limited.

• In October 2017 Ratauds Limited was voluntarily wound up, having been dormant from 1994. 

• "The Mellor and Capper stock and artwork is now owned and sold by Bailey Decal Ltd."  - statement on the Bailey Decal web site (2025). 

Source: Much of this information is gleaned from the filing history of Ratauds Ltd at Companies House. 

Ratauds' and Capper-Ratauds' produced open stock "Lithographic water slide Transfers" - these were produced in generic styles and available for purchase off the shelf. 

They also had sample ware made using their transfers - it is not sure who produced this ware for them.