Educational Resources

This Digital Resource Library was created by the Jewish Museum London learning team. The Library brings together objects, video and audio that relate to the Jewish experience in Wales from collections across the country and is specifically designed for teachers and students.

Pamphlet (Object)

Copyright/attribution: Jewish History Association of South Wales

Copyright/attribution: Jewish History Association of South Wales

Copyright/attribution: Jewish History Association of South Wales

Copyright/attribution: Jewish History Association of South Wales

Copyright/attribution: Jewish History Association of South Wales

Object held at Rhondda Heritage Park, Digital Image & Research copyright Jewish Historical Association of South Wales.

What do you see?

We can see the outline of a sewing machine. We can also see the date 1965. Look closely, what do you see?

What do we know?

This is a booklet for the Rhondda Trades Fair. It was held at De Winton Field in Tonypandy from the 19 to 26 June 1965. The booklet has adverts for two Jewish businesses in the Treforest industrial estate, Porth Textiles and Polikoff’s, both of which established in 1939.

Porth Textiles Ltd. produced different types of ribbons and Polikoff’s was a clothing and tailoring company.

Alfred Polikoff (Wales) Ltd was founded in 1939 by a Russian Jewish businessman Alfred Polikoff. He began his business in London in partnership with Joseph Pezaro. Polikoff’s specialised in making Ladies clothing including skirts and blouses as well as men’s clothing. However, the partnership ended 1908. Polikoff then built a clothing factory in Hackney in East London.

During the war, the company worked for the War Department making military uniforms. Even though the business began in Hackney in London, another factory was set up at Ynyswen, Treorchy (Rhondda). The business was acquired by Great Universal Stores in 1948. In the 1980s it was taken over by G.H.S. Fashions.

What do we wonder?

We might wonder what job Alfred Polikoff had in Russia before migrating to Wales? We also might wonder how many pieces of clothing the factory produced each year? What do you wonder?

Discussion Questions

Why is it important to learn more about Jewish businesses when learning about Welsh history?

What skills did Alfred Polikoff need to run a successful business?