Catalogue description Christopher Pratt and Sons of North Parade, Bradford, furniture makers, upholsterers and decorators, records

Drawings and designs for furniture for both commercial and private use, including desks, shop counters and display units, dressers and chairs, c1920-1959

Photographs and glass slides made for advertising purposes; photographs of Christopher Pratt and other managing directors 1888-1903; photographs and papers relating to 'Phlashetts' in the village of Well near Bedale, the home of Thomas Pratt

Engineering drawings and blueprints for 7 aircraft, notably flying boats, designed by the Pratts/Phoenix partnership, many by Felix Koolhoven, the Dutch seaplane designer who had moved to Newcastle, comprising: the Short Brothers Type 184 float plane (or seaplane), the Short Brothers Type 184 bomber (bi-plane), the Armstrong Whitworth FK 10 quadruplane, the Phoenix Cork P5 flying boat, the Maurice Farman S7 Longhorn Trainer and Shorthorn bi-plane, the Felixstowe F3 and F5 flying boat, 1915-1918; with research notes, news cuttings and articles relating to them

Photographs of Felixstowe flying boats and other aircraft under construction and undergoing trials, c1917-1919

Christopher Pratt and Sons

Open by appointment

• Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire
• Manufacturing industry
• Aircraft

Pratts commenced their furniture business in c1839, designing and making furniture for a wide range of clients including local churches, shops, banks and schools (Bradford Grammar School). The firm also made a contribution to the aviation scene in World War I when in 1915 it entered into an arrangement with Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co Ltd (later English Electric Co Ltd) to assist in the manufacture of wooden parts for aircraft. Phoenix had entered into a consortium led by Short Brothers and the Aircraft Manufacturing Company which had links to de Havilland.