Lazarus, L. & Sons

London; furniture makers (fl.1910-70)

Levy Lazarus arrived in London in 1897 from Odessa, Ukraine.

He worked at various furniture manufacturers, including possibly Harris Lebus, until 1910 when he established his own firm of L. Lazarus & Sons. In due course he was joined in the venture by his seven sons. They were Morris (b.1890), Harry (b.1892), Hyman (b.1894), Sydney (originally named Isaac, b.1896), Charles (b.1898), Jack (b.1901) and Barnet (b.1907). 

The firm started in Virginia Road, Bethnal Green, specialising in bedroom suites. Success led to various moves until a relatively large factory was taken at Lorenco Road, Tottenham, in the 1930s. At this time the firm supplied many clubs and institutions. 

During World War II, government contracts were forthcoming, then the production of utility furniture and in 1952 a move to Majority Works in Edmonton, still specialising in bedroom suites of a middle-grade. Hyman had left the firm in the 1930s and established H. L. Cabinets Ltd in Tottenham and was very successful. 

In 1960 the Lazarus brand was renamed Uniflex, producing flexible wall units of modular, adjustable design for use in sitting and dining rooms. 'Flatpack' furniture followed. 

The firm became publicly listed in the early 1970s and was taken over by the Hillsdown group later that decade. Uniflex, within this Group, went on to absorb Beresford & Hicks, Alfred Cox in Kings Lynn, Hunter Plywood near Watford, R. Whiting upholstery manufacturers and Pel Furniture in the Midlands.

Sources: Agius, British Furniture 1880-1915 (1978); Massil, Immigrant Furniture Workers in London 1881-1939 (1997); Massil, Immigrant Furniture Workers in London, 1881-1939.  A Supplement (2000).