Joseph Firkins succeeded to a glove business that had been started at the end of the 18th century, and while trading under the name of Joseph Firkins & Co did exclusive trade all over the country. An interesting reference in Berrows Worcester Journal of June 17, 1952, describes that in that year the firm bought out what was known in the trade as 'the long thumb', which was to be an important new development. On the expiration of its registration, Roussilion of Paris patented the cut and called his glove 'The Josephine'. This was a well known glove for many years, and later Fownes of Worcester obtained a patent for the same kind of cut, and manufactured it into the early part of this century.