French, Fortin Freres (Bros) Butter Factory Seal, Calvados, Image by StuE Found by Colin Gilbert.
Found in the Colchester region, 18mm.
VIRE, FORTIN...ES curving down (CALVADOS) curving up around // undiciphered inscription curving down / GARANTI(E) / PUR(E) curving up
Vire is a town and a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.
From Philippe Lanez, "FORTIN FRERES (Bros) BUTTER FACTORY since 1866, nowadays became auction room. Upper part of curving legend obove GARANTI might be ORIGINE FRANCE. In the history of Martin Bros Establishment we can read, 'The two brothers Martin started their activity on December 1, 1909, at a place called Moulin de Tracy, in the town of Neuville, which became attached to Vire in 1953. Some butter and egg merchants like the important Maison Fortin Frères, were already present in Neuville since 1867.'
Didier Beurre, 'Two invoices received in recent days provide additional information on FORTIN establishments in Neuville near Vire.
The first decorated invoice, dated April 5, 1895, indicates that the butter factory was operating since 1880 since the butter is presented at two competitions in Le Mans and Switzerland in Neufchâtel that same year.
It is a quality butter that gets many prizes until it is ranked as standout from 1887.'
In 1895 it is Pierre FORTIN who is the owner. In 1899 there was an association between brothers and in 1908 again Pierre FORTIN alone. In 1947, the name of Fortin disappeared from the headers and the bill dated June 25, 1947 mentions "Beurrerie de Vire" Yet it is the same institution since the top left is: jury member hors concours since 1887 ".
The crates of butter are shipped by train with the approval of the General Supply of Calvados. It must not be forgotten that, even though the war has been over for two years, France still lives under a system of restrictions and that ration tickets are still in force for the purchase of basic necessities.'
Cent ans de chocolat à Tinchebray, 'Pierre Fortin officially created the chocolate factory of Tinchebray in 1909, but the production did not really start until 1910,'