Object numberM2015/005:005
DescriptionThis is a typed two-page letter from Gyula [Heitler, later: John Hilton] in Zurich to Sandor [Alexander] in Australia. The letter is dated 12th April 1946.
John Hilton was one of Sydney’s most successful fashion manufacturers. His success in Australia had its roots in a small town near Bratislava, where the parents of Gyula Heitler depended on his help in their general store. Here he learned how to buy and sell. Arriving from Europe in 1947, Gyula changed his name to John J Hilton and worked for his sponsor Alexander ‘Gigi’ Schwarz at Olympia Fashions, a dress shop in Pitt Street. Together with his elder brother Emil he started a business manufacturing ladies knitwear.
Adopting the trading name, John J Hilton, they looked around for what Australia might not have in fashion and decided to focus on women in their mid-twenties and older, offering them elegant frocks at a fair price. The dresses would be durable and not likely to go out of fashion quickly. He made up a slogan ‘It’s a Honey, It’s a Hilton’. The business grew to 100 employees. With showrooms around Australia and representatives in Paris, New York and London, John J Hilton was one of the first to export Australian fashion to Japan, as well as to Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada and United States. A pioneer in the use of wool in women’s dresses, John J Hilton was the recipient of fashion awards, including the Australian Wool Award.
This letter is a part of a correspondence between Gyula [John], Emil [Gyula's brother] and Alexander [relative of Gyula and Emil, often referred to as Sandor], in order to settle Gyula and Emil over to Australia. Gyula tells Alexander about his progress in reveiving a visa for Australia and also that he is not permitted to stay in Switzerland, where he lived the moment he wrote the letter: "(...) I have already received a reply from Sweden that they have registered me for a trip and at the same time I filled in a form about a booking. (...) following your advice, I am busy with my English studies. (...) Concerning my stay in Switzerland I have to tell you that I only got an entry permit for convalescence in Davos for three months, and officially I am not even supposed to be in Zurich, moreover I am not permitted to start up something here, so there is no reason to hang around here without work. We shall try to get an extension and work permit, but on this score I am doubtful. If I am unable to hold on here till departure I’ll go back to Czechoslovakia and start waiting there."
John Hilton was one of Sydney’s most successful fashion manufacturers. His success in Australia had its roots in a small town near Bratislava, where the parents of Gyula Heitler depended on his help in their general store. Here he learned how to buy and sell. Arriving from Europe in 1947, Gyula changed his name to John J Hilton and worked for his sponsor Alexander ‘Gigi’ Schwarz at Olympia Fashions, a dress shop in Pitt Street. Together with his elder brother Emil he started a business manufacturing ladies knitwear.
Adopting the trading name, John J Hilton, they looked around for what Australia might not have in fashion and decided to focus on women in their mid-twenties and older, offering them elegant frocks at a fair price. The dresses would be durable and not likely to go out of fashion quickly. He made up a slogan ‘It’s a Honey, It’s a Hilton’. The business grew to 100 employees. With showrooms around Australia and representatives in Paris, New York and London, John J Hilton was one of the first to export Australian fashion to Japan, as well as to Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada and United States. A pioneer in the use of wool in women’s dresses, John J Hilton was the recipient of fashion awards, including the Australian Wool Award.
This letter is a part of a correspondence between Gyula [John], Emil [Gyula's brother] and Alexander [relative of Gyula and Emil, often referred to as Sandor], in order to settle Gyula and Emil over to Australia. Gyula tells Alexander about his progress in reveiving a visa for Australia and also that he is not permitted to stay in Switzerland, where he lived the moment he wrote the letter: "(...) I have already received a reply from Sweden that they have registered me for a trip and at the same time I filled in a form about a booking. (...) following your advice, I am busy with my English studies. (...) Concerning my stay in Switzerland I have to tell you that I only got an entry permit for convalescence in Davos for three months, and officially I am not even supposed to be in Zurich, moreover I am not permitted to start up something here, so there is no reason to hang around here without work. We shall try to get an extension and work permit, but on this score I am doubtful. If I am unable to hold on here till departure I’ll go back to Czechoslovakia and start waiting there."
Production placeZürich, Switzerland
Production date
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 245.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Sandor, Zurich, 12/04/1946
I am about to reply to your dear letter of he 3rd, which we have been expecting for a while. To start with I am confirming the original permit which I will be presenting to the local English consulate shortly. I am able to advise you that I have made inquiries at the local Cooks travel agency about a trip to Australia and they have contacted their agencies in Sweden, Belgium and England. In the meantime I have already received a reply from Sweden that they have registered me for a trip and at the same time I filled in a form about a booking. I am also going to add that I advised them to lodge the expenses with you on arrival, as this point was mentioned in the form, so I am requesting you to guarantee this amount should you receive this request. This then would be the first step in my preparations , in the meantime, following your advice, I am busy with my English studies, but as you know it is not that easy to learn a language from books at my age, at any rate I am trying to learn the basics as far as possible, and am hoping to master it completely in a country where it is the only language spoken. Concerning my stay in Switzerland I have to tell you that I only got an entry permit for convalescence in Davos for three months, and officially I am not even supposed to be in Zurich, moreover I am not permitted to start up something here, so there is no reason to hang around here without work. We shall try to get an extension and work permit, but on this score I am doubtful. If I am unable to hold on here till departure I’ll go back to Czechoslovakia and start waiting there.
Now as for Emil I can tell you that for a long time now he has not been active in his profession but involved in all sorts of undertakings, same as I, but I can say that he is very capable and remarkably diligent. Thank God he is also quite fit so that he looks well despite all the hardship. He is in Prague just now with a Textile Company and has also restored a place in our house in N. Zamky and together with our former assistant participated as partner in a textile business. It is not a question of survival but a person, with us here these days, has to have some occupation. Nor should my trip depend entirely on his as he will have to stay back to settle everything but I wish we could also make some preparations in his affairs so that he can follow, should he so decide.
(Page 2)
So, in any case, I am advising his particulars:
Emil H. Nove Zamky, 28. Aug. 1910. Czech citizen.
In possession valid Czech passport, single. I believe, dear Sandor, that’s all you need for him.
Apart from that I am keeping very well here, although, unfortunately I had a small ski accident, a tear in the bone, but I am fit again, but had to stop doing sport for a short time. Jolly and Michel are really very nice to me and are doing everything to make this a pleasant stay, doing everything to enable me to stay longer but as said earlier, it will
be difficult to sit around for many months without a serious occupation. I’d be delighted and relaxed to be able, at last, to work for you. Let us hope my departure will come off.
According to Neumanns in Pressburg, only the former owner of the chemical factory is still alive, this is the one I talked to some time ago, he was asking about you, still got his factory in Pressburg, in Basteig Street. I’ll write to him and give him your address. You’ll probably know that Jeno is living in Budapest, we’ve often talked to him, he’s also settled a few business deals for me there, he’s keeping very well at the moment, supposed to be getting married, if you want his address I’ll ask Emil on the first opportunity.
Michel’s business is going quite well, he’s a fit young bit of a lad, a nice life to copy without too many worries. I have also tried to arrange export from Czechoslovakia to here, but as you know this takes time.
We gat a letter from Gretl lately, who wrote that aunt Lucie will be having an operation and we were therefore so worried to get no news for a ling time and now so happy that she is keeping well and wishing you, aunt Lucie an early complete recovery,
Warm regards,
Your Gyula.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Jeffrey Hilton