17, Wicklow Street, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Wicklow Lane, Dublin
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1881
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1897
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1900
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1900
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1903
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1904
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1905
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - Undated
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1907
John Smyth & Sons - Dublin - 1920
The business was founded in 1840 by John Smyth. Following his demise, the firm was run by his three sons, John , Thomas, and Francis.
John Smyth & Sons, Church Plate Manufacturers, 17, Wicklow Street.
The most noted establishment, and one that will well repay a visit to those interested in a most beautiful and important branch of industry, is that of Messrs. Smyth & Sons, who for many years have occupied a position of great eminence as manufacturers of all descriptions of church plate used in the services of the Catholic Church. The firm occupy handsome and extensive premises at 17, Wicklow Street, their important factory and workshops being situated at Nos. 1, 2, 3, Wicklow Lane. The warehouse is most tastefully fitted throughout. Messrs. Smyth & Sons are very large employers of labour, as many as fifty hands being kept constantly employed at their factory in the manufacture of the various sacred vessels and articles of altar decoration made by the house, which was established in 1840. At an early period in its career it acquired a brilliant reputation for the quality, high artistic excellence, and general superiority of workmanship displayed in the articles of its manufacture; and the high name, thus worthily and deservedly won, it has been the constant effort of its management to maintain unimpaired. One has only to look at the present prosperous condition of the house, and the high repute in which its manufactures are held, to recognise how successful this effort has proved. The stock, which is Large and valuable, includes chalices, ciboriums, monstrances, thuribles, candiesticks and other altar decorations, and, in fact, as has been said, all the various articles used upon the altars of Catholic churches. Many of those designs are exceedingly beautiful, and display not merely the most exquisite taste but also the most perfect workmanship in gold and silver. Some of the reproductions in brass of mediaeval candlesticks, flower vases, etc., are admirable specimens of work ; while many of the modem designs ran the latter close in artistic elegance. About 5,000 ounces of silver are annually used by the firm. The firm do a large trade in supplying the Catholic clergy all over Ireland with those objects, and also do a considerable business in the work of repairing, remodelling, and re-lacquering all description of brass goods, such as lamps, candlesticks, etc., their house being in fact a kind of church repository. Some of the specimens of altar lamps, those which are used to hang from the roof of the sanctuary, struck us as being of exquisitely chaste design ; some being in the French-Gothic style and beautifully chased and chiselled. We are glad to know that home manufacture is here asserting itself in a direction where it deserves the fullest support; there having been for many years too great a tendency on the part of church authorities to go to London, Paris, or Munich for work, which Messrs. Smyth & Sons have proved can be supplied at home, of as excellent workmanship, and at as moderate a price.
Source: Industries of Ireland - 1887
JOHN SMYTH & SONS, Mediaeval and Italian Metal Workers in Gold and Silver, Electroplaters, Gilders, &c, 17, Wicklow Street, Dublin.
For the lengthened period of upwards of half a century past the eminent firm of Messrs. John Smyth And Sons, artists in metal, wood, and stone; manufacturers of articles for ecclesiastical, civic, and domestic purposes, etc., has sustained a unique reputation for the artistic superiority of the productions of the house. which are in every respect worthy of the best traditions of Irish industry. The history of the firm dates back to 1840, when the business was founded by the late Mr. John Smyth, who was subsequently joined in the proprietary by his three sons, now the sole representatives, viz., Messrs. John, Thomas, and Francis, who continue the trade under the style indicated above. The premises occupied by Messrs. Smyth comprise commodious warehouse and showroom at 17, Wicklow Street, and extensive factory at 1, 2, 3, and 4, Wicklow Lane. The showrooms are of spacious proportions and well fitted throughout and are conveniently adapted for the effective exhibition of the wide range of beautiful and artistic goods submitted for inspection. These include chastely designed chalices, ciboriums, monstrances, thuribles-, candlesticks, and other altar decorations; and ecclesiastical accessories in gold, silver, and metal, many of these articles being faithful reproductions of designs in mediaeval art-work of the earlier schools. Messrs. Smyth's works in Wicklow Lane are replete with modern plant and machinery for producing in perfection the specialities for which the firm is noted. A powerful Crossley's "Otto" gas engine, of 14 h.p., supplies the motive force to the various machines, amongst which may be mentioned a Root's blower for facilitating the process of metal melting and providing draught for the casting furnace. Large vats, for the electroplating and gilding, are constantly kept going to supply the requirements of this branch of the trade, and some indication of the magnitude of the operations of the proprietors is afforded by the fact that upwards of 5,000 ounces of silver and many tons of brass and other alloys are annually used in the manufactory. We also were shown a department specially fitted up for the repair and re-lacquering of church brass work, to which the firm give particular attention. An extensive and valuable clientele has been established by the firm, which embraces in its widespread connection the leading Catholic clergy in Ireland and other parts of the kingdom, the uniform excellence of design and finished workmanship in these artistic productions having demonstrated to the principal ecclesiastical authorities in the country that their requirements may be fulfilled with equal facility and native industry fostered and encouraged by their placing their orders with this house. In conclusion we Would refer our readers to a very beautiful and artistically-got-up price list, issued by Messrs. Smyth, containing many pages of illustrations of their leading specialities in ecclesiastical requisites, which will be found of invaluable service to the clergy in districts remote from Dublin, and who have consequently no opportunity of inspecting the comprehensive and valuable stock on view in the showrooms of the firm.
Source: Dublin, Cork, and South of Ireland: A Literary, Commercial, and Social Review - 1892
Trev.
