www.925-1000.com

EDWARD J. FRANKLAND & Co.

Audrey House, Ely Place, Holborn, London



Edward J. Frankland & Co. - London - 1908

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SCHOLL Ltd.

Treasure House, 19-21, Hatton Garden, London


An example of the mark of Scholl Limited, noted on a piece bearing Glasgow import marks for 1925:


S Ltd - Glasgow - 1925

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Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd (routinely known as "Jays")

142 & 144, Oxford Street, London

This was a company with multiple facets to its business as shown by this box lid advert and evidently established in 1796. This "established in 1796" likely relates to an "Attenborough" aspect to the company.



This "Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd" named company was in fact established in 1904 when developed from a company "James Jay Ltd". A James Jay had established the business around 1865 at 366 Essex Rd Islington (one reference suggests an early Brighton connection). This James Jay acquired a business of Richard Attenborough & Co in 1887 including the Oxford Street premises. James Jay died in the mid 1890's and family continued "James Jay Ltd". Robert William Jay continued at the 366 Essex Rd premises and James Charles Jay, described as a nephew, was at Oxford Street.
Both the early "Jay" and "Attenborough" concerns were associated with pawnbroking, maybe the starting point for the gem businesses.
In the Business Directory of London, 1884. [Part 1: Alphabetical Section], James Jay is a "pawnbroker & c" at 366 Essex Rd, Islington (I do not know what "& c" represents here). Two years prior, in the Post Office London Directory, 1882. [Part 3: Trades & Professional Directory) James Jay is also a Silversmith at 366 Essex Rd. The website silvermakersmarks.co.uk mentions a "JJ" mark registered at London in "Mar 1878". No image is shown, but it is mentioned with the makers marks registered by "James Charles Jay". The Post Office London Trades Directory for 1891 also has Jay James as a Pawnbroker and working silversmith at 366 Essex Street. "James Charles Jay" silver marks were registered in Oct 1895 and Jan 1897 with Oxford St. as the address a little prior to the Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd period. A Robert William Jay also registered a London silver mark in Nov 1897 but there is no address given with this entry. 366 Essex Rd ought to be the address as Jay Robert Wm was here as a silversmith in Kelly's London Suburban Directory, 1901. [Vol. I: Northern. Part 1: Street & Commercial Directories].

The setting up of "Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd" in 1904 meant they registered their own silver marks, registered Jun 1904 London, registered Jun 1904 Sheffield, registered Sep 1905 Chester and much later at Birmingham. A quatrefoil mark is the one most frequently see.



They made a fairly wide range of silver items but they also acted as retailers of electroplated ware including using their own trade name “Majestic Plate”. There is also information on "Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd" in another Forum "Jays" post referenced below.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=30935#p76998

Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd is suggested to have gone out of business in the mid 20th century, maybe the 1960-70s as "silvermakersmarks" records “silver” by them being hallmarked in London 1963.

What I have not been able to determine is who was involved in "Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co Ltd". I do not think "Robert William Jay" was involved. The "Post Office London Directory, 1910. [Vol. I. Part 2: Street Directory]" says Robert was a jeweller at 364 & 366 Essex Road. Robert had been a silversmith at number 366 in 1899 and 1901 directories.

One reference has an associated matriarch named "Emma Elizabeth Jay" as being part of "James Jay Ltd". Could this family member have been part of the new company? Was a "Richard Attenborough" a partner as his business was previously at 142 Oxford St. Or was it just good business as his name was still above that shop? Note my first image.

The Kelly's London Suburban Directory, 1901. [Vol. I: Northern. Part 1: Street & Commercial Directories] gives an interesting observation that the company name was being used before the company was formed. They were described as pawnbrokers but they appeared to have a silversmithing concern practically on site. There is information on "Wright and Davies" on silvermakersmarks.co.uk.



If Richard Attenborough was a partner, which Richard would it have been and which Richard Attenborough was bought out in 1887? Was it the Richard Attenborough & Co, Goldsmiths of 68 Oxford Street or one of the other "Richards"?

If anyone wishes to find which one it may have been here are a few "Richards" and other "Attenboroughs" to choose from.



To the left is from the Post Office London Directory (Small Edition) 1852 and to the right is from Morris's Business Directory of London 1884

Fishless

J. NUTT

25, Leadenhall Street, London



J. Nutt - London - 1860

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HYLANDS Ltd. - JNO. HYLAND

32 & 53, Cheapside, London



Hylands Ltd. - London - 1909

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ROY TALLENT Ltd.

70, City Road, London



Roy Tallent Ltd. - London - 1953

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J. BRILLIANT

23-25, Queen's Road, Bayswater, London



J. Brilliant - London - 1923


The London police are actively searching for two motor-car thieves who made a sensational snatch-and-run raid upon the jeweller shop of Mr. J. Brilliant, Queen's Road, Bayswater, W.. and escaped with nearly £2,000 worth of Jewellery. The robbery, which occupied only a seconds, took place in full view of hundreds of passers-by, who were so astounded by its audacity that they made no efforts to stop the men.

Source: The Malaya Tribune - 9th October 1925

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HENRY SALT

9, Great Turnstile, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields and 22, Prince's Street, Leicester Square, London



Henry Salt - London - 1844

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ROTHFIELD & Co.

58, New Bond Street, London


Two very valuable strings of pearls each consisting of 87 graduated gems set with a platinum and diamond cross were stolen from a representative of Rothfield & Co. the New Bond St. dealers, the other night. J. W. Bell & Co., assessors, Queen Victoria St. are offering $1,000 reward for information leading to a recovery of the gems. The jewel thieves must have operated on the Scotch express since the jeweler’s traveler was robbed of his parcel while in a sleeping compartment from Scotland to London. The gems were in a black crocodile leather wallet which he placed close to him when he “turned in.” The loss was discovered upon arrival at King’s Cross, the terminal. Although passengers leaving were subjected to close scrutiny no clew was obtained to the whereabouts of the jewels.

The traveler says he was aware that a jewel gang had been trailing him for some time. That the gang was well informed as to his movements is seen in the fact that while the jewelry representative was being robbed on the Scotch Express, his London flat was burgled and more jewelry stolen.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th September 1921


ADJUDICATIONS

Tlie following Amended Notice is substituted for that published in the London Gazette of June 20, 1922 :—

ROTHFIELD, Henry Isaac (described in the Receiving Order as Henry Rothfield), of and carried on business at 58, New Bond-street, London, W.
Court—HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
No. of Matter—199 of 1922.
Date of Order—June 16, 1922.
Date of Filing Petition—Feb. 7, 1922.

Source: The London Gazette: 17th April 1923

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THOMAS EVANS

Fulham, London


Several jewelers have been victimized lately by a pseudo customer who borrows the jewelers’ eyeglasses with which to examine rings and brooches he wishes to purchase, edges with them towards the street door and suddenly disappears. Thomas Evans, a Fulham jeweler, this week lost $600 worth of jewelry in this way. A visitor asked to see a $100 ring. This, with five others on a bar was handed him. He then borrowed the jeweler’s eyeglass in order to examine the setting closely, sauntered towards the door, saying he wished to have as much daylight as possible, and then dashed out into the street. The thief’s description tallied with that of a man who visited a Kensington jeweler two days ago and, by a similar ruse, got away with $2,500 worth of gems.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th October 1923

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W. DAVIS & SONS

84, King William Street, City, London and 57, New Street, Birmingham



W. Davis & Sons - London - 1862

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M. P. GREENGROSS

Hatton Garden, London


An attempt to force three large safes in the offices of M. P. Greengross, manufacturing jewelers of Hatton Garden, during the week was a failure, but the thieves confiscated the contents of a traveler’s sample case that was too large to go in the safe and got away with about $5,000 worth of jewelry. A trail of dropped articles up the stairway and across the roof showed the manner in which the jewel robbers made their exit. Stairs lead from the roof to the street. A desperate attempt evidently had been made on the safes, but they withstood the attack well. The contents of the offices were worth around $50,000. Hatton Garden, of course, is London’s jewelry quarter.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 4th November 1925

Morris Greengross was a former President of the British Jewellers' Association, Vice-President of The Design and Research Centre, and twice Mayor of Holborn. He died in 1970, aged 77 years.

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30091&p=150446&hil ... ss#p150446

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WILLIAM FORD

95, St. Albans Street, Watford



William Ford - Watford - 1939

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JAMES PARKES

12-13, Vigo Street, Regent Street, London


An example of the work and mark of James Unitt Parkes, a silver and steel bottle-opener, assayed at London in 1907:







J*P - London - 1907

James Parkes was formerly an assistant with the London jewellers London & Ryder. See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30091&p=88453&hilit=ryder#p88453

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ROBERT TRIGGS

341, Mare Street, Hackney, London


Shop Robbery.—William Gailey was charged at Dalston, with stealing from the shop of Mr. Robert Triggs, jeweller, of 341, Mare Street, Hackney, jewellery to the value of £25. While Mr. Fish, an assistant, was standing at the shop door, a confederate of the prisoner drew his attention to something in the window : and his suspicion being aroused he hurriedly returned and met the prisoner coming out with the goods in his hands. On the prisoner promising to give information, he was released on bail.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1889


JEWEL ROBBERIES IN LONDON

William Stanley, bookmaker, of Camberwell, who was under remand at Dalston Police-court on a charge of stealing £25 worth of jewellery belonging to Mr. Robert Triggs, has been identified from amongst a number of other men as the person who in April was accessory to the robbery of one silver and six gold watches, value £65, the property of Mr. John Thomas, goldsmith and jeweller, of Kingsland-road. Mr. Thomas, an aged man, said that in April last prisoner spoke to him as he stood at his shop door, engaging his attention in examining a pin from which he said he had lost the diamond. Whilst thus engaged the watches were stolen, and witness had no doubt prisoner was accessory to the robbery, and one of the gang who had stolen so much jewellery lately. Prisoner was committed for trial on the first charge, and Inspector Fuller said the evidence in the second would be laid before the grand jury.

Source: Pontypridd Chronicle - 16th August 1889

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STIEFBOLD & CORY

96, London Wall, London



Stiefbold & Cory - London - 1870



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TOPAS

38, Old Bond Street, London



Topas - London - 1914


Topas - London - 1914

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JANE PINNELL

18, Red Cross Square, London


MONTHLY RECORD OF BANKRUPTCIES

Dividends

PINNEL, Jane (Bkt.), Red Cross Square, silversmith. 1st div. 1/6¼. Wednesday next and two subsequent Wednesdays, between 11 and 2. P. Paget, Bankruptcy Court, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th August 1879

Jane Pinnell entered her mark, 'J·P', contained within an oblong punch, with the London Assay Office on the 6th February 1852.

See: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=27380

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JOHNSON, WALKER & TOLHURST

89, later, 80, Aldersgate Street, later, 12, Holborn Viaduct, also, 172, New Bond Street, 21, Conduit Street, Regent Street and Burlington Arcade, London



Johnson, Walker and Tolhurst - London - 1872


Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst - London - 1881


Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst - London - 1888


Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst Ltd. - London - 1908


Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst Ltd. - London - 1921


Mr. Ernest Walker (younger son of the late Mr. John Charles Walker) has been admitted a partner in the firm of Johnson, Walker, and Tolhurst, of Aldersgate Street.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1892


Established in 1849 by James Johnson and John Charles Walker. The business, by 1867, was restyled to Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst by the introduction of George Edmeades Tolhurst.

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ROBERT WHITE & SONS

Neal's Yard, 57-59, Neal Street, Covent Garden, London



Robert White & Sons - London - 1952


Robert White & Sons - London - 1954


Robert White & Sons - London - 1959

Robert White & Sons were perhaps best known as the makers of the replica Crown jewels used at the rehearsals of the 1953 coronation and for the three coronations prior to that, (all the principal pieces of regalia remain in custody of the Crown Jewelers until the very day of the coronation), which were then exhibited around the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The firm had close links to the many theatres and museums in London, specialising in supplying crowns, jewellery, swords, etc. for theatrical performances and museum exhibitions.

Noted as the business of Kenneth Davy in the 1950's.

Robert White & Sons are thought to have been in business for over 250 years.

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