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JOHN HARDMAN

Bath Street, Birmingham.


JNo. Hardman - Birmingham - c.1800

Trev.

I've only recently found this forum, and I'd like to make a few observations about Thomas Prime and Son. There were three Thomas Primes connected with the firm. The first, Thomas "the founder", was baptised in Elmdon (Warwickshire) in 1796, the son of Samuel Prime (parish clerk for 42 years) and Elizabeth Burr. Thomas' older brother, John Prime, was a close plater in Birmingham (bef.1821), who appears in Trades Directories at this time. Thomas probably joined him in business in Northwood Street (the firm began in 1818).
Thomas Prime was advertising as a "plater on steel" by 1830 - when he had probably set up in business on his own. John Prime (aged 65) appears on the 1841 census, described as a "journeyman plater" in Birmingham. Thomas Prime was ambitious and when an engineer called J.S.Woolrich invented a magneto-dynamo capable of plating silver onto base metal, Prime installed a machine in his factory in 1842. This machine still exists and is on display in Birmingham Science Museum. The great Michael Faraday apparently visited Prime's factory to see his theories about electro-magnetic induction put to a practical purpose, and was most impressed by all accounts. By 1851 Prime was employing 37 people at his *Magneto Works*, producing plated and also sterling silver. Prime exhibited at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851, and at the Paris Exibition in 1856. A pattern book of his dated 1870 illustrates a variety of different types of domestic silver and plate that the firm produced. By 1871 the firm was employing 30 men, 6 boys and 11 women. Thomas Prime was active in local politics, serving on the Birmingham Council from 1843 until 1877, and he was elected Mayor from 1869 to 1870. He died in 1881, and the firm passed to his son Thomas Prime II. Thomas Prime II ran the firm in partnership with his son, Thomas Tertius Prime ("Tertius" meaning "third") until the partnership was formerly disolved in July 1891 (notice in the London Gazette). Thomas II died shortly afterwards in 1892. The firm continued with Thomas Tertius Prime at the helm until around 1900, when the Magneto-plate works ceased to trade. Incidentally, the first Thomas Prime's sister, Esther, married Jonas Bowen in 1806 Edgebaston. Their sons were George and Jonas Bowen, initially in partnership as silversmiths and electroplaters, and then with their own businesses in Birmingham by the late nineteenth century.
Bob

Hi Bob,

Welcome to the Forum.

Many thanks for taking the time to post this excellent information.

Regards Trev.

JOHN WOOLLEY

72 & 73, Bath Street, Birmingham.


John Woolley - Birmingham - 1844


John Woolley - Birmingham - 1846


John Woolley & Company - Birmingham - 1860

John Woolley entered his first mark at the Birmingham Assay Office as a Watch Pendant Maker on the 18th January 1826 from an address at Cannon Street, Birmingham. He entered a second mark at the BAO on the 24th January 1856 from 72, Bath Street, Birmingham.

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PARKER & ACOTT

54, Brearley Street West, Birmingham.


Parker & Acott - Birmingham - 1846

Timothy Parker and Thomas Acott entered their first mark at the Birmingham Assay Office from an address at 54, Brearly Street, Birmingham on the 9th April 1845. They entered a second mark at the BAO from the same address on the 1st November 1847.

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THOMAS EDGE

Snow Hill, Birmingham.


Thomas Edge - Birmingham - 1846

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JOHN BALLENY

43 & 44, St Paul's Square, Birmingham.


John Balleny - Birmingham - 1858


John Balleny - Birmingham - 1863

John Balleny entered his mark at the Birmingham Assay Office on the 18th January 1865. As can be see above, John Balleny was formerly one of the staff at Elkingtons.

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BOLAND, PAYN, & BOLAND

19, Hall Street, Birmingham.


Boland, Payn, & Boland - Birmingham - 1863

William Boland, Henry Payn, and Richard Boland, entered their mark at the Birmingham Assay Office on the 9th February 1857, from an address at 44, Hockley Street, Birmingham.

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JOHN FRANCIS

5, Augusta Street, Birmingham.


John Francis - Birmingham - 1861

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GEORGE OLIVER

24, Summer Row, Birmingham.


George Oliver - Birmingham - 1863

As can be seen, George Oliver was formerly with Elkington, Mason & Co.

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JOSEPH HOWES

13, 14, 15, Dean Street, Birmingham


Joseph Howes - Birmingham - 1861

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M.L. JACOB

68, Caroline Street, and, 1, Regent Place, Birmingham.


M L Jacob - Birmingham - 1861

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JAMES COLLINS & SON

Cook Street. 23, Suffolk Street. 75, Newhall Street. 57, Frederick Street, Birmingham.


James Collins & Son - Birmingham - 1863

James Collins entered his first mark at the Birmingham Assay Office on the 3rd October 1816 from an address at Cook Street, Birmingham. He later moved to Suffolk Street, and in 1830 he moved to Newhall Street. The move to Frederick Street occured c. 1835.

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BETTS, FAIRFAX & Co.

2, Richard Street, Spencer Street, Birmingham


Betts, Fairfax & Co. - Birmingham - 1858

Thomas Lilly Betts and Charles Hobson Fairfax entered their 'B & F' mark at the Birmingham Assay Office on the 5th January 1854 as Goldsmiths.

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JOHN NICHOLLS

81, Spencer Street, Caroline Street, Birmingham


John Nicholls - Birmingham - 1858

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WHITE & HAWKINS

95, Albion Street, later, 15-16, Legge Lane, Birmingham


White & Hawkins - Birmingham - 1858


White & Hawkins - Birmingham - 1861

Dissolution of Partnership
White & Hawkins, 15 and 16, Legge Lane, Birmingham, Silver- smiths and Electro-Plate Workers. April 10, as regards Charles Henry White. Debts by Francis Henry Hawkins, who continues in his own name.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th May 1885

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CHARLES BAKER

6, Regent Parade, Caroline Street, Birmingham


Charles Baker - Birmingham - 1858

Charles Baker entered his mark at the Birmingham Assay Office on the 26th February 1857.

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ALFRED BROWETT

14, Dean Street, Birmingham


Alfred Browett - Birmingham - 1878



Most sources have the year 1855 for the start of Alfred Browett's firm, but the above advertisement states that they were established in 1830.

This business was later to become Browett, Ashberry, & Co., a partnership between Alfred Browett and Wilford Ashberry. Again, most sources have this business as starting in 1897, but they were established much earlier, as can be seen in the below notice that appeared in The London Gazette:

Notice is hearby given, that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Alfred Browett and Wilford Haukrigg Ashberry, carrying on business together in copartnership as Silver Electro Plate and Britannia Metal Manufacturers, at Dean Street, in the city of Birmingham, under the style or firm of Browett, Ashberry, & Co., has been dissolved by mutual consent, as from the 23rd day of December, 1892. All debts due to and owing by the said firm will be received and paid by the said Alfred Browett, who will henceforth carry on the said business. - Dated this 12th day of January, 1893.

Alfred Browett
Wilford H. Ashberry

Source: The London Gazete - 17th January 1893




Under the name Siderophron (heart of iron), Mr. Alfred Browett, electro-plate manufacturer, of 14, Dean Street, Birmingham, has introduced a new line of spoons and forks, which will, no doubt, largely supersede the common plated brass goods, being a much superior article at the same price. Siderophron spoons and forks have, as their name indicates, a heart of iron–that is, they are formed of tempered steel blanks, which are thickly cased with molten Britannia metal, and finally electro silver-plated. Great strength and lightness are thus attained, while they have all the lustre, finish, and ring of sterling silver. A further advantage is, that they wear always white as long as they are in existence, and their chief constituent, Britannia metal, being anti-corrosive, and one of the most harmless of metals, they never become injurious, even when used with acids. They are made in the usual antique, fiddle, and old-English threaded and beaded patterns. We can say, without hesitation, that they are the nicest goods we have ever seen at such a price.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th October 1881


See: http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_B3.html

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HOWES & BROWETT

14, Dean Street, Birmingham



The above 1870 directory listing notes the partnership of Joseph Howes and Alfred Browett. This must be the path Browett took to acquire the Dean Street works (see above post, 'Alfred Browett'). Joseph Howes had been in business there since at least 1861, as can be seen from the below advertisement:


Joseph Howes - Birmingham - 1861

Sometime between 1861 and 1870 a partnership was formed between Howes and Browett, and then dissolved in May 1870, as can be seen by the below announcement:

Take notice, that the partnership lately subsisting between us the undersigned, Joseph Howes and Alfred Browett, in the trade of Manufacturers of German Silver and Britannia Metal Goods, and Electro Plate Wares, and carried on by us at Dean Street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, under the style of Howes and Browett, has this day been mutually dissolved. The said trade will henceforth be carried out by the said Alfred Browett alone, who will receive and pay all debts and liabilities. - Dated this 26th day of May 1870.

Joseph Howes
Alfred Browett

Source: The London Gazette - 10th June 1870

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MILLS & WILKES

167, Hockley Hill, Birmingham


Mills & Wilkes - Birmingham - 1858

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