“R.Gilbert & Sons Ltd” Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Hello. I started to research a retailer’s mark on some electroplated sugar tongs but it took only a short time before I had information overload. I hope some images may be informative here. The name on the tongs was “R.Gilbert & Sons Ltd” and the business formed initially in Cumberland (now Cumbria) probably in the mid 19th century before moving to Coventry in Warwickshire later that century.
The first image, I think, it is the oldest and may well have been a trade card as the image had some advertising for the “business” below the picture of the shop.
My 2nd image is later in date possibly post the WW1 but not after 1937 as the area of the Broadgate had a major development then. The overhead cables in this photograph would be for electric trams and that service started in Coventry about 1895.
The next photo is a strange one taken by lady in 2017 and it is described as a “ghost sign”. It is the business name marked in the pavement in front of a current shop entrance at “21 The Burges” Coventry.
Linked with this photo is the extract that follows from the London Gazette, 25th September 1970.
Name of Company: R. GILBERT AND SONS LIMITED. Nature of Business: JEWELLERS. Address of Registered Office: 21 Surges, Coventry. Liquidator's Name and Address: Harold Reynolds Victor Riley, 102 Friar Gate, Derby. Date of Appointment: 17th September 1970.
I think it is not a wild assumption that there could be a spelling mistake in the newspaper’s notice.
My post may not be a full resume of “Gilbert’s” premises because in WW2 there was severe bombing damage to the central areas of Coventry but we might just manage to get a bit nearer to the address of the Broadgate shop. I have a couple of pictures associated to a shop at 14 and 15 Broardgate. This was the home of watch and jewellery concern called Flinn & Co.
Flinn’s shop was the ground floor of the 3 story unit. Photos of Broadgate show the Flinn shop was probably next door to Gilberts. Look at the red marks on the thin photo indicating signage and note those signs shown in some of the other pictures.
The sign by the Flinn unit is described as saying “Rolex”. The final picture is a collage over time of that area of Broadgate Coventry, look at the roof level “W” of the “Whitfields” sign to get your bearings.
Final, final thing, the “cat” over the “elephant” icon in the jewellery box is part of the city of Coventry’s crest and the same icon looks like it is displayed on the wall of “Gilberts” shop in my 2nd photo.
Fishless
