Postby dognose » Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:10 am
H.L. BROWN
71, later 65, Market Place, and Hartshead Passage Factory, 2, Hartshead, Sheffield, and, 90 & 90a, Regent Street, London, and 17, High Street, Doncaster, and, Corn Market, Derby, and, 28, Burlington Street, Chesterfield, and 22, College Street, Rotherham, and, York, Scarborough and Lincoln
The example of the Goldsmiths' Company, at the corner of York and High Streets, has been followed by Mr. H. L. Brown, watchmaker and jeweller, of Market Place, who has fitted up the whole of his premises with the electric light. Mr. Brown has had for some time an arc lamp outside his shop, but the advantages of incandescent lamps for inside, and especially window lighting, have been made so obvious by the Goldsmiths' Company, that Mr. brown has been constrained to follow suit. The manner in which these lamps can be insinuated, without damage to the stock, among the goods displayed in the windows, has not only a very pretty general effect, but sets out the stock to the very best advantage. It would be utterly impossible to light up a window in this way with gas, without irretrievably ruining the whole of the goods.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st October 1889
The paragraph in these notes last month relating to Mr. H. L. Brown's adoption of the electric light has had the effect of inundating that gentleman with enquiries from jewellers in all parts of the country. Mr. Brown, 1 understand, takes exception to my describing him as having followed the example of the Goldsmiths' Company in this matter. Of course, although the Goldsmiths' Company adopted the Incandescence lamps last April, and Mr. Brown has only just got fitted up with them, it does not follow that the latter was influenced by the former. In the early part of the year the Goldsmiths' Company moved into their new premises, which had to be specially fitted up for them. The Sheffield Electric Light Company were only then in a position to work Incandescence lamps, electric lighting in Sheffield having been previously confined to arc lamps, which are worked on a different circuit. As the long days were approaching, it was only natural that Mr. Brown, who already used the arc lamp, should delay being fitted up with the Incandescence lamps until the return of the long nights. Mr. Brown is well up to the times, and certainly does not bear the reputation of waiting for anyone in the adoption of improvements.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st November 1889
Established in 1861 and still in business today.
In c.1910 the business was converted into a limited liability company and restyled to H.L. Brown & Son Ltd. following Bernard Brown joining the business.
Harris Leon Brown entered his marks 'H.L.B' contained within an oblong punch, and 'H' 'L' 'B' in separate square punches, with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 16th June 1890 and 12th August 1895 respectively.
The business entered two marks 'HLB' and 'H.L.B' both contained in oblong punches, with the London Assay Office on the 15th July 1892 and 25th November 1908 respectively.
They also marks 'H.L.B' and 'HLB' both contained in oblong punches, with the Chester Assay Office on the (1) 27th February 1901 and 16th May 1934 and (2) c.1899.
Trev.