Wales & McCulloch , Wales & McCulloch Ltd
56 Cheapside EC, 20 Ludgate hill E C, 22 Ludgate hill E C
possibly 193 Victoria Street SW1
Watch Importers, Watchmakers & Jewellers Goldsmiths Silversmiths Diamond Merchants
This is an image of the Post Office London Directory, 1910. [Vol. I. Part 3: Commercial & Professional Directory] for Wales & McCulloch Ltd. Proclaiming “Watch mfrs to the Admiralty” (manufacturers?).
Note the “Government order” broad arrow mark on this chronometer
It was not such a large advert in the 1914 Post Office London Directory, [Part 4: Trades & Professional Directory] when Wales & McCulloch Ltd were still at 20 Ludgate hill E C and 56 Cheapside EC, simply as Watchmakers & Jewellers
The London Post Office Directory, 1899. [Part 3: Commercial & Professional Directory] & [Part 4: Trades & Professional Directory] describes them over the 2 addresses, 20 Ludgate hill E C and 56 Cheapside EC, as Silversmiths, Diamond Merchants, Watchmakers & Jewellers but as “Wales & McCulloch” indicating the concern changing to “Limited” at some time in the 1st decade of the 20th century.
In the 1895 Directory, [Part 4: Trades & Professional Directory) Wales & McCulloch are still at 20 Ludgate Hill EC & 56 Cheapside EC as “Watchmakers & Jewellers”
The blue box-silk was associated with some Sheffield made (J Deaken & Son) 1909 spoons (my dating), and we see it is Wales & McCulloch Ltd. The 2nd silk with “Wales & McCulloch” has an extra address, 22 Ludgate Hill. This is confirmed in the 1891 Post Office London Trades Directory Commercial & Professional), Wales & McCulloch are at 20 & 22 Ludgate Hill E C & 56 Cheapside EC. And with some extended services.
The 1882 Post Office London Directories (Part 1: Official & Street Directory and Part 3: Trades & Professional Directory) show Wales & McCulloch just at 22 Ludgate hill EC & 56 Cheapside EC working as Watchmakers, Jewellers and Silversmiths.
In 1863 the W Hogg & Co published Jewellery & Associated trades directory and referenced “Wales & McCulloch” as “Watch Importers” at 56 Cheapside EC. Two years earlier a London Review, dated 19th Jan 1861 has Jewellers “Wales & McCulloch” with a “Depot for Drawing and Dining Room Clocks....”at that same address.
My transcript of the “advert” is below;
Depot for Drawing and Dining Room Clocks, 54 Cheapside, next door to Bow church. The (?)cheapest Stock and best designs in the trade. The attention of purchasers is respectfully invited to the Variegated Marble Clock at 3 Guineas, while the 5 Guineas richly gilt drawing–room Clock is a marvel of taste and excellence. Accurate performance guaranteed.
Wales & McCulloch, Jewellers 56 Cheapside
On line, the name of “Wales & McCulloch” is very well represented in the way of clocks and watches. The clocks seem to be all imported, which agrees with the directory entries. They tended to have the concerns branding on the clock/watch dials and some have “endorsements”.
At the end of the 19thcentury they had a “W&McC” mark registered with the London Assay Office and the case of a gold watch from 1901 was noted with it. Most of the directories have “watchmaker” for this concern. There are suggestions that they were largely fabricators of watches from outsourced parts with just their name on the back plates. Additionally, shown on line are unmarked mechanisms in continental hallmarked watch cases but branded on the dials with their name.
In regard to the founding date for Wales & McCulloch, it appears to have been 1853 (see advert composite image below). In 1841 a “Abram Barber” was at 56 Cheapside as a goldsmith**. All I found for a solid history after the WWI was the lower advert in the composite image below. Some of the items appear in Art Deco style and the publication that the ad was taken was said to be published in 1920.
This particular advert states “only address 56 Cheapside London EC”, “Estab 1853” and that they are “Pearl Merchants”.
There is also this image of a “Wales & McCulloch” silk with an address of 193 Victoria Street SW1 but no other information.
Note:
** John Tallis’s, London Street Views 1838-40 has at 56 Cheapside, next to Bow Church “Barber, Goldsmith & Watch Maker”.
Fishless
