Some London Advertisements and Information

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H.A. BYWORTH & Co.

32 & 34, Clerkenwell Road, later, 19 & 21, Heddon Street, Regent Street, London


The bold coup of the jewel gang in cleaning up on the premises of H. A. Byworth & Co., the Heddon St. diamond mounters and dealers in precious stones has caused no little consternation to the jewelry trade here. The very audacity of the theft has demonstrated to the jewelers and to Scotland Yard the sort of versatile organization this jewel gang really is. Messrs. Byworth estimate their loss at £100,000 and a reward of £10,000 has been offered for information leading to the apprehension of the thieves. The plans for the robbery were well laid and the members of the gang who carried out the theft well versed in science. The basement of the jewelry premises was cleaned out over night previous to handing over to new tenants. Members of the gang, it is thought, secreted themselves. A powerful oxyacetylene flame was used to eat a way through the great safes. Three heavy cylinders of oxy-acetylene wrapped in linoleum were left on the premises by the gang. Rolls of linen and canvas had been used to erect a screen in order to shield the flame from the cylinders. A quantity of rubber piping also was discarded. Canvas water buckets were used and sand was scattered under the safes to prevent the molten metal setting fire to the floor. The work of burning open the first safe occupied several hours. Inside two keys were found which opened a large Ratner safe in an adjoining workroom stored with gold, platinum and uncut diamonds. The safe containing the precious stones was divided off into little drawers each of which contained stones mounted in wax and upon which the jewelers were working. These included diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and pearls. The thieves took the immense trouble of extracting each stone from its wax setting. Scotland Yard has taken over the wax settings and hopes to get finger print clews from them. A third safe was untouched. Large quantities of platinum in sheet-plate form and unfinished gold were taken. In fact, so much raw material was carried away that the 50 skilled jewelry experts employed by the firm are out of work until new supplies can be obtained. Scotland Yard is looking for the motor lorry that carried the oxy-acetylene cylinders and the cement and linoleum and wood used for the canvas frame and a net has been flung over all garages within a radius of 12 miles from the robbery.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 19th July 1922

The business was established in 1880 by William Van Walwyk, who was joined in 1881 by Henry Alfred Byworth. The pair severed their partnership in 1886, with Byworth continuing and taking a new partner, Alexander Frederick Klean.


The firm were noted as exhibitors at the British Industries Fairs of 1922 and 1947.

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned Alexander Frederick Klean,. Roy Michael Klean, William Tasker Byworth and Eric William Byworth, carrying on business as Diamond Merchants and Jewellers at 19 and 21 Heddon Street, Regent Street, under the style or firm of H. A. BYWORTH & CO. has been dissolved by mutual consent as from the thirty-first day of December, 1937, so far as concerns the said William Tasker Byworth. All debts due and owing to or by the late firm will be respectively received and paid by the said Alexander Frederick Klean, Roy Michael Klean and Eric William Byworth. The said business will be carried on in the future by the said Alexander Frederick Klean, Roy Michael Klean and Eric William Byworth.–As witness our hands this 28th day of January, 1938.

A. F. KLEAN.
R. M. KLEAN.
W. T. BYWORTH.
E. W. BYWORTH.

Source: The London Gazette - 4th February 1938


Henry Alfred Byworth retired from the firm in 1925. He died, in his 90's, on the 26th May 1946.


H.A. Byworth & Co. entered their marks 'HAB' contained within an oblong punch, with the London Assay Office on the 16th November 1887 and 13th April 1894.

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RUPERT DONALD EAST


An example of the work of Rupert Donald East, a silver bowl 1¾" (4.6cm) in height and 3¼" in width, and weighing 76 grams, assayed at London in 1983:






R.D.E - London - 1983


Rupert Donald East also used the services of the Birmingham Assay Office.

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=14729&p=107531#p107531

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WARRINGTON & Co.

23, Garrick Street, London



Warrington & Co. - London - 1869


Warrington & Co. - London - 1901


Warrington & Co. - London - 1902

Thought to have been established by at least 1866 by Richard Silvester Warrington (b.1822,d.1899). By 1900 the business was in the hands of William Baddely.

On the 17th January 1900 the premises of Warrington and Co., engravers at 23, Garrick Street, Covent-garden were destroyed by fire. (Source: The Times - 18th January 1900

The business entered two marks 'RSW' (Richard Silvester Warrington) contained within an oblong punch, and 'W & Co' contained within an oblong punch, on the 23rd May 1882 and the 5th October 1900, respectively, with the London Assay Office.

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THE LONDON GOLDSMITHS' Co.

Oxford Street, London


Alexander R. Nelson, manager of the London Goldsmiths' Co., Oxford St., chased a would-be thief from the Oxford St. establishment to Bloomsbury where a capture was effected. A tailor, who has been committed for trial charged with the theft of two valuable diamond rings, entered the London Goldsmiths' Co's. premises the other morning, selected two rings valued at £475 and carried them to the street door ostensibly to show a young woman who was "too bashful to come inside." At the door White bolted. The rings were found clenched in his hand after a policeman ran in front of him tripping him up with the manager on top. The chase provided rare entertainment for the metropolitan crowds.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd August 1922

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EDWARD WHISTLER

11, Strand, London



Edward Whistler - London - 1867


E. Whistler - London - 1868


E. Whistler - London - 1870


Edward Whistler - London - 1911

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H.C. WILKINSON & Co.Ltd.

135, Regent Street, London



H.C. Wilkinson & Co. Limited - London - 1884


H.C. Wilkinson & Co. - London - 1884


H.C. Wilkinson & Co. Ld. - London - 1885


H.C. Wilkinson & Co. Lim. - London - 1886

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JOHN SEAL

81, Wood Street, London



John Seal - London - 1885

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FRANCIS SNELLING

124, Houndsditch, London



Francis Snelling - London - 1878

Perhaps to be identified with Elizabeth Ann Snelling, an importer of tobacconist's fancy goods who entered marks with the London Assay Office in 1887 and 1888.

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N. WHITEHOUSE

2, Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London



N. Whitehouse - London - 1862


N. Whitehouse - London - 1871









Established 1830.

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HENRY T. MILES

17, Piccadilly, London



Henry T. Miles - London - 1875

Henry T. Miles was noted as a retailer of the products of S. Mordan & Co.

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ISADORE LEAPMAN

179-181, Victoria Street, London


A clever and well-planned jewel raid was made by two fashionably-dressed women on the premises of Isadore Leapman, the Victoria St. jeweler the other evening. Most of the store assistants were at tea when the two visitors entered. One, rather young, stood near a window, the other engaged in conversation with the assistant who was writing out a receipt for another customer. The woman asked the price of a gold necklace and the assistant told her. Both women then left the shop. Soon after a tray of 28 rings was missed from the trim, the value being something like £2,000. Representatives of Scotland Yard say that the cool manner in which the theft was executed indicates that it was well-planned and timed. No trace of the couple has yet been found.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 14th December 1921

Isadore Leapman entered his mark 'IL' contained within a heraldic shield, with the Chester Assay Office on the 17th February 1899.

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CHARLES ARTHUR BEARFIELD

Jackson Road, Holloway, London

Charles Arthur Bearfield, 40, a working jeweller, of Jackson-road, Holloway, was charged, on remand, with receiving a quantity of jewellery, including a case of a gold watch stolen at Eton on June 4, knowing the same to be stolen. Thomas Dickin, farmer, of Larpington, Shropshire, stated that on the 4th of June he missed his gold watch at Eton, where he went to see the display of fireworks in celebration of the anniversary of the foundation of Eton College. The number of the watch was 22,169, and it also bore a crest. Walter Miller, manager to a jeweller, of Clerkenwell-road, stated that on the morning of June 6th the prisoner came to his shop and showed him the case of a gold watch, No. 22,169, with a crest on it, and said he wished to sell it. Witness purchased it for £4 1s 9d. The accused made no statement as to where he got it, but witness knew him to be a working jeweller and dealer, and had bought goods from him before. Sergeant Merroney stated that he arrested the prisoner on the 11th inst., and then he admitted having sold the watch to the last witness, but said he had purchased it outside a sale room, and did not know it had been stolen. The prisoner was committed for trial.

Source: The Times - 24th June 1887

Perhaps to be identified with the Bearfield family of jewellers that were working in Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell in the second half of the 19th century and were submitters to the London Assay Office.

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STUART & Co.

12, London Street, Fenchurch Street, London



Stuart & Co. - London - 1868

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MACMILLAN & Co.

17, Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate, London



Macmillan & Co. - London - 1874

Manufacturers of 'MAZELINE' imitation gold jewellery.

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HENRY POTTER, later, HENRY POTTER & Co.

27, Marsham Street, Westminster, later, 2, Bridge Street, Westminster, 30, Charing Cross, later, 36-38, West Street, Charing Cross Road, London



Henry Potter & Co. - London - 1877

Established in 1810/1811.

The business of Henry Potter was established by Samuel Potter, but as a serving officer in the British army, Samuel was not allowed form a company, so instead he founded his business in the name of his newly-born son, Henry. Samuel left the army in 1817 to pursue his business full time and ran it until his death in around 1830, the firm then passed to Henry, and then to Henry's sons, Harry and William. A third son, George, operated a branch of the business at Aldershot, initially under the name of Henry Potter, but separating himself from the parent firm in the 1850's.

Henry Potter & Co. were noted as the suppliers of the Sterling silver kettle drums used by the Royal Horse Guards.

The company is still in business today, now styled Henry Potter & Co.(Drums) Ltd., and based at Aldershot.

The company entered two marks with the London Assay Office, 'H.P' contained within an oblong punch, on the 25th April 1860, and 'H.P' contained within a six-pointed punch, on the 24th October 1907.

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PETER MORTON BROWNE

Sussex

An example of the work and mark of the Sussex-based silversmith, Peter Morton Browne. A large dish of square form on a circular foot, 8" (20cm) in width, 1½" (4cm) in height, and weighing 430 grams, assayed at London in 2008:






PMB - London - 2008

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EDWIN UMFREVILLE

119, Jermyn Street, London, and 38 & 42, Frederick Street, Birmingham



Edwin Umfreville - London - 1879



“E. U." JEWELLERY. The latest novelty in the “ E. U." art jewellery that has been submitted to us is a small silver brooch in the shape of a fan, beautifully engraved in the Japanese style. It is worked in solid Hall marked silver, with a dead or frosted surface, on which the engraving tells out with great effect. It has a “ spread " of about 1¼" and it is fitted with a gold pin. Like all the “ E. U." jewellery that we have seen, the workmanship is first-class, and the design most tasteful. It is manufactured by Mr. Edwin Umfreville, of 119, Jermyn-street, London, S.W.

Source: The Bazaar, The Exchange and Mart - 19th April 1879




Edwin Umfreville - London - 1879


CAINOGEN is the name given to a new plate-polish introduced by Mr. Edwin Umfreville, the well-known jeweller, of Jermyn Street, London. It is in a liquid form, neatly put up in bottles enclosed within a box. Its application is simple, and the effect on gold and silver articles is most satisfactory. Our colonial friends would find it a good article to stock.

Source: The British Trade Journal and Export World - 1st August 1879


A solid silver brooch, made by Mr. Edwin Umfreville, in imitation of a Japanese fan, and called by that name, is very delicately and prettily engraved with Japanese designs, such as the chrysanthemum, the bamboo, and the flying bird. The same design is also carried out in gold, with ear-rings and solitaires to match; the workmanship, as usual with Mr. Umfreville's productions, being capital, and the idea quaint and novel.

Source: The Ladies Gazette of Fashion - December 1879


MR. UMFREVILLE's ART JEWELLERY

MR. EDWIN UMFREVILLE, of Jermyn Street, has recently reduced some exquisite designed works in Art Jewellery–a manufacture in which he is so famous–to which we desire to direct attention. The examples we have seen, consist of Lockets, Brooches, and Bracelets, all in sterling silver, beautifully worked in raised or pierced floral designs, or rustic and other monograms and names, in variously formed letters. These are in all cases characterised by extreme chasteness and purity of design, delicate treatment of intertwinings and interlacings of pattern, extreme elegance in the formation of the monograms, and the most exquisite perfection of workmanship . They bear evidence, one and all, of utmost purity of artistic taste, and such matchless manipulation as could only be accomplished by the most skilful and highly educated of workmen. In all that he has produced, so far as we have seen, Mr. Umfreville has proved himself to be one of the most accomplished of workers in the precious metals, of this or any other age, and to be entitled to rank first among producers of elegant jewellery. Besides an infinite variety of name and monogram jewellery, new so highly, and justly, fashionable, Mr. Umfreville has, we are pleased to see, struck out an entirely new path in Heraldic designs for brooches, earrings, and bracelets. In these the family arms of the fair wearer is executed with marvellous beauty, in pierced open-work, delicately and yet richly engraved, and finished in a style that would almost put to shame the drawings made at Heralds' College. We heartily commend this thought of Mr. Umfreville to our readers. Nothing could be better than these for the titled and untitled ladies of our‘English aristocracy; and they cannot do better than entrust to him drawings of their family arms, with instructions to prepare suites of jewellery so decorated.

Source: The Reliquary - 1880


Mr. Edwin Umfreville's E. U. Silver ornaments are exquisite in style and appearance. The monogram bracelet is especially adapted for a wedding or birth-day present. The "name" ring in silver, is a friendship offering, as well as of affection from sister to sister, or brother to sister; the ground of the ring is silver, the letters in raised gold.

Source: The Ladies Treasury - 1882


The Bankruptcy Act, 1869.
In the County Court of Warwickshire, holden at Birmingham, by transfer from the London Bankruptcy Court.
In the Matter of Proceedings for Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with Creditors, instituted by Edwin Umfreville, of Roseneath, Gunnersbury, in the county of Middlesex, and carrying on business at No. 119, Jermyn-street, in the county of Middlesex, and at No. 38, Frederick-street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, as a Wholesale and Retail Jeweller and Factor.
The creditors of the above-named Edwin Umfreville who have not already proved their debts, are required, on or before the 11th day of October, 1882, to send their names and addresses, and the particulars of their debts or claims, to me, the undersigned, Walter Newton Fisher, of No. 4, Waterloo-street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Chartered Accountant, the Trustee under the liquidation, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of the Dividend proposed to be declared.–Dated this 25th day of September, 1882.
WALTER NEWTON FISHER, Trustee.

Source: The London Gazette - 29th September 1882


Edwin Umfreville entered his marks 'E·U' and E.U' contained within oblong punches, with the London Assay Office on the 24th April 1879.

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GEOFFREY BELLAMY

Cadogan Street, London

An example of the work and mark of Geoffrey Bellamy, a mustard spoon, 6" (15.5cm) in length and weighing 19 grams, assayed at London in 1958:






G.G.B - London - 1958

Geoffrey Guy Bellamy was born in 1922, he studied at the Birmingham College of Art from 1946 until 1950 and then at the Royal College of Art from 1950 until 1953. He died in 1997.

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WALTER H. WILLSON Ltd.

28, King Street, St. James's, London



Walter H. Willson - London - 1919

Formerly with Elkington's, Walter H. Willson entered at least two marks. 'W*W' and 'W*H*W', both in script and contained in oblong punches, with the London Assay Office.

It is likely that there is a connection between this business and the Chicago based silver dealers of the same name that was established in the late 1940's by Lester and Dorothy Hale Dunbar.

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T.R. WALKER & SONS

London


There was an exciting chase in East-central London the other day when a man attempted to snatch jewels from the premises of T. R. Walker & Sons. He walked into the jewelry shop and asked to see diamond rings. The girl clerk called the manager before showing the tray of rings. The visitor said the jewelry was not expensive enough and asked to see other trays. While the tray was being handed across the stranger grabbed it and bolted. After being hounded through most of the city streets he turned and showed fight, being eventually overpowered by weight of numbers. Twenty-three of the diamond rings were missing and most of them were found later scattered through various city streets. Others worth over £1,000 have not been found.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th August 1920

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