Another instance of the hereditary character which our large electro-plate concerns are acquiring, was presented in the coming of age festivities of Mr. A. E. Bingham, only son of Mr. J. E. Bingham, senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Walker and Hall, Howard Street. The workpeople to the number of about 700, with their wives and sweethearts, were entertained to dinner in the Artillery Drill Hall, which was effectively decorated with flags, banners, and plants. The young hero of the evening is not, of course, as yet, known in public life, but his father, as a past Master Cutler, a Justice of the Peace, and Colonel of one of our volunteer regiments, occupies a somewhat prominent position in the town. Colonel J. E. Bingham is a nephew of one of the founders of the firm, so that a continuity of management has prevailed in the concern since the first half of the century. It is claimed that Mr. Walker, the original founder, was the man who first introduced the science of electro-plating into Sheffield. Be that as it may, the firm itself has developed into one of the show-places of the town. All distinguished strangers visiting Sheffield, from the Prince of Wales downwards, make a point of visiting Walker and Hall's, which is now one of the largest electro-plate manufactories in the country. If the young fellow who has just made his entrance into public life has anything like the energy and ability of his father, there is no reason why the concern should not expand to greater dimensions still.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st January 1890
Little more than a week after the above paragraph was penned, people hurrying home from business were startled by the shrill cry of the newsboy, "Shocking accident to' Colonel Bingham–this day." Mr. Bingham was driving down to business in the afternoon, himself handling the ribbons as was his custom, with his coachman beside him ready to take the trap home on depositing his master at the works in Howard Street. The horse–a splendid grey– suddenly slipped on the greasy street and fell on its side, but immediately recovered itself without assistance. Mr. Bingham and the coachman, however, were both pitched into the street by the suddenness of the accident, the former falling with great violence, and sustaining serious injury to his head. He was carried to the West Street Hospital, close at hand, in a state of insensibility, but struggling violently. The very worst was at first feared, but in about 24 hours the patient began to recover consciousness, and, although at the time of writing this, not able to be moved from the hospital, and, of course, not yet absolutely out of danger, there is yet every reason to hope that he will pull through. Much sympathy has been evoked by the unfortunate occurrence, and enquiries by telephone were incessant from all parts of the town. The coachman after getting his injuries attended to at the hospital, was able to drive the horse and trap home.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st January 1890
THE NORTH-EAST COAST INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AND SHIPBUILDERS AT SHEFFIELD
A considerable number of the members and associates of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting Sheffield and district on August 29th and 30th, in response to invitations from Messrs. Walker and Hall, the well known manufacturers of electro and silver plate. The party arrived in Sheffield soon after midday of the 29th, and devoted the remainder of that day to an inspection of the Electro Work of Messrs. Walker and Hall in which there are employed about fifteen hundred operatives of different grades. This visit proved most interesting and instructive, the extent and number of workshops being a revelation to most of the visitors. Electroplating and silversmith work, as well as the manufacture of cutlery, were seen in operation in practically all their branches. By the courtesy of the firm we are enabled to illustrate some of the more notable workshops, and in Fig. 1 is an illustration of the nickel silver ingot casting shop.
Having been formed into ingots the nickel silver is subsequently rolled and pressed by powerful machinery into the requisite shapes. In process of working the material becomes very hard and has to be annealed, provision for which is conveniently arranged.
One of the most important processes prior to electroplating articles is that of “buffing,” and in Fig. 2 we illustrate one of the spoon buffing rooms, in which it will be noticed that female labour is only employed. In the “buffing” of larger articles men are usually engaged. The process of buffing consists in smoothing and levelling the articles to be electro-plated by means of Trent sand and oil.
Our next illustration, Fig. 3 shows an electro-plating shop, in which there are four powerful steam driven dynamos, each capable of producing current sufficient to deposit about 40 ounces of silver per hour. The vats in these rooms hold about 8,000 gallons of silver solution. About one-eighth of one of the plating shops was the room in which the founder of the business, George Walker, commenced operations, and the vat in which he plated the first articles that ever were subjected to that process, is still to be seen, and was inspected by most of the visitors. The present senior partner recalls the time when instead of the dynamos now used to produce the electrical current cellars full of “ Daniel’s batteries ” were used, and a man in rags (so great was the destruction of clothing by the acids) worked the batteries, and was continually being shouted to by men plating goods, for batteries or power to be added or taken off the plating vats, as more or less electricity was required. The sub-division of labour was very evident as the visitors hurried through the various shops, and also the considerable extent to which manual labour of a skilled character was utilised, and this was most noticeable in the silversmiths shops, of which there are six, and one of which we illustrate in Fig. 4.
Many of the visitors were interested in examining several articles which were about to be packed, viz., a silver salver tea and coffee service and kettle, etc., forming the silver wedding present from the workpeople of Messrs. J. G. Kincaid and Co., Greenock, to Mr. J. G. Kincaid, which were presented to that gentleman on the 8th ult. The visitors were entertained to dinner in the evening by Messrs. Walker and Hall, at the Cutlers’ Hall, when Colonel J. E. Bingham presided, supported by H. Withy, Esq, President of the North-East Coast of Engineers and Shipbuilders, and by Robert Thompson, Esq, Past-President ; M. P. James, Esq, Member of Council, and J. C. Duckitt, Esq, Secretary Many 'of the leading firms of Shefiield were also represented :-–\V. H. Ellis, director, and J. G. Townsend, Esq, secretary, of John Brown and Co., Ltd. ; Alex. Jack, Esq, General Manager and Director of Hadfield’s Steel Foundry Company. Ltd. ; R. Hoyle, Esq, and Alex. Anderson, Esq, of Thos. Firth and Sons, Ltd.; W. F. Osborn, Esq, of the firm of Samuel Osborn and Co. ; Mr. Schott of Messrs. Seebohm and Dieckstahl being amongst those present, as well as Major A. E. Bingham and Heber Ward, Esq, and other representatives of the firm of Messrs. Walker and Hall.
Source: Engineers' Gazette Annual, Almanac, Diary and Log - 1900
Yorkshire Volunteers owe a debt of gratitude to Lieut.Col. Bingham, of the Royal Engineers and 1st West Yorkshire Volunteer Regiment, for his generosity in providing handsome prizes for their annual competitions. In addition to the Bingham Challenge Shield, which he presented some time ago, he has now given the handsome trophy, which we illustrate, for annual competition in rapid collective firing, known as field practice. The trophy is the largest piece of gold and silver plate manufactured at Sheffield. It is 3 feet 3 inches in height, 11 feet in circumference, and valued at 800 guineas; 1,500 ounces of gold and silver were used in its manufacture. It is ornamented by enamel and chasing, and bears the arms of the Yorkshire cities, and has also two scenes in repousse work, one being a reproduction of John Bell's relief in the Guildhall, 'The Last Charge at Waterloo.' The gold shields around the plateau will bear the names of the winners, and the figures upon the plateau include representations of each of the volunteer arms which compete for the trophy. The whole is the work of Walker & Hall, Sheffield, the first winners being the Bradford Battalion.
Death of Mr. J. B. Allan. - The death took place on March 14th, at 244, Langside-road, Glasgow, of J. B. Allan, eldest son of the late John Allan, Fountain Clean, Dumfries, manager of the Glasgow and Edinburgh establishments of Messrs. Walker and Hall, silversmiths, Sheffield. Deceased, who was in his 58th year, died of pneumonia. He was widely known in Scotland, Ireland, North of England, and the Midlands, and was greatly appreciated as an energetic man of business, obliging and open-hearted. His remains were interred on the 16th inst., at Sight Hill Cemetery, Glasgow.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st April 1893
We have received a copy of Messrs. Walker & Hall's (of Sheffield) new illustrated catalogue of their silver, electro-plate and cutlery ware. It is fully illustrated, the designs embracing some of the newest patterns we have seen; and, as the catalogue is very complete, and every particular as to price, &c, is given, it should be at once applied for by purchasers, to whom it should prove of great assistance.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st June 1887
Walker & Hall's stainless steel cutlery, "Spring" has won for the firm and its designers, Robert Welch and David Mellor, silver medal diplomas at the Milan Triennale. The diplomas were presented at a recent ceremony to Walker's managing director, Mr. P. Inchbald, and the two designers by the Minister of Education, Sir David Eccles.
Source: Watchmaker, Jeweller & Silversmith - August 1961
On the Saturday following the Cutlers Feast at Sheffield last month, the Master Cutler, Mr. S. Earnshaw Howell, was presented by his workpeople with a dessert service in sterling silver, manufactured by Messrs. Walker & Hall, of the Electro Works, Howard Street, Sheffield. It forms a centre piece and four side fruit stands, which are similar in design. The centre stand consists of a rich dish of oblong pattern, made of English cut crystal glass, the corners rounded and ornamented to a gondola shape ; it is secured in a frame decorated in relief with a Grecian pattern, the latter being supported by four grandly modelled sphinxes in silver gilt. The sphinxes, placed at the corners, repose on a base heraldic in form, resting on four claw feet exquisitely modelled and tastefully adorned. The base is in dead silver, and, beyond the Greek pattern round the edge, the only ornament is the crest of Mr. Howell and the inscription. The smaller stands are similar, excepting that the fruit dishes are square instead of oblong. The dessert service is an exceptionally good example of the silver craft. The Mistress Cutler was at the same time presented with a magnificent bracelet.
In addition to the Master Cutler's gift, two other examples of silver, locally produced, call for mention. The " Bingham Challenge Shield," by the same firm, is the gift of Lieutenant-Col. J. E. Bingham, of the Sheffield Engineers, to encourage rifle shooting. It is valued at £250, is circular in form, and 6 ft. 10 in. in circumference, the border being a cleverly-chased laurel wreath of oxidised silver ; the second circle is a broad band of exquisitely cast and chased scroll work resting on a dead silver ground ; and the third is made of a number of heraldic shields, with the arms of each volunteer regiment enamelled in colours, each illuminated shield being linked by small enriched gilt studs to a bright silver shield of similar shape, left plain for inscribing the names of the various corps fortunate enough to win the prizes. The centre of the shield consists of a magnificently modelled lion's head of oxidised silver, surrounded with a circular scroll, upon which is raised, in gilt block letters, the words, " The Bingham Challenge Shield." There is much more elaborate work, in the way of illustrating military duty, with the emblems of the United Kingdom. The shield is mounted on a frame covered with rich maroon velvet, and is fixed to the frame by four solid silver bolts, the large heads of which are ornamented with engravings of York, Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford, the four principal places in Yorkshire. The 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, known as the Leeds Rifles, are the first winners.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st October 1888
A large and handsome Melbourne-made case contains the goods shown by Messrs. Walker and Hall, of Sheffield. The five elegant cases originally shipped were unfortunately greatly damaged by the accident to the ' Sorata,' otherwise Messrs. Walker and Hall had the largest exhibit of electroplate and silver goods. Their present exhibit, which is in the hands of Messrs. J. McEwan and Co., brings to mind painful associations, for in our little circle of Englishmen so far away from the mother country we feel deeply the loss of such a genial spirit as the deceased partner of this firm, Mr. Spencer Hall, recently so full of life among us at Sydney; The case shown by the firm contains many very fine specimens of the electro-plating art, which find a ready market in these colonies. Two particularly striking pieces are a large parcel-gilt tray, most handsomely engraved in Japanesque design, and a massive parcel-gilt Etruscan vase, surmounted by a capitally modelled figure of an ox. This latter will no doubt appear as a first prize at one of the many agricultural shows in the neighbourhood. Messrs. Walker and Hall's exhibit took the first prizes at the Sydney Exhibition for this class of goods, and it is to be regretted that their present opportunity is so much spoiled.
Stainless steel, was prominently featured in the official Board of Trade exhibit at the British Trade Fair in Stockholm. Among the many firms contributing were J. & J. Wiggin and Elkington & Co. Ltd. from the Midlands, and Thomas W. E. Cork & Son, Leppington (Cutlers) Ltd., and Walker & Hall from Sheffield.
Source: Watchmaker, Jeweller & Silversmith - June 1962
Hitherto the idea has seemed to prevail that only the civic authorities were qualified to prosecute in cases of alleged smoke nuisances.' Messrs. Walker and Hall, whose magnificent works and show-rooms in Howard-street are visited by every distinguished stranger who comes to Sheffield, have just demonstrated that it is open to any aggrieved ratepayer to set the law in motion. Public action on the part of the authorities has up to now been so ludicrously ineffectual that any additional means of coping with the evil was sure to meet with approval. The chimney to whose performances Messrs. Walker and Hall took exception, belongs to a brewery situated about 100 yards to the south of their own works. It was proved that black smoke in excessive quantities was emitted from this shaft, and constituted a nuisance to the plaintiff's workpeople and an injury to the silver and electro-plate articles which were being manipulated in the finishing rooms situated in the top storey of that portion of the works fronting on Howard-street. The hearing of the case was of the usual protracted character– experts on both sides contradicting each other in the approved style. Eventually, the stipendiary, magistrate made an order to abate the nuisance, and mulcted the defendants in the costs. Messrs. Walker and Hall have attained their object much more speedily and effectually than if they had lodged a complaint with the authorities, and their example is likely to be followed.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st May 1894
MESSRS. WALKER and HALL, Howard Street, have just learned that they have again been successful in the Australian Colonies, having carried off four gold medals at the Tasmanian Exhibition. For silver and electro-plate the Australian market is a steadily growing one, and not a few firms in the town depend at present for anything of activity with which they are blessed to this market alone. Although for the present, owing to the general depression prevailing at the Antipodes, not much is to be expected from Australia, yet our manufacturers are assiduously cultivating the market, and confidently look upon it as an ultimate set-off against the loss of the American trade.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd May 1892
