Information Regarding Martin, Hall & Co.

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A topic for recording information regarding Martin, Hall & Co..





Martin, Hall & Co. (Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall) registered their marks at the Sheffield, London and Chester assay offices.


Established in 1854, Martin, Hall & Co. were bought out by Frank Cobb & Co. in 1932-1933.


If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, markings, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.

See: https://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_M.html

and: https://www.925-1000.com/dlSheffield3.html#M

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The annual meeting of Messrs. Martin, Hall, and Co., Limited, was held on May 1, under the presidency of Mr. Bernard Wake. The attendance of shareholders was larger than usual, evidently arising from the recent Government action in reference to the plate duties. The matter was alluded to in the following paragraph in the directors' report:—"An important matter has just occurred by the remission of the silver duty. Down to the declaration by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the duty was remitted, it was impossible to ascertain what Government would do, and the whole trade was put to much inconvenience by this uncertainty. Your Board are taking the best steps they can to avoid loss. The question of the retention of Hall-marking and the standards is still in abeyance, and it is useless to speculate what will be done. Your Board, however, think it well to record that their strong desire is to keep up compulsory Hall-marking and the standards as heretofore. Unless this be done the value of silver goods can only depend on the honesty and reputation of manufacturers." The subject was then thoroughly discussed at the meeting and the following resolution passed :—" Resolved that the passage in the directors' report with regard to Hallmarking and standards be sent to the county and borough members, with a respectful request that they will be good enough to use their influence to get both principles adopted by Government, it being the unanimous feeling of this meeting that compulsory Hall-marking and the existing British standards result in advantage alike to the manufacturer and to the purchaser."

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd June 1890

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HALL, Ebenezer. J.P. (Derbyshire). Born 1820. Chairman of Martin, Hall and Co., Limited, silver and electro-plate makers, and cutlers, founded as a company in 1866. Also chairman of the Sheffield and Rotherham Joint Stock Banking Co.; and director of the Sheffield United Gas Light Co. Business Address: Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield. Residence: Abbey Dale Park, Dore, Sheffield.

Source: Men of Note in Finance and Commerce - Edited by Herbert Henry Bassett - 1900

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The Patent Plumbago Crucible Company - London - 1859

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At the Sheffield County Court on April 10, before Judge Mansel-Jones, Johnsen & Jorgensen, Ltd., London, claimed from Martin Hall & Co., Ltd., Broad Street, Sheffield, 80l. 19s. Id., being 63l. 14s. 11d. for toilet-bottles, and 17l. 4s. 4d. for smelling-salt bottles. Mr. Mote, barrister, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Ellison, barrister, for the defendants. The defence was that the contract had not been complied with, owing to considerable delay in the delivery of the goods due to drought and heat in Bohemia, where they were made. In consequence of the non-delivery of the articles the defendants had to purchase elsewhere. While the case was proceeding it was agreed that the defendants should take the salt-bottles, but Mr. Ellison stated that the others were useless now. A traveller for the plaintiff company said foreign firms take a longer time to deliver the goods than English firms ; but the prices of foreign manufacturers are 15 to 25 per cent. less. A manager for the defendant company said English goods can now be obtained almost as cheap as those of foreign manufacture. His Honour said the evidence showed that the goods were required for the Christmas market, and he came to the conclusion that these things were not delivered within a reasonable time. There would therefore be judgment for the defendants.

Source: The Chemist and Druggist - 15th April 1905

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American vs. English Patterns

H. Wilkins, managing director of Martin, Hall & Co. silver and electroplate manufacturers, of Sheffield, has been on a business tour in Canada and is firmly convinced that the bumper harvest will mean good business.

In an interview on his return, he expressed the opinion that British manufacturers would stand a better chance of doing trade in plate if thev discarded the idea that the Canadians want American patterns, which are often elaborate and vulgar.

Certainly, there seems to be no reason to believe that, because the Americans were first in the field, British manufacturers should copy their style. At any rate, an opportunity will be given for testing the virtue of the British pattern in competition with the American and I have no doubt that it will be given the palm for elegance and artistic design.

Source: Hardware and Metal - 16th January 1909

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An example of the work and marks of Martin, Hall & Co.:






MH/&Co - EPGS (Electro Plated German Silver) - HARD SOLDERED

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Marriages

Hall - Wilkinson. At St. Paul's, Covent-garden, Mr. Ebenezer Hall, of Abbeydale, Park, Sheffield, to Sarah, daughter of the late Mr. George Wilkinson, of St. Paul's, Covent-garden, Feb. 17.

Source: Pall Mall Gazette - 25th February 1876

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Martin, Hall & Co. - Sheffield - 1861

London agent: James Slater, 28, Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, London

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Another example of the work and marks of Martin, Hall & Co.:




MH/&Co - EPGS (Electro Plated German Silver)

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A strange robbery has been perpetrated at the Central Hotel, Dublin. Messrs Martin and Hall, jewellers, of Sheffield, forwarded 24 cases of samples to Mr Crossley, their representative in Dublin, and they were duly delivered at the hotel. Subsequently one of the cases was found to be missing. The contents are valued at over £500. The matter is in the hands of the police.

Source: South Wales Daily News - 8th June 1892

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Another example of the work and marks of Martin, Hall & Co.:


MARTIN, HALL & Co.Ltd./SHEFFIELD

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SEQUESTRATION of GREGOR DRUMMOND, sometime Jeweller, 11 Glasgow Road, Clydebank, now Jewellery Salesman in Glasgow, and residing at 127 York Drive, Hyndland there.

JAMES ALISON GORDON, Chartered Accountant, Glasgow, has been elected Trustee on the Estate ; and Thomas H. Gollan, Jeweller, Glasgow, and Thomas E. Watson, Branch Manager for Martin Hall & Co. Limited, Glasgow, have been elected Commissioners. The Examination of the Bankrupt will take place within the Chambers of the Sheriff-Substitute (Davidson), County Buildings, 40 Wilson Street, Glasgow, upon 14th day of December 1910, at eleven o'clock forenoon. The Creditors will meet within the Chambers of Messrs. John Mann & Son, C.A., 142 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, upon Thursday, 22nd December 1910, at twelve o'clock noon. At this Meeting another Commissioner will be appointed.
THOMAS STARK & Co., 180 West Regent Street, Glasgow, Agents for Trustee.
1st December 1910.

Source: The Edinburgh Gazette - 2nd December 1910

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Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.

2769 - Notice is hereby given, that Richard Martin, Ebenezer Hall, and Joshua Hall, trading under the style or firm of Martin Hall and Co., Silver Platers, of Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield, in the county of York, have given the like notice in respect of the invention of " improvements in steam hammers." As set forth in their petition, recorded in the said office on the 31st day of October, 1857.

Source: The London Gazette - 29th December 1857

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Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned, John Roberts, Richard Martin, Ebenezer Hall, and Joshua Hall, carrying on business at Sheffield, in the county of York, as Silver Platers, under the style or firm of Martin, Hall, and Co.. was dissolved on the 1st day of January, 1857, so far as regards the said John Roberts; and that all debts due to and owing from the said partnership concern will be received and paid by the said Richard Martin, Ebenezer Hall, and Joshua Hall, who alone have, since the said 1st day of January, 1857, carried on, and will hereafter continue to carry on, the said business in copartnership together, under the style or firm of Martin, Hall, and Co.—
Dated this 9th day of October, 1858.
John Roberts. Ebenezer Hall.
Richard Martin. Joshua Hall.

Source: The London Gazette - 15th October 1858

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Another example of the work and marks of Martin, Hall & Co.:




MH/&Co - EPNS - 4810

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DEATHS

Oldham. - July 15, after a painful and protracted illness, Sarah Oldham, for nearly 30 years the faithful servant of Martin, Hall & Co. (Limited) and their predecessors, aged 48.

Source: Sheffield and Rotherham Independent - 18th July 1871

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An example of the mark of Martin, Hall & Co. with the retailer mark of Wilson & Sharp of Edinburgh:


MH/&Co - EPNS - WILSON & SHARP/EDINBURGH

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PLAYING WITH A REVOLVER

An errand-boy, who had obtained possession of a revolver at Messrs. Martin Hall and Co.'s works, Sheffield, yesterday, was pointing it in play at Annie Slater, a temporary timekeeper at the works, when it went off, the bullet passing through the woman's left eye. She is in a precarious condition.

Source: Evening Express and Evening Mail - 9th August 1907

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Marking on Martin, Hall & Co. flatware that suggests a date-letter system may have been in use during the 19th century:


'R'


'S'


'V'

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