Information Regarding P. Orr & Sons of Madras and Rangoon

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P. Orr & Sons - Madras - 1905

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Ownership of P. Orr & Sons:


1860:

Peter Nicholas Orr and James Edward Orr.


1861:

Peter Nicholas Orr and Robert Gordon Orr.


1873:

Robert Gordon Orr and Samuel Thomas Wood.


1893:

Robert Gordon Orr and Frederick William Emery.


1911:

Edward William Orr and Frederick William Emery.


(To be updated as and when further information comes to hand)

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India Office, August 8, 1887.
Secretary of State for India hereby gives notice, that he has received Fort St. George Gazettes, containing the following Notices, relating to the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Madras, under Act 11 Vict., cap. 21:—

In the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Madras.

Notice is hereby given, that petitions to the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors have been filed by the undermentioned persons praying for the benefit of the Act 11 Vic., c. 21 ("To consolidate and amend the laws relating to Insolvent Debtors in India"), and that orders have been made by the said Insolvent Court vesting the estates and effects of the said Insolvents in Frederic Rowlandson, Esq., the Official Assignee of the said Court:—

Names and Descriptions of Insolvents.

William Edwin Hilliard, residing in the Elphinstone Hotel, Mount-road, within the local limits of Madras, late a Manager at Messrs. P. Orr and Sons, Madras. Date of Gazette containing notice, July 25, 1887.

Source: The London Gazette - 9th August 1887

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India Office, August 8, 1887.
Secretary of State for India hereby gives notice, that he has received Fort St. George Gazettes, containing the following Notices, relating to the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Madras, under Act 11 Vict., cap. 21:—

In the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Madras.

Notice is hereby given, that petitions to the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors have been filed by the undermentioned persons praying for the benefit of the Act 11 Vic., c. 21 ("To consolidate and amend the laws relating to Insolvent Debtors in India"), and that orders have been made by the said Insolvent Court vesting the estates and effects of the said Insolvents in Frederic Rowlandson, Esq., the Official Assignee of the said Court:—

Names and Descriptions of Insolvents.

Chinnathumby Sabapathy Aucharry and Chinnathumby Aroomooga Aucharry, respectively residing at No. 110, Nyneappah Naick's-street, in the Black Town of Madras, Goldsmiths, employed in the firm of Messrs. P. Orr and Sons, Madras. Date of Gazette containing notice, July 25, 1887

Source: The London Gazette - 9th August 1887

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Halling, Pearce, and Stone - London - 1876

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Details of P. Orr & Sons submissions to the Calcutta International Exhibition 1883-84:

ORR (P.) & SONS, Madras - Jewelry and silver plate, brass ecclesiastical work, electro-plate mounted pottery.

Source: Official Report of the Calcutta International Exhibition 1883-84 - 1885

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P. Orr & Sons, Ltd. - Madras - 1938

Further information regarding Cooke, Troughton & Simms Ltd. can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=20837&p=88488&hilit=cooke#p88488

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Regarding the silverware of St. Stephen’s Church, Ootacamund:

A mystery which I have been absolutely unable to penetrate envelops the history of the Communion plate of St. Stephen’s. Until very recently, I thought that the articles in use were those supplied in 1846. In an evil moment—for I thereby brought upon myself a mountain of fruitless labour —I examined the contents of the safe. The result was the discovery that of the plate of 1846, which originally consisted of a flagon, alms dish, chalice, and paten, only the flagon, and what was apparently the alms dish, remain ; that there is a quaintly-shaped chalice of Indian manufacture and old pattern, bearing the letters W.G.T.L. ; and that the plate at present in use is a double set, of modern design, made by Messrs. P. Orr & Sons. There is not the slightest record of how part of the plate of 1846 has disappeared, where the old chalice came from, and when the church became possessed of the plate now in use. I thought that the missing articles might have been transferred to Gudalur church. The plate there has been examined, and does not belong to the same set. It has been suggested to me that the donor of the old chalice might be Captain W. G. T. Lewis, 47th N.I. I have traced him, from the commencement of his military career, to the time of his death in the Kurnool campaign of 1839, and there is no indication of any sort that he was ever at Ootacamund. Even if he had made a presentation, the church was absolutely cleared of everything in 1844. Captain Lewis’ wife could not have given it, as she went home directly after his death, and was put on Lord Clive’s Fund, from which it is to be inferred that she could not have afforded to make presents. Mr. E. Orr, of Messrs. P. Orr & Sons, has kindly taken considerable trouble in attempting to trace the existing set of plate, but has utterly failed. I have cast about in all likely directions for information, but have obtained none.

Source: Ootacamund - A History - Sir Frederick Price, K.C.S.I. - 1908

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Smith, J. M., Managing Director, P. Orr. & Sons, Ltd., Madras. Born in Dumfries (Scotland). Joined Messrs. P. Orr & Sons, Ltd., as an assistant manager; was Chairman of the Madras Trades Association; Sheriff of Madras, 1934-35; Member, Madras Legislative Council, 1926-28. Clubs: Madras Club. Gymkhana, M. C. C. Address - Streatley, Chetput, Madras.

Source: Who's Who In India Burma & Ceylon - 1939

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Edward Alfred Heath, Director, P. Orr & Sons, Ltd., Madras. Born on 6th Aug. 1881 at Middlesex; son of Alfred Heath. Educated at Bretford Grammar School. Married and has two sons. Was Chairman, Madras Trades Association. Is Trustee, Madras Port Trust. Member, Madras Chamber of Commerce. Club: Gymkhana. Address—“Rie versdale”, Harringtons Road, Chetput, Madras.

Source: Who's Who In India Burma & Ceylon - 1939

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According to the 'The Who's Who in Madras' - 1936 edition, Edward Alfred Heath had spent the last 26 years in Madras and Rangoon.

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An image of the workshops of P. Orr & Sons of Madras:


P. Orr & Sons, Ltd. - Madras - c.1875

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P. Orr and Sons v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Madras

The assessee company has been a private limited company from 1915. Even during the period from December, 1936, to June, 1938, when it was in form a public company, no shares were issued to the public. After June, 1938, it reverted to its status as a private company. J. M. Smith was in management all through till March, 1950, and it was never in dispute that the present sound position of the company was largely due to his management of its affairs.

Source: P. Orr and Sons v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Madras - (High Court Of Judicature At Madras) 28-10-1958

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P. Orr & Sons, Ltd. - Madras - 1938

As from 1946 the manager of P. Orr & Sons’ sheet metal furniture division was John M. Davies, who was employed, and eventually became a director, at Orr's until 1956, when he returned to England to take up a position with Garrard & Co.

The director in charge of P. Orr & Sons’ engineering section, which included the sheet metal furniture division and also imported optics and made theodolites for supply to the Public Works Departments of various provinces of India, was John Wood, who left Orr's in 1952.

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THE PRINCE OF WALES IN INDIA

THE MADRAS CASKET

The address presented to the Prince by the people of Madras was enclosed in a magnificent casket, constructed by Messrs. P. Orr and Sons, of that city. This casket is a chaste and effective combination of ivory and gold, measuring 18" x 7" x 5." One at each corner of a slab of ivory 20" x 9" x 1" are four gold tigers couchant, supporting the casket, which is also of ivory, overlaid with a rich network of embossed gold work. The front bears the inscription - " Presented to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, by the people of Madras, 1875,"' in raised letters of gold. Immediately surrounding this is a troop of dancing Girls and musicians, illustrating a scene in the life of Kristna, the popular Hindoo deity. This same "swami" is also illustrated in a kind of swing, with one of his favorite ladies, and in another representation he is shown lifting the mountain Govardhana, to shield his followers from the wrath of one of his brother deities. Another prominent feature brought out in this gold work is "Mahadevr," with the Ganges flowing from the crown tuft of his hair, which his adherents assert is the source of the sacred river. Other deities also appear, including Siva, Vishnoo, and Brahma - the three heads of the Hindoo panthleon - together with the goddess Kali, the heroine of the Ayuda Poojah festival. On the reverse side appears a fine specimen of native scroll work, representing a variety of imaginary characters commonly used in the decoration of Hindoo temples and palaces, in the centre of which are the crest and motto of the Prince of Wales. On the summit of the casket, standing on a massive rock work of beaten gold is a fine model of a tiger in gold, measuring eight inches in length. The value of the gold used in the manufacture of the casket is £320 16s. 8d., and of the ivory £45 16s. 8d. The total cost of this magnificent present - which we may remind our readers was designed by Captain Kenny-Herbert - is £458 16s.

Source: The Queensland Times - 10th February 1876

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ORR, P., & SONS, Manufacturing Jewellers. Head Office: Madras. London Offices: 330, Moorgate Station Chambers, Moorfields, E.C. Hours of Business: 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Established in 1849. Staff: About 1,000 (varies). Branches: Calcutta and Rangoon. Business: Manufacturing Jewellers, Gold and Silversmiths, Mathematical and Surveying Instrument Makers. Awards: Medals, Indian and Vienna Exhibition, Calcutta and Madras. Royal Warrants: Special Appointment to His Imperial Majesty King George, King-Emperor in India, 1911. Telegraphic Addresses: " Indiarsi, London "; " Orr, Madras." Codes: A B C and Premier. Bankers: National Bank of India (Madras, Calcutta, and Rangoon); London County and Westminster Bank, Ltd. (London).

Source: Whitaker's Red Book of Commerce or Who's Who in Business - 1914

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Mr. S. J. Abathoon sends to a Madras paper some interesting particulars about diamonds found and cut in Madras : — My father never bought the "Eugenic" diamond, and consequently never sold it. The diamond he did buy for Rs. 6,000 was a rough diamond of 28 carats, which he had cut in Madras, and sold to Messrs. Hunt and Roskell for pounds £3,200, who matched it with another stone, a pendant for an earring and then sold the two diamonds to the Emperor at a profit of about £4,000. About sixty years ago Messrs. Cashar & Co., jewellers of Madras, used to have diamonds cut at their shop. Mr. John Arathoon bought and cut large rough diamonds in Southern India as far back as 1886-87. I and my brother Albert bought large rough diamonds and cut them, and also sold them in the rough. I have not only cut them in Madras, but also in Bangalore ; and in 1877-78 I cut two large diamonds, one of 22 carats and the other of 15 carats. Both these were sold by Messrs. P. Orr & Sons. Large rough diamonds were invariably brought by native dealers to the late Mr. John and his sons. In 1861, Mr. Albert Arathoon had a large rough diamond of about 56 carats cut in London, and sold it there; and in 1874 he sold one to a wealthy merchant in Amsterdam, of 54½ carats, for £2,500. In 1869, I took a large rough diamond of 80 carats to Europe, and sold it in Paris to Mr. L. M. Rothschild for £2,600. In 1880, I bought for Messrs. M'Dowell & Co. a rough diamond weighing 82 carats, and cut it for them. 1881 I sold them one of 28¾ carats, and in 1882 I sold to Messrs. P. Orr & Sons one of 67½ carats (the finest diamond now in England).

Source: The West Coast Times - 1st September 1883

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The Secretary of State for India in Council hereby gives notice, that he has received Madras Gazettes, containing the following Notices that the undermentioned insolvents filed their Petitions in the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors there, under the provisions of the Act 11 Victoria, cap. 21:—

Petitions filed praying for relief.

Notice is hereby given, that petitions to the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors were filed on the 20th day of June last, by Mr. Willie Grant, Attorney for Henry Adolphus Secluna, a European British subject, residing at No. 6, in Antony-street, at John Pereira's, and employed as an Assistant at Messrs. P. Orr and Sons, on the Mount-road, within the local limits of Madras.

A. Macdonald Ritchie, Chief Clerk. Madras, Chief Clerk's Office, 18th July, 1872

Source: The London Gazette - 18th October 1872

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P. Orr & Sons - Madras - 1875


P. Orr & Sons - Madras - 1875


P. Orr & Sons - Madras - 1875

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An example of a Swami silver tea-set, similar to that presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales by P. Orr & Sons in 1876:



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