Information Regarding Martin, Hall & Co.

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Cased spoons and tongs set by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1908:










RM/EH - Sheffield - 1908

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A napkin-ring by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1904:






RM/EH - Sheffield - 1904

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A jardiniere by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1899:












RM/EH - Sheffield - 1899

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Cased tea-knives by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1928:








MH/&/Co Ld - Sheffield - 1928

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A napkin-ring by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at London in 1873:






RM/EH - London - 1873

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The shareholders in Martin, Hall & Co., Limited, are this year the happy recipients of a dividend of 9 per cent. When it is remembered that some of the " heavy" limiteds have only paid 5 per cent, this year, this speaks well for the silver trade. During their 23 years' existence as a limited company, Martin, Hall & Co. have paid out of profits the goodwill, divided amongst the shareholders an average of 10 per cent, for the whole period, and established a reserve fund of £10,000. When it is considered that more than half of this period has been one of very great depression in the general trade of the country, this record will be seen to be a particularly good one.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1889

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MARTIN, HALL & CO., LIMITED, SHREWSBURY WORKS, BROAD STREET, PARK, SHEFFIELD

One of the most notable and extensive concerns engaged in the manufacture of silverware and electro-plate at Sheffield is that conducted under the well-known style of Martin, Hall & Co., Limited. This business in its present form is the amalgamation of two separate firms (Martin & Naylor, and Roberts & Hall) about the year 1854; and the house, in conjunction with its predecessors, is one of the oldest in its line in Yorkshire. The trade carried on is certainly among the most important and influential of its kind in the county, or indeed in the kingdom, and all its operations are most ably and energetically administered by the present chairman, Ebenezer Hall, Esq., and the managing directors, Peter Wragg, Esq., and Ebenezer Hall, jun., Esq., who are all widely known in the trade.

The headquarters of the Company are known as Shrewsbury Works, and are situated in Broad Street. The establishment is admirably arranged throughout, and the numerous work-shops are splendidly equipped for the purposes of the trade engaged in. Here nearly four hundred hands are employed, and in the fine show-rooms which occupy a part of the premises we find a varied and interesting display of the firm’s noted manufactures. These embrace all descriptions of first-class silver plate and electro-plate, together with silver plated and silver cutlery of every kind for household and table use. Messrs. Martin, Hall & Co., Limited, are famed for the beauty of design and finish, as well as for the high excellence of quality and workmanship that distinguish all their goods, and in these respects the magnificent stock exhibited in the Sheffield show-rooms is fully up to the superior standard the house has so long maintained. Everything is manufactured by the Company on their own premises, and under conditions ensuring the attainment of the best possible results in the articles produced. Prize Medals gained at the London and Sydney Exhibitions (1862 and 1879) attest the success of this firm’s productions in international competition.

Messrs. Martin, Hall & Co., Limited, have London warehouse and show-rooms at 22, Ely Place, Holborn Circus, E.C., where they are represented by Mr. Charles E. Hicks. They have also a Glasgow warehouse at 186, St. Vincent Street (agent, Mr. Thomas E. Watson), and an Australian warehouse at 38, Castlereagh Street, Sydney (agent, Mr. Harry King). The telegraphic addresses of the Company are as follow:- “Hall, Sheffield”; “Argents, London”; and “Major, Glasgow.”

Source: Progress - Commerce - 1893

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The annual official investigation into the working of Messrs. Martin, Hall, and Co., Limited, has resulted in the declaration of a dividend of 8½ per cent, on the amount of capital called up. This is the average annual dividend received during the last three years by the fortunate shareholders, who are mostly employes of the company. This, in face of the fluctuations of trade experienced during that period, speaks well for the healthy state of the Silver and Electro-plate trade of the town and for the efficiency with which these enormous limited companies are worked. In the case of Martin and Hall it is interesting to note how the same names crop up year after year — Mr. Ebenezer Hall as chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Peter Wragg as secretary, and so on — carrying our memories back to the time when these were all heads of departments in the original firm of Roberts and Hall.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1892

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A napkin-ring by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1883:








RM/EH - Sheffield - 1883

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Knives set by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1906:




RM/EH - Sheffield - 1906

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Napkin-rings by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1891:






RM/EH - Sheffield - 1891

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A basket by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1904:




RM/EH - Sheffield - 1904

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TESTIMONIAL AND DINNER TO BRO. WM. HERBAGE

On Wednesday week a number of gentlemen assembled at dinner at the City United Club, Ludgate Circus, to present a testimonial to Bro. Wm. Herbage, late the manager of the Ludgate Hill Branch of the City Bank. The testimonial consisted of an epergne and plateau, together with a silver tea and coffee service, manufactured by Messrs. Martin, Hall, & Co., (Limited), at a cost of about £140.

Source: The Freemason - 13th May 1876

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A finial by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield:




RM/EH - Sheffield

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A pocket fruit-knife by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1859:






MH/& Co. - Sheffield - 1859

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A napkin-ring by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at Sheffield in 1899:






RM/EH - Sheffield - 1899

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A punch-bowl by Martin, Hall & Co., assayed at London in 1880:




RM/EH - London - 1880

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Men, as a rule, do not come and go in these large silver works, but as often as not go in as boys and come out when the work of life is done. Such has been the case with Mr. Peter Wragg, the managing director of Messrs. Martin and Hall, Limited, who has just passed away at a ripe old age. Mr. Wragg entered the service of Messrs. Roberts and Hall, as the firm was originally called, as a youth, and rose gradually to the position of managing director through a happy combination of industry, ability, and integrity. It falls to the lot of few men to be able to do his duty to the vast and complicated interests of a concern like Messrs. Martin and Hall's, and at the same time maintain the warm affections of his workpeople. This, however, Mr. Wragg succeeded in doing, and it is hard to say who will miss him most — the company of which he was the active head or the occupants of the workshop.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st February 1894

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For the extension of the works of Martin, Hall & Co., limited, Sheffield. (First contract.) Messrs. M. E. Hadfield & Son, architects :—

Gomersall - £2,264 10s. 0d.
Milner (accepted) - £2,027 0s. 0d.
Rodley - £2081 0s. 0d.

Source: The Builder - 28th July 1866

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RARE WORKMANSHIP IN PRESENTATION PLATE

We recently had an opportunity of inspecting a magnificent presentation shield presented to Earl Spencer, by the Ward Union Hunt. The shield, which is of sterling silver, weighing 230 ounces, is a magnificent piece of workmanship of rare artistic merit, and was supplied by Mr. Edward Johnson, of 89, Grafton-street, Dublin, having been manufactured by the well-known firm of Martin, Hall, & Co., of Sheffield. The centre of the plate is a representation of Diana with the dog, the four cardinal points showing stags' heads, while the other parts bear excellent representations of the different stages of hunting scenes.

The Celtic work is entirely saw-pierced and laid on, thus producing a very fine effect. The general models of the various figures are of unusual merit, and every emblem is wrought in the most artistic and finished style, of which the manufacturers may well feel proud.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th August 1875

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