A Gazetteer of Lock and Key Makers

Jim Evans

this gazetteer is copyright Jim Evans, 2002

David Nelson writes:

The earliest evidence of the name Jackson being associated with lock manufacture in Wolverhampton is in 1872 when Thomas Joseph Jackson appears in the Directory of Staffordshire as a lock maker, New Invention, Willenhall.  Francis Jackson, a son of Thomas Joseph and Mary (nee Taylor) appears in the 1878 directory of Staffordshire at 96 Poole Street, Wolverhampton as does Thomas Joseph, still at New Invention as lock makers.

Francis Jackson was born in 1851. After completing his indentures with John Taylor (yes, he married the boss's daughter!) he worked for Chubbs (Wolverhampton) then established his own business.  He must have developed a noteworthy reputation because in 1880 he took an engagement from the Japanese Government to teach the art of lock making and brass works in Tokyo.  In 1882 he emigrated to Australia (Tasmania) from Japan, organised for his wife and family to come from Wolverhampton and started the Jackson Lock and Brass Works in Launceston. The Jackson Lock and Brass Works is still producing locks today.  

Thomas Joseph Jackson was indentured in 1831 to James Taylor, a brass founder of Wolverhampton. He acquired a number of houses and buildings in Bloomsbury Street, Hall Street, Pountney Street and Chapel Street in Wolverhampton.

I have no samples of advertising for Jackson Locks in Wolverhampton or even a lock to prove its existence, but by putting together the pieces of a family history I an sure a lock making business of this name did exist in Wolverhampton during the 1870s.

J. JOHNSON & CO, LION WORKS, CEMETERY ROAD, WILLENHALL

This billhead, supplied by Trevor Dowson, is the only evidence we have of this firm.  (The last line of the bill head reads:  "Empties must be returned with Heads complete".  Does anyone know what that means?).

ENOCH JONES,  DOCTORS PIECE,  WILLENHALL

Padlock makers existing in 1940 and 1953.  Supplied with keys by A Hough between Feb 1946 and Nov 1948.  Nothing else known.

 

ROBERT JONES AND CO LTD,  ANN STREET,  WILLENHALL

Manufacturers of all kinds of brass and iron pad, press and cupboard locks, night latches and keys. In 1920 Robert Jones was at Orchard Works, Orchard Road Willenhall.  In 1940 were at Ann Street.  Existing in 1974.

The company was established in 1864.  They made pad and mortice locks and special locks for the railway, particularly the South African Railways.  A feature of their mortice keys was a flat shank. They also made fine quality oilcans identified by a large letter K on the side.

In 1960 were owned by the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Co. In 1962 they were bought by Associated Fire Alarms who closed them down shortly after.  But they were reopened between 1970 and 1976 and became Pickersgill Kaye Ltd.  In 1997 they had stopped making mortice locks and were concentrating on electronic locks.

Run by two brothers, making mortice locks.  Not Listed in 1914 Kelly Directory.  Listed in 1921 Kelly’s Directory.  Closed c1960.  Premises later taken over by Guardian Lock c1985.

 

ARCHIBALD KENRICK AND SONS LTD,  WEST BROMWICH

The company was founded in 1786 and gradually expanded, from its modest start in buckle making, through successive diversifications dictated by changes in fashion, improved technology and competitive pressures of the times, to the peak of its achievement at the beginning of the twentieth century when it manufactured cast iron hollow-ware consumer goods.

Their secondary line was builder’s hardware and, in August 1903, they spent £5000 fitting out and equipping a shop on their Smethwick site for the production of the new cylinder lock.  Shortly afterwards they added an extension.  The total cost was £2250 in a year when they made a loss of £900.  An American mechanic was employed to supervise the venture. When Kenricks Pressed Steel No 500 Rim night latch was exhibited in 1908, at least one commentator drew a comparison with similar American articles that had long been considered unique. The American mechanic returned to the US shortly afterwards.

In addition to making cylinder locks they also made a brass cylinder padlocks.   In 1922/3 cylinder locks accounted for £5756 of sales out of a total for the company of £167236, equal to 3.4 % of total sales.  By 1936/7 sales had dropped to £3932 out of a total of £164106, equal to 2.4 % of total sales.

In 1928 Kenricks were founder members of the CLMA, formed to maintain prices.

Kenricks continued to make cylinder locks up to about 1960.

(Ref: "Kenricks in Hardware" and Alan Fellows, who is writing a history of Kenricks' buildings. 25/8/1999)

 

THE KENWYN MANUFACTURING CO LTD,  34 WEDNESFIELD ROAD, WILLENHALL

Manufacturers of cupboard and locker locks, especially for pit head baths.  Existing in 1969 and 1984.

 Run by Ken Morgan, who had taken over the family business.  In this period he had a full time job as a salesman and was only doing repairs to locks and cutting replacement keys using retired locksmiths.

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