I'm sending this post in the hope that it may provide some interesting
information on early Birmingham saw makers, and more specifically, on the
sawmakers Thompson Griffin Beilby & Co.
The story starts three years ago, when I acquired a 12" open-handled backsaw
from an online auction. The saw had apparently belonged to an old Maine
cabinetmaker. The brass back is stamped Thompson Griffin Beilby & Co., and
the general appearance indicated an early 19th century British origin.
This is a 12-point saw, so I would call it a carcase saw. It has a very
graceful, comfortable handle, and a brass back which is considerably lighter
than might be found on later saws. I've put a few images of the saw at
http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/categories.php?cat_id=18 - many thanks
to Jim E. for hosting the images!
Back in 2000, I posted a query to OldTools
http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/get.phtml?message_id=8329
5,
and found that the maker was apparently unknown. Even with the help of the
list, the best lead on this manufacturer was Ken Roberts' listing of a
John Thompson, who was making saws in Sheffield in 1817.
Fast-forward three years, and imagine my surprise when I get an e-mail from
Don McConnell, telling me he'd found a trade directory listing for
Thompson Griffin Beilby & Co.; they were making saws in Birmingham in 1818,
in a shop on Great Brook Street. I had assumed that the saw was likely a
Sheffield product, so I was surprised to learn of the Birmingham connection.
Over the next few days, Don assembled a chronology of Birmingham saw makers.
I've put the complete chronology at the bottom of this message for archival
purposes.
The result of Don's research indicates that Thompson Griffin Beilby & Co.
were known to be in business from 1818 to 1822, but were no longer listed in
the 1828 directory. I speculate that this is the same Thompson who was in
Sheffield in 1817, but this is uncertain.
In 1828, Thompson was listed with Thompson Leonard, Dawes & Co., at a
location in Great Brook St. It is tempting to speculate that this is the
same
Thompson, in the same location, but with different partners.
In 1830, Thompson Leonard, Dawes & Co. are still listed, and there is also
a Griffin Joseph, working in Ashted-Row. Could this be the same Griffin?
By 1835, Griffin has apparently disappeared from the scene, but Thompson,
Leonard, Dawes and Co. are still listed, with the addition of a street
number: 5 Great Brook St.
By 1839, Thompson and Dawes have apparently moved on, and the business is
listed as Leonard Henry, 5 Gt. Brook St.
Finally, in 1852, Great Brook Street is no longer listed for any of the
Birmingham sawmakers, and all the Thompson Griffin Beilby players seem to
have moved on.
I am very pleased to know a bit more about the provenance of this saw, and
I especially want to thank Don McConnell for his extensive research on this
subject. I still can't believe that the Beilby name stuck in Don's mind,
that he recalled my query three years after the fact, and that he took the
trouble to look me up, tell me his findings, and then follow up with more
research. Hats off to Don!
- Eric B., in Fairbanks, Alaska, not far from the Arctic Circle, watching
the sun set even though it's only been up for three hours.
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Don McConnell's listings of Birmingham saw makers:
1818 (_Wrightson's Triennial Directory for Birmingham_)
Anderton, Richard, Cutlery Mkr, Saw & Edge Tool Mkr, Bordesley
Hill, Edwin, Saw Mkr, Steel Busk Mkr, Fazeley St
Powell, William, Spade & Fire Shovel Mfr, Pan & Saw Mkr, Moor St
Thompson, Griffin &Beilby & Co, Saw Mfr, , Great Brook St
Wilkinson, George, Mfr Of Augers Saws Chisels Gouges Planes Iron, &c,
Alcester St
1822 (_Baine's History and Directory of Yorkshire_)
Paviour & Fenney, Great Brooke St.
Staniforth John, Woodcock St.
Thompson, Griffin, Beilby & Co., Great Brooke St.
Wilkinson George, Alcester Row
1828-9 (_Pigot & Co.'s National Commercial Directory_)
Betts Wm., 41 Water St.
Betts Wm., 10 Court, Ludgate Hill
Powell William & Son (& spade & fire-shovel pan), 108 Moor St.
Staniforth John, Woodcock St.
Thompson Leonard, Dawes & Co., Great Brook St.
Wilkinson George, Upper Witton Mill
1830 (_The History, Topography and Directory of Warwickshire_)
Betts William, 41 Water St.
Betts Wm., Ludgate Hill
Griffin Joseph, Ashted-Row
Powell Wm. and Son, and spade & fire shovel pan, 108 Moor St.
Staniforth John, Woodcock St.
Thompson, Leondard, Dawes and Co., Great Brook St.
Wilkinson George, Upper Witton Mills
1835 (_Pigot's National Commercial Directory_)
Atkin Aaron and Son (and steel busk), 35 Barford St.
Betts William, 58 Ludgate Hill
Crookes John, 4 Court, Lench St.
Hadley Oliver, 2 Court, Edmund St.
Powell William, 101 Moor St.
Squires Charles (& busk), 5 Freeman St.
Staniforth John (& steel busk), 15 Woodcock St.
Thompson, Leonard, Dawes and Co., 5 Great Brook St.
1839 (_Robson's Birmingham and Sheffield Directory_)
Atkins Aaron & Son, 96 Barford St.
Betts Wm., 58 Ludgate Hill
Leonard Henry, 5 Gt. Brook St.
Roston R., 1 Freeman St.
Staniforth John, 15 Woodcock St.
1852 (_Slater's General and Classififed Directory of Birmingham
and its Vicinities_)
Atkin & Sons, 58 Ludgate Hill and 116 and 117 Barford St.
Darby Henry, 17 Freeman St.
Squire George, 88 Steelhouse Lane
Staniforth John, 16 Woodcock St.
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