Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1876-1955 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
17 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
This firm of chronometer, clock and watch makers was established circa 1834 by Charles Frodsham (1810-1871), son of William James Frodsham who was co-founder of Parkinson and Frodsham. In 1837 Charles Frodsham was renting premises at 12 The Pavement, Finsbury, moving a year later to 7 The Pavement, Finsbury. Following the death of John Roger Arnold in 1843, Frodsham took over Arnold's business and premises at 84 Strand. When Frodsham himself died in 1871 the business was continued by his son. The last Frodsham to be involved with the firm died in 1928. Charles Frodsham and Co Ltd became a subsidiary of Devon Instruments in 1977.
The firm was known as Charles Frodsham c 1834-1843; Arnold and Frodsham 1843-1858; Charles Frodsham 1858-84; Charles Frodsham and Co 1884-1893, and Charles Frodsham and Co Ltd 1893- . It traded from 12 The Pavement, Finsbury 1837; 7 The Pavement, Finsbury 1838; 84 Strand 1858-1895; 115 New Bond Street 1896-1914; 27 South Molton Street 1914-1941; 62 Beauchamp Place 1942-1945; 173 Brompton Road 1946-1973; 4-5 South Audley Street 1974-1977; and Topsham, Devon 1977-.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/B/043 1876-1955 Collection 17 production units. Charles Frodsham and Co , chronometer, clock and watch makers
This firm of chronometer, clock and watch makers was established circa 1834 by Charles Frodsham (1810-1871), son of William James Frodsham who was co-founder of Parkinson and Frodsham. In 1837 Charles Frodsham was renting premises at 12 The Pavement, Finsbury, moving a year later to 7 The Pavement, Finsbury. Following the death of John Roger Arnold in 1843, Frodsham took over Arnold's business and premises at 84 Strand. When Frodsham himself died in 1871 the business was continued by his son. The last Frodsham to be involved with the firm died in 1928. Charles Frodsham and Co Ltd became a subsidiary of Devon Instruments in 1977.
The firm was known as Charles Frodsham c 1834-1843; Arnold and Frodsham 1843-1858; Charles Frodsham 1858-84; Charles Frodsham and Co 1884-1893, and Charles Frodsham and Co Ltd 1893- . It traded from 12 The Pavement, Finsbury 1837; 7 The Pavement, Finsbury 1838; 84 Strand 1858-1895; 115 New Bond Street 1896-1914; 27 South Molton Street 1914-1941; 62 Beauchamp Place 1942-1945; 173 Brompton Road 1946-1973; 4-5 South Audley Street 1974-1977; and Topsham, Devon 1977-.
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1982 by the Clockmakers' Company. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Records of Charles Frodsham and Company, chronometer, clock and watch makers. The records comprise minutes of the board of directors 1893-1939 and annual general meetings 1894-1939 (Ms 19904); a ledger 1939-55 (Ms 19905), and watch manufacturing books 1876-1910 and 1895-7 (Ms 19906-7).
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
LMA also holds the records of Parkinson and Frodsham; see CLC/B/176.
A history of the firm is given in R. V. Mercer's The Frodshams. The Story of a Family of Chronometer Makers (Antiquarian Horological Society monograph 21, 1981).
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
November 2010 to January 2011. Time measuring instruments Watches Information sources Documents Business records People People by occupation Personnel Workers Skilled workers Craft workers Clockmakers Measuring instruments Scientific equipment Equipment Horology Metal industry Manufacturing industry Industry Clocks Charles Frodsham and Co , chronometer , clock and watch makers
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1982 by the Clockmakers' Company. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Charles Frodsham and Company, chronometer, clock and watch makers. The records comprise minutes of the board of directors 1893-1939 and annual general meetings 1894-1939 (Ms 19904); a ledger 1939-55 (Ms 19905), and watch manufacturing books 1876-1910 and 1895-7 (Ms 19906-7).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
LMA also holds the records of Parkinson and Frodsham; see CLC/B/176.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Scientific equipment » Measuring instruments » Time measuring instruments
- Information sources
- Documents
- Personnel
- Personnel » Workers
- Personnel » Workers » Skilled workers
- Personnel » Workers » Skilled workers » Craft workers
- Scientific equipment » Measuring instruments
- Scientific equipment
- Industry » Manufacturing industry » Metal industry
- Industry » Manufacturing industry
- Industry
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English