Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1885-1998 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.16 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Garnier and Company Limited, manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs, was founded by Charles Garnier (b. 1841, Paris), who came to London with his family in 1870s and worked as an engraver and manufacturer of enamelled copper medallions, jewellery and advertising letters.
On 1st February 1887 Charles Garnier formed a partnership with Mr. Andrew Agnes Maitland Herriott, who was appointed Director. The registered office of the first company was 10 Ash Grove, Hackney. This business stopped c. 1889, for unknown reasons.
On 22nd July 1890 Charles Garnier set up another business arrangement, forming a Company called 'Garnier Enamelled Letter and Advertising Sign Co.' and acting as agent for two French companies (G. Soyers and C. Merleu). The main shareholders were Mr. Charles Garnier and Mr. Henry Sells. Garnier concentrated on the manufacture of copper letters, which were used extensively for window advertising.
In 1908 the company changed ownership again, the new owners being Mr. C. Amey and Mr. F. Battams. After Henry Sells's death by February 1912, his son Alfred and his family become the main shareholders, together with Sells Publishing Agency. The Company seems to have survived the First World War, with the offices and trade counter in Farringdon Street and the new factory in Willesden.
On 6th February 1923 Mr. Amey (owner) and Mr. W. C. Sydenham (employee since 1921) formed Garnier & Co. Ltd. The business was to manufacture and deal in enamelled plates and signs, copper letters and other articles. Mr. Amey retired from the Company in April 1926. After the death of Mr. Sydenham in July 1930 the Company was left to his wife Elizabeth, and after her death in May 1934, to their daughter Miss Barbara Sydenham, who kept in touch with the Company's affairs through her advisors, solicitors Bevan Hancock and accountants Payne Stone & Fraser, based in Bristol, where she lived. Miss Sydenham eventually agreed to sell the Company to John Lovelock (Company's Works Manager) and Vera Thompson (Company Secretary) in January 1972. The Company continued to manufacture Vitreous enamelled steel signs, but copper letters had been discontinued in 1950s.
The business was sold again in October 1991. In 1998 the Company was still trading at 233a High Road and 37 Strode Road, Willesden, specialising in the Vitreous enamelled steel trade.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4418 1885-1998 Collection 0.16 linear metres Garnier and Company Limited , manufacturers of signs
Garnier and Company Limited, manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs, was founded by Charles Garnier (b. 1841, Paris), who came to London with his family in 1870s and worked as an engraver and manufacturer of enamelled copper medallions, jewellery and advertising letters.
On 1st February 1887 Charles Garnier formed a partnership with Mr. Andrew Agnes Maitland Herriott, who was appointed Director. The registered office of the first company was 10 Ash Grove, Hackney. This business stopped c. 1889, for unknown reasons.
On 22nd July 1890 Charles Garnier set up another business arrangement, forming a Company called 'Garnier Enamelled Letter and Advertising Sign Co.' and acting as agent for two French companies (G. Soyers and C. Merleu). The main shareholders were Mr. Charles Garnier and Mr. Henry Sells. Garnier concentrated on the manufacture of copper letters, which were used extensively for window advertising.
In 1908 the company changed ownership again, the new owners being Mr. C. Amey and Mr. F. Battams. After Henry Sells's death by February 1912, his son Alfred and his family become the main shareholders, together with Sells Publishing Agency. The Company seems to have survived the First World War, with the offices and trade counter in Farringdon Street and the new factory in Willesden.
On 6th February 1923 Mr. Amey (owner) and Mr. W. C. Sydenham (employee since 1921) formed Garnier & Co. Ltd. The business was to manufacture and deal in enamelled plates and signs, copper letters and other articles. Mr. Amey retired from the Company in April 1926. After the death of Mr. Sydenham in July 1930 the Company was left to his wife Elizabeth, and after her death in May 1934, to their daughter Miss Barbara Sydenham, who kept in touch with the Company's affairs through her advisors, solicitors Bevan Hancock and accountants Payne Stone & Fraser, based in Bristol, where she lived. Miss Sydenham eventually agreed to sell the Company to John Lovelock (Company's Works Manager) and Vera Thompson (Company Secretary) in January 1972. The Company continued to manufacture Vitreous enamelled steel signs, but copper letters had been discontinued in 1950s.
The business was sold again in October 1991. In 1998 the Company was still trading at 233a High Road and 37 Strode Road, Willesden, specialising in the Vitreous enamelled steel trade.
This collection was deposited at LMA in 2002 by the daughter of Mrs. Vera Thompson after her death.
Records of Garnier and Company Limited, manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs, 1885-1998. A majority of the business and administration records of Garnier & Co. Ltd. which are included in this collection date from 1991 and refer to the sale of company shares by Vera Thompson in that year. The collection also includes order forms, price lists and sales brochures and proof copy of the booklet 'Garnier & Co Ltd: Manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs in Willesden since 1898' by Vera Thompson.
This collection has been arranged in one series called 'Business and Administration Records', LMA/4418/01.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Copyright rests with the City of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For more detailed business history see LMA/4418/01: 'Garnier & Co. Ltd.: manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs in Willesden since 1898' by Vera Thompson, ed. by Cliff Wadsworth (1998).
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. July to October 2009 Financial markets Share dealing Information sources Documents Business records Trade (practice) Investment Sales Communication process Information transfer Non-verbal information transfer Signs and signboards Finance Companies Garnier and Company Limited , manufacturers of signs Enterprises
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection was deposited at LMA in 2002 by the daughter of Mrs. Vera Thompson after her death.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Garnier and Company Limited, manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs, 1885-1998. A majority of the business and administration records of Garnier & Co. Ltd. which are included in this collection date from 1991 and refer to the sale of company shares by Vera Thompson in that year. The collection also includes order forms, price lists and sales brochures and proof copy of the booklet 'Garnier & Co Ltd: Manufacturers of Vitreous enamelled steel signs in Willesden since 1898' by Vera Thompson.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection has been arranged in one series called 'Business and Administration Records', LMA/4418/01.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright rests with the City of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
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
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