CLC/B/002/HH - HOBBS HART AND COMPANY LIMITED

Identity area

Reference code

CLC/B/002/HH

Title

HOBBS HART AND COMPANY LIMITED

Date(s)

  • 1864-1985 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

228 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Founded by Alfred C Hobbs, an American lock dealer in 1852 to manufacture locks based on his patents. By 1855 factory at 33 Lawrence Lane, City of London with showrooms at 97 Cheapside. In 1860 John Matthias Hart took over management of the firm upon Hobbs' death. Hart opened new works at Arlington Street, Islington (Wharncliffe Works) to manufacture safe and strong-room doors. The company held royal warrant from 1861 and supplied safes to Bank of England. The firm was incorporated 8 July 1887, the year Hart died. The range of products increased together with development of overseas exports. Charles Lee was General Manager in the 1890s and 1900s. In 1936 new works and offices were opened in Staffa Road, Leyton.

The company was acquired by Chubb and Son Lock and Safe Company Limited in 1956. The Hobbs Hart Departments later moved to 231-237 Cambridge Heath Road and operations continued until 1983 as one of the two safe manufacturing centres of Chubb Group.

Name changes:

Hobbs and Company, in 1852;

Hobbs, Ashley and Company, in 1855;

Hobbs Ashley and Fortescue, to 1860;

Hobbs Hart and Company, 1860-1887;

Hobbs Hart and Company Limited, 1887-1974.

Archival history

CLC/B/002/HH 1864-1985 File. 228 production units. Hobbs Hart and Co Ltd , locksmiths

Founded by Alfred C Hobbs, an American lock dealer in 1852 to manufacture locks based on his patents. By 1855 factory at 33 Lawrence Lane, City of London with showrooms at 97 Cheapside. In 1860 John Matthias Hart took over management of the firm upon Hobbs' death. Hart opened new works at Arlington Street, Islington (Wharncliffe Works) to manufacture safe and strong-room doors. The company held royal warrant from 1861 and supplied safes to Bank of England. The firm was incorporated 8 July 1887, the year Hart died. The range of products increased together with development of overseas exports. Charles Lee was General Manager in the 1890s and 1900s. In 1936 new works and offices were opened in Staffa Road, Leyton.

The company was acquired by Chubb and Son Lock and Safe Company Limited in 1956. The Hobbs Hart Departments later moved to 231-237 Cambridge Heath Road and operations continued until 1983 as one of the two safe manufacturing centres of Chubb Group.

Name changes:

Hobbs and Company, in 1852;

Hobbs, Ashley and Company, in 1855;

Hobbs Ashley and Fortescue, to 1860;

Hobbs Hart and Company, 1860-1887;

Hobbs Hart and Company Limited, 1887-1974.

Deposited as part of the Chubb and Son Ltd collection.

Records of Hobbs Hart and Company Limited, locksmiths, including memorandum and articles of association, minutes, and annual directors reports and accounts; share registers and other shareholding records; annual statements of accounts, ledgers, journals, cash books and abstracts; lock and safe order books, work books, cost price records, stores books, registered chains, key and rings books, machine maintenance books; patent specifications and related papers; wage and salaries books including Directors' salaries.

Administrative, sales, marketing and advertising records are being catalogued as of June 2011. Please contact a member of staff regarding access to these types of records.

The Hobbs Hart and Company papers are part of the Chubb and Son Limited collection (CLC/B/002) and form sub-fonds within that catalogue as follows:

CLC/B/002/HH01: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Corporate

CLC/B/002/HH02: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Shares

CLC/B/002/HH03: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Administration [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

CLC/B/002/HH04: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Finance

CLC/B/002/HH05: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Production

CLC/B/002/HH06: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Legal

CLC/B/002/HH07: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Sales, marketing and advertising [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

CLC/B/002/HH08: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Staff and employment

CLC/B/002/HH09: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Histories [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

48 hours notice required for access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.

English.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm.

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.

June 2011. Security of property Safety Safety measures Security measures Industry Manufacturing industry People People by occupation Personnel Workers Skilled workers Craft workers Locksmiths Information sources Documents Business records Social welfare Security Personal security Hobbs Hart and Co Ltd , locksmiths Chubb and Son Ltd , locksmiths and safe manufacturers Chubb , locksmiths Islington (district) Islington London England UK Western Europe Europe City of London

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited as part of the Chubb and Son Ltd collection.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Hobbs Hart and Company Limited, locksmiths, including memorandum and articles of association, minutes, and annual directors reports and accounts; share registers and other shareholding records; annual statements of accounts, ledgers, journals, cash books and abstracts; lock and safe order books, work books, cost price records, stores books, registered chains, key and rings books, machine maintenance books; patent specifications and related papers; wage and salaries books including Directors' salaries.

Administrative, sales, marketing and advertising records are being catalogued as of June 2011. Please contact a member of staff regarding access to these types of records.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The Hobbs Hart and Company papers are part of the Chubb and Son Limited collection (CLC/B/002) and form sub-fonds within that catalogue as follows:

CLC/B/002/HH01: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Corporate

CLC/B/002/HH02: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Shares

CLC/B/002/HH03: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Administration [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

CLC/B/002/HH04: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Finance

CLC/B/002/HH05: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Production

CLC/B/002/HH06: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Legal

CLC/B/002/HH07: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Sales, marketing and advertising [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

CLC/B/002/HH08: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Staff and employment

CLC/B/002/HH09: Hobbs Hart and Company Limited: Histories [cataloguing in progress June 2011]

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

48 hours notice required for access.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area