Identity area
Reference code
Title
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.
Repository
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
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