Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1801-1972 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.5 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The firm was founded in 1793 by Philip Wilkinson and traded as Philip Wilkinson and Sons. Their premises for nearly 180 years were at 14-19 Tottenham Mews, Westminster. According to the family there was a connection with the brand Wilkinson Sword and the two companies traded together.
On 8 July 1926 an agreement (see LMA/4757/A/01/001) was made between Stanley Edward Washbourn, John Henry Hawes and Albert George Cross and Hilmor Limited of 71 Southwark Street, London where P Wilkinson and Sons sold the company Hilmor Tube Bending Machine under the name of P Wilkinson and Sons. After expansion Hilmor eventually moved to Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
On 1 May 1936 the firm was registered as P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited. The firm invented the Wilkalisol aluminium solder for which a Trade Mark was granted on 30 October, 1946 (see LMA/4757/A/01//003). Around this time advertisements boasted of its 'Castings in all non-ferrous metals from your own patterns or designs' with ‘various selections’ of stocks ranging from aluminum to copper rods, sheets and tubes being in stock. The author of an article in 1968 was impressed by how the workers finished pouring the brass at 8:30am 'which mean[t] starting at 4:30am' (see LMA/4757/D/01/001).
In 1972 the premises at Tottenham Street were sold and the company moved to Stanmore. In the same year the company became associated with R. H. Roseblade and Sons Ltd of 18 Minerva Road, Park Royal, Brent. The firm was run by Ron Roseblade and his two sons John and Martin. Wilkinsons also had close connections with G W. Lunts of Birmingham. During this time, several well-known memorials and castings were created in conjuction with Roseblade as well as Lunts. Four bronze servicemen on the War memorial outside Euston Station, the Wreath on the Cenotaph in Whitehall as well as the external lantern work at Victoria and Albert Museum all involved Wilkinsons’ metalworks.
Nigel Washbourn became an apprentice to the firm on 2nd September, 1955. In 1978, Stanley William Washbourn died and the firm continued to be run by Nigel until his retirement in 1999. In 1983 the company moved to Northwood, London. When Roseblades closed their business, Nigel Washbourn continued to work with Lunts Castings Limited, Unit 7 Hawthorns Estate, Middlemore Road, Birmingham. In 1998 P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited closed down but Nigel Washbourn remained a consultant to Lunts of Birmingham until 2016.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4757 1801-1972 Collection 0.5 linear metres Philip Wilkinson and Sons , 1793-1936 , metal founders
P. Wilkinson and Sons Ltd , 1936-1998 , metal founders
The firm was founded in 1793 by Philip Wilkinson and traded as Philip Wilkinson and Sons. Their premises for nearly 180 years were at 14-19 Tottenham Mews, Westminster. According to the family there was a connection with the brand Wilkinson Sword and the two companies traded together.
On 8 July 1926 an agreement (see LMA/4757/A/01/001) was made between Stanley Edward Washbourn, John Henry Hawes and Albert George Cross and Hilmor Limited of 71 Southwark Street, London where P Wilkinson and Sons sold the company Hilmor Tube Bending Machine under the name of P Wilkinson and Sons. After expansion Hilmor eventually moved to Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
On 1 May 1936 the firm was registered as P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited. The firm invented the Wilkalisol aluminium solder for which a Trade Mark was granted on 30 October, 1946 (see LMA/4757/A/01//003). Around this time advertisements boasted of its 'Castings in all non-ferrous metals from your own patterns or designs' with ‘various selections’ of stocks ranging from aluminum to copper rods, sheets and tubes being in stock. The author of an article in 1968 was impressed by how the workers finished pouring the brass at 8:30am 'which mean[t] starting at 4:30am' (see LMA/4757/D/01/001).
In 1972 the premises at Tottenham Street were sold and the company moved to Stanmore. In the same year the company became associated with R. H. Roseblade and Sons Ltd of 18 Minerva Road, Park Royal, Brent. The firm was run by Ron Roseblade and his two sons John and Martin. Wilkinsons also had close connections with G W. Lunts of Birmingham. During this time, several well-known memorials and castings were created in conjuction with Roseblade as well as Lunts. Four bronze servicemen on the War memorial outside Euston Station, the Wreath on the Cenotaph in Whitehall as well as the external lantern work at Victoria and Albert Museum all involved Wilkinsons’ metalworks.
Nigel Washbourn became an apprentice to the firm on 2nd September, 1955. In 1978, Stanley William Washbourn died and the firm continued to be run by Nigel until his retirement in 1999. In 1983 the company moved to Northwood, London. When Roseblades closed their business, Nigel Washbourn continued to work with Lunts Castings Limited, Unit 7 Hawthorns Estate, Middlemore Road, Birmingham. In 1998 P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited closed down but Nigel Washbourn remained a consultant to Lunts of Birmingham until 2016.
Donated in 2016.
Records of P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited including agreements and assignments of business, memorandum and articles of association, certificate of incorporation, account book (1837-1907), order book (1864-1870), mixture and metal book (1853-1897), articles and printed material, premises deeds and papers for Tottenham Street and Tottenham Mews, and 'On National Service' designed brooch.
These records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4757/A CORPORATE
LMA/4757/B ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
LMA/4757/C PRODUCTION
LMA/4757/D MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
LMA/4757/E PREMISES AND PROPERTY
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
Please see online catalogues at: https://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.
Added June 2018. P. Wilkinson and Sons Ltd , 1936-1998 , metal founders Metal industry Industry Founding Manufacturing industry Metal goods manufacture
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in 2016.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of P. Wilkinson and Sons Limited including agreements and assignments of business, memorandum and articles of association, certificate of incorporation, account book (1837-1907), order book (1864-1870), mixture and metal book (1853-1897), articles and printed material, premises deeds and papers for Tottenham Street and Tottenham Mews, and 'On National Service' designed brooch.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
These records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4757/A CORPORATE
LMA/4757/B ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
LMA/4757/C PRODUCTION
LMA/4757/D MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
LMA/4757/E PREMISES AND PROPERTY
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: https://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