Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1866-1945 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
12 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
This firm of chronometer, clock and watch makers was established in 1801 by William James Frodsham (1778-1850) and William Parkinson (died circa 1842). It traded from 4 Change Alley 1801-90, 16 Queen Victoria Street 1891-2, 35 Royal Exchange 1893-5, 15B Royal Exchange 1896-1905 and 5 Budge Row 1906-47.
Initially the firm specialised in marine and pocket chronometers. It had an extensive export business, and supplied the Admiralty and numerous shipping companies. After the founders' deaths the business was continued by Frodsham's elder sons and grandson until 1912, when the name and business were sold to the foreman, William Harris. Harris and his son Geoffrey ran the business successfully until 1944 when the firm's premises in Budge Row were bombed. Geoffrey Harris worked for a time from home, but Parkinson and Frodsham ceased trading in 1947.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/B/176 1866-1945 Collection 12 production units. Parkinson and Frodsham , clock and watch makers
This firm of chronometer, clock and watch makers was established in 1801 by William James Frodsham (1778-1850) and William Parkinson (died circa 1842). It traded from 4 Change Alley 1801-90, 16 Queen Victoria Street 1891-2, 35 Royal Exchange 1893-5, 15B Royal Exchange 1896-1905 and 5 Budge Row 1906-47.
Initially the firm specialised in marine and pocket chronometers. It had an extensive export business, and supplied the Admiralty and numerous shipping companies. After the founders' deaths the business was continued by Frodsham's elder sons and grandson until 1912, when the name and business were sold to the foreman, William Harris. Harris and his son Geoffrey ran the business successfully until 1944 when the firm's premises in Budge Row were bombed. Geoffrey Harris worked for a time from home, but Parkinson and Frodsham ceased trading in 1947.
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Clockmakers' Company, having first been acquired from Mr K. G. Brown, a Frodsham descendant. They were catalogued in June 1982 by a member of Guildhall Library staff. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Records of Parkinson and Frodsham, clock and watch makers, comprising a watch manufacturing book 1872-1925; a register of clocks and watches supplied to retailers 1866-1914 and a record of retail sales 1911-4; clock and watch repair books 1937-45; customer accounts 1923-40 and 1932-45 and lists of customers and manufacturers in the clock and watch trade [1900-1941].
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Available for general access.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Guildhall Library also holds the records of Charles Frodsham and Company; see CLC/B/043. For the Clockmaker's Company see CLC/L/CD.
The history of Parkinson and Frodsham is described 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.
January to May 2011. Scientific equipment Measuring instruments Time measuring instruments Watches Information sources Documents Business records People People by occupation Personnel Workers Skilled workers Craft workers Clockmakers Equipment Horology Metal industry Manufacturing industry Industry Clocks Parkinson and Frodsham , clock and watch makers London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Clockmakers' Company, having first been acquired from Mr K. G. Brown, a Frodsham descendant. They were catalogued in June 1982 by a member of Guildhall Library staff. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Parkinson and Frodsham, clock and watch makers, comprising a watch manufacturing book 1872-1925; a register of clocks and watches supplied to retailers 1866-1914 and a record of retail sales 1911-4; clock and watch repair books 1937-45; customer accounts 1923-40 and 1932-45 and lists of customers and manufacturers in the clock and watch trade [1900-1941].
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
Available for general access.
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
Guildhall Library also holds the records of Charles Frodsham and Company; see CLC/B/043. For the Clockmaker's Company see CLC/L/CD.
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
- Scientific equipment » Measuring instruments
- Scientific equipment » Measuring instruments » Time measuring instruments
- Information sources
- Documents
- Personnel
- Personnel » Workers
- Personnel » Workers » Skilled workers
- Personnel » Workers » Skilled workers » Craft workers
- 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