Elliott Clocks
The name of Elliott has been synonymous with quality clocks for well over 100 years. In 1865 James Jones Elliott of 156 Cheapside in the City of London, was apprenticed to "Bateman" of 82 St John Street, Smithfield, London to learn the art of clock making.It was not obvious at the time, but this was to be the origin of a company that would achieve a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of the fine quality Elliott of London clock.
JJ Elliott specialised initially in producing pinions and balance shafts, progressing to making, and patenting, a weight driven movement that had chimes on tubes. The success of this original Elliott clock resulted in considerable trade with America.
James Elliott's son, Frank Westcombe Elliott, entered the retail trade at the age of 17. It was at this time that his father bought a partnership with a jeweller called Walden of Brompton Road, London.
On the 16th April 1904, JJ Elliott died and his son Frank succeeded him to run the clock making business.
In 1909 the clockmakers company of JJ Elliott amalgamated with Grimshaw Baxter, and the factory moved to Grays Inn Lane, London, in 1911, followed by a further move, in 1917, to larger premises in St Anns Road, Tottenham, London.
In 1921 the partnership with Grimshaw Baxter was dissolved and Frank Elliott joined a well-known firm of Bell Founders and Clockmakers, Gillett and Johnson Ltd, in Croydon. In 1923, two years later, he took over their clock factory and formed the famous company of F.W. Elliott Ltd. His two sons, Leonard and Horace Elliott, who had served their apprenticeships in the trade, joined him. The third son, Ronald, joined the company in 1929.Elliott's started to produce clocks for the armed forces when war was declared in 1939, together with test gear and apparatus for the Rolls Royce engines used in the RAF planes. Incendiary bombs hit the factory during 1943 on two occasions but production was not seriously affected.
In 1944, Frank Elliott died at the age of 69 and Horace Elliott assumed the role of Managing Director, whilst Leonard controlled sales from a showroom in Hatton Garden. In 1952, Horace Elliott was elected Chairman of the British Horological Institute in the same year as Tony, one of Horace's sons, joined the company after training in cabinet making. He was appointed manager of the cabinet shop in 1967.
Ronald Elliott died suddenly in 1966, at the age of 54, his son Peter had joined the company in January of the same year, having been trained as an engineer at Vickers Instruments Ltd. Peter Elliott was appointed as a Director in 1969.
FW Elliott of London clocks range from the timepiece Elliott clocks, through strike Elliott clocks to full Westminster and Whittington chiming Elliott clocks. Each Elliott clock has been hand made to a high specification and has an eight-day mechanical movement, making them one of the best clocks in the world.
Copyright
This article remains the copyright of Rarity4u and has been produced for educational purposes only and cannot be copied, reprinted or redistributed for commercial purposes or gain. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or information storage and retrieval systems,
If you would like to reprint, or quote all or part of this article, please send your request by e-mail to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Copyright © Rarity4u All Rights Reserved