Bryant and James

1838.

1839.

Blacking makers

1804 William Bryant was born in Tiverton, Devon.

1835 Bryant went into partnership with general merchant Edward James as Bryant and James.

1836 Bryant invented and patented the "manufacture of liquid and paste blacking, by introducing India rubber, oil and other articles and things."

1843 Dissolution of the Partnership between William Bryant, Edward James, and Francis May, heretofore carrying on trade as Merchants and Blacking Manufacturers, at Plymouth, in the county, of Devon, under the firm of Bryant and James, and also at No. 15, Philpot-lane, London, under the firm of Bryant, James, and May, so far as relates to the said Edward James; all debts due to and owing will be received and paid by the said William Bryant and Francis May, by whom the business will be carried on in future at Plymouth aforesaid, and at No. 15, Philpot-lane, London aforesaid, on their own account. Francis May also withdrew from Thomas Luscombe and Company, coal merchants of Plymouth at the same time.

1843 A partnership was formed in 1843 between the two Quakers, Francis May and William Bryant to establish a Provisions Merchants business in Tooley Street, London.

1850 The partners started importing Swedish matches, produced by Carl and Johan Lündström. Their first order was for 10 or 15 cases of 720,000 matches (each case held 50 gross boxes, with a box holding 100 matches). The next order was for 50 cases; and later orders for 500 cases.

This partnership was successful, so Francis May and William Bryant decided to merge the partnership with Bryant's company, Bryant and James, which was based in Plymouth, as Bryant and May.

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