H. Samuel
of Hunters Road Works, Hockley, Birmingham, 19.
H. Samuel is a mass-market jewellery chain, operating in the UK
1862 Harriet Samuel took over her father-in-law's clock-making business in Liverpool.
Harriet moved the business to Manchester's Market Street and ran the mail order side. Her son developed the retail area.
1884 Trademarks for "Acme" and "Climax" had been registered for H. Samuel watches.
1890 The first H. Samuel retail store opened in Preston, closely followed by branches in Rochdale and throughout Lancashire.
1912 To accommodate the growing business, the company moved to large headquarters in Birmingham, and Harriet's grandsons took over the business.
WWII (?). After the war, Harriet's grandsons, Gilbert and Robert, took over as Chairman and Vice Chairman.
1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Artistic Jewellery, Cutlery, and Electro-Plate, Comprising Diamond Rings, Gold Signet Rings, Gold Mounted Cameo Brooches, Gold Spray Lapel Brooches, Gold Spray Ear Clips, Gold Flexible Bracelets, Electro Plated Ware. (Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. E.1714) [1]
1948 Company was successfully floated on the Stock Exchange.
Gilbert was awarded a CBE for political and public services, became a Queen's Sheriff for the City of London, and was elected Master of the Clockmakers Company. Meanwhile, the number of H. Samuel stores rose to over 200 nationwide.
1970s After the brothers' deaths in the late 1970s, Robert's son took over as Chairman.
1984 He led an acquisition of the James Walker Group, which doubled the company's presence in the UK. [2]
1986 The company was taken over by Ratner's Jewellers.
1993 Ratner's was renamed the Signet Group.
2008 The name, Ratner, once an important brand has now disappeared.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair p241
- ↑ [1] H. Samuel History
- Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5