Harris and Sheldon
of Stafford Street, Birmingham (1908), Shop Fitters and Manufacturers of Shop Fittings
1880 Established in 1880 by Sydney Harris
A few years later John Eccleston Sheldon joined the company.
1900 The company was registered on 17 May, to acquire the business of shop-front builders, etc of a firm of the same name. [1]
Several patents including one in 1904 on "Improvements in, or relating to Certain Kinds of Window and Shop Fittings for Displaying and Supporting Goods and for other Analogous Uses" by the company and J E Sheldon.
1908 Directors: J. E. Sheldon (Chairman and Managing Director), H. J. Fisher, J. E. Hoskins, and R. G. Richards. Secretary: W. G. Hartridge
At some point, formed Sankey-Sheldon Ltd, of Cannon Street, London, EC4, as joint venture with Joseph Sankey and Sons, of Hadley Castle Works, Wellington, Salop, which was operated by Harris and Sheldon.
1923 Sankey-Sheldon fire-proof cabinets and other steel furniture were advertised jointly by Harris and Sheldon of 46 Cannon St, London, and Joseph Sankey and Sons of Hadley Castle Works of Wellington, Salop[2]
1929 Advert for Sankey-Sheldon British Steel Furniture. Manufacturers of Metal Office Furniture, viz., Filing Cabinets and Supplies, Cupboards, Clothes Lockers, Adjustable Shelving, Storage Bins, Desks and Tables, Plan Cabinets, Card Index Cabinets, Strong-room Equipment, Stools, Waste Baskets, etc. (Stationery Section - Stand Nos R.7 and R.153) [3]
WWII Made major components for most of the operational aircraft, contributed to major development work on radar, as well as making ammunition boxes and stirrup pumps[4]
c.1948 Began expansion programme, seeking diversification within reasonable limits
1962 Harris and Sheldon Holdings, shop fitting specialists, acquired J B Brooks Industries[5]
1963 The subsidiary companies could be arranged into 3 groups[6]:
- A: English Rose Kitchens, Evans Lifts of Leicester, Evertaut of Darwen, various Harris and Sheldon shop, hotel and office display and lighting fittings, Kent McClain of Canada, Pytram of West Molesey.
- B: Joseph Billingham of Cradley Heath, Castle Products of Worcester, Desmo of Brierley Hill, M. D. M. of Smethwick
- C: Antler of Bury, Brexton of Birmingham, Foxcroft Luggage of Bury and Littleborough.
1967 Acquired Harris Brothers[7]
c.1972 Acquired Jet Filters[8]
1988 Sold Evertaut, third largest maker of office and commercial seating, and A. S. Toone, maker of plastic and wood panels, to Wassall[9]