Joseph Lockett

of Manchester

This entry is currently a loose concoction of information about the Lockett's business and biographical information.

1810 '.... Partnership late carried on by Joseph Lockett (James Whitaker, deceased) and William Russell, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Copper-plate Workers and Engravers, under the firm of Lockett, Whitaker, and Company, was dissolved on the 14th of March by mutual Consent.- All debts due or owing by or to the said concern will be received and paid by the said Joseph Lockett, at his Warehouse in Apple-Market, Manchester aforesaid. Witness our Hands this 4th day of April 1810,
Joseph Lockett
Mary Whitaker, Widow, Administratrix of the late James Whitaker, deceased.
William Russell.

1820 Partnership dissolved: Joseph Lockett and Thomas Garnett, Manchester, calico printers.

1825 Joseph Lockett & Sons listed as general engravers, patent long neb and jointed roller makers, copper cylinder mfrs., coppersmiths and turners in wood and metal. Address: Apple Market. Joseph Lockett's house was at Richmond Hill, Salford

1827 Joseph Lockett junior, engraver, married Miss Alice Lockett, of Ardwick Place.

1829 'NOTICE is hereby given, that the PARTNERSHIP CONCERN heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, and carried on at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, Engravers and Copper Roller Makers under the firm of "Joseph Lockett, Sons, and Company, was DISSOLVED on the 30th day of June last. All debts due and owing to or by the said Copartnership Concern, will be paid and received by Joseph Lockett the elder, and Joseph Lockett the younger.- Dated this 15th day of July, 1829.
JOSEPH LOCKETT, Sen.,
THOMAS LOCKETT,
JOSEPH LOCKETT, Jun.
Signed in the presence of John Hadfield, Solicitor, Manchester.

1822 'Calico Printing. A merchant of Manchester wanted 1,500 pieces of printed calico, of a partlcular description, printed in three colours, to send off the next day to America; not finding them at any of the warehouses, he went to Harpurhey to Mr. Lockett’s, who had nothing printed of the kind wanted. This was at five in the evening, and it was necessary have the goods in Manchester the next day before one, to go by the railroad to Liverpool. Mr. Alsop, who is the head of Mr. Lockett’s establishment, said he was willing to undertake the order at his own risk. He did so ; the pieces were printed in three colours, dried, glazed, packed, and sent off to Manchester by 12 o'clock; they reached Liverpool at three, were put on board, and the vessel sailed at five, just 94 hours after the order was given.'

1840 List of new patents: 'Joseph Lockett, of Manchester, engineer, for certain improvements in manufacturing, preparing, and engraving by cylinders, rollers, or other surfaces, for printing or embossing calicoes or other fabrics. Sealed 27th. August'

1841 February: Patent relating to manufacturing, preparing, and engraving by cylinders, rollers, or other surfaces, for printing or embossing calicoes or other fabrics: description and illustrations in The Practical Mechanic and Engineer's Magazine.

1844 New patents: Joseph Lockett, of Manchester, engraver, for improvements in apparatus for preparing to be engraved or turned, such as copper or other metal cylinders, or rollers, as are to be used for printing or embossing, or calendering calico or other fabrics.

1846 Visit of Ibrahim Pacha to factories in Manchester: '.... The next establishment visited was that of Messrs Joseph and John Lockett, engravers to calico printers, Fennell-street. The party were received, and shown over the works by Mr. Joseph Lockett. The various processes gone through in this beautiful workshop were explained to the Prince, who seemed delighted in them. On leaving the establishment, he expressed the great gratification he had felt in witnessing this establishment. From one of the rooms connected with this house, there is an extensive panoramic view of the town, which seemed greatly to amuse his highness. The royal stranger and suite spent a considerable time in the etching room, the processes which he watched with manifest eagerness.'

At some point the firm became Lockett, Leake and Co. Robert Leake (1824-1901) became an MP. His father had married the eldest daughter of William Lockett, and Robert was apprenticed to his relative Joseph Lockett. Shortly after the completion of his apprenticeship he was made a partner and ultimately became head of Lockett, Leake & Co. He died on 1st May 1901 at Little Missenden Abbey, Buckinghamshire, aged 77 years.

Etching of Copper Printing Cylinders

1835 'Sometimes the copper cylinders are etched, instead of being engraved,- a plan invented by Mr. John Bradbury, of Manchester, extensively practised by Messrs. Joseph Lockett, jun, & Co., and which is likely to prove of very great benefit to the printing business. The polished cylinder, having been heated, is covered with a thin coat of varnish, such as is used by historical engravers. The pattern is then traced on the cylinder with a diamond-pointed tracer, by means of a most complicated and ingenious system of machinery, the invention of Mr. Lockett, sen.; and the varnish having been removed from the figure, the cylinder is immersed in aqua-fortis, and the parts exposed become corroded or engraved.'

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