Lockerbie and Wilkinson
of Newstead Wake Road, Birmingham
of Station Road, Birmingham (1901)
of Municipal Engineering Works, Tipton (1921), engineers
of Alexandra Works, Tipton (1927)
Maker of coin-operated locks for public toilets.
In the early 1870s John Mann Lockerbie (1849-1903) moved from Scotland to the Birmingham area.
1874 John Mann Lockerbie was recorded as having an address in Glasgow; he was described as "of Lockerbie and Wilkinson, hardware merchants"[1]
1876 (sic) Lockerbie and Arthur Wilkinson began trading at premises near New Street, Birmingham, as suppliers of builder's ironmongery and ornamental ironwork, and manufacturers of constructional steelwork.
They invented and patented coin-operated doorlocks for public conveniences. These were the original "spend a penny" locks for lavatory doors. Lockerbie & Wilkinson was incorporated as a Private Limited Company and all products marketed under the "Locwil" Trademark.
1895 John Mann Lockerbie patented "Improvements in Indicator Locks or Latches."
1899 John Mann Lockerbie patented "Improvements in Coin-freed Lock-up Cycle Racks or Stocks"
By 1900 the acetylene department, according to E. L. Levetus, had erected several installations, including one at the Park Foundry, Belper, for Messrs. Smedley and Co.
1901 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and John Mann Lockerbie patented "Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed and Indicator Locks."
1902 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd patented "An Improved Rim Lock Case and Staple"
1902 John Alexander Kennedy-McGregor and Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd patented "Improvement in Ball Bearings for Pullies, Wheels, and the like"
1903 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and Elkington and Co Ltd with Henry Martin Ryder patented "An Improved Method of Manufacturing Letters Numerals and the like in Copper or other Metals by Electrical Deposition"
1903 John Alexander Kennedy-McGregor and Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd patented "Improvements in Door Furniture"
1903 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and John Mann Lockerbie patented "Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed and Indicator Locks"
1903 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and Charles Fitchett Gray patented "Improvements in Door Furniture"
1903 On 30 November, John Lockerbie died in Johannesburg. His young widow was left with £5,179-12s-6d. The company was sold, shortly afterwards to Davis Green and his brother Walford
1903 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and John Charles Brand, manager, patented "Improvements in Acetylene Generators."
1904 Lockerbie and Wilkinson Ltd and Robert Duncan, managing director, patented "Improvements in Screw Actions for Opening and Closing Fanlights, Casements and the like."
1906 EGM held at Station-street, in the city of Birmingham, it was agreed that the Company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same, and accordingly that the Company be wound up voluntarily. James S. Lockerbie, chairman[2]
Presumably after this a reconstructed company, Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Tipton) Ltd, was incorporated.
1921 Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Tipton) Ltd and John Charles Brand of the company patented "Improvements in overhead runways"
1926 Sydney Herbert Varndell (assignor) and Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Birmingham) Ltd, patented "Machine for delivering articles"
1926 Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Birmingham) Ltd and Sydney Herbert Varndell of the company, patented "Improvements in coin-freed mechanism" and several more patents in similar area over the next few years.
1931 Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Birmingham) Ltd and Henry James Morgan of the company, patented "Improvements in combined stunning and casting pens for use in slaughtering animals"
Started manufacturing abattoir equipment, supplying many installations to the UK and export markets and moved to a purpose-built factory (in Tipton near Dudley), occupying 5 acres
1932 After Davis's death, the business was continued under the leadership of his wife Sylvia
1948 Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Tipton) Ltd and Arthur Edward John Walford patented "Improvements in switches for overhead runways", the first of several patents concerned with such runways.
1965 After Sylvia Green's death, control passed to her daughter (Sylvia) Janet Wilson-Bett.
1970s: the firm employed over 250 people at its site in Tipton.
1982 The last patent was filed by Lockerbie and Wilkinson (Tipton) Ltd
1983 John Wilson-Bett bought the coin-operated products business out of Lockerbie and Wilkinson, thus preserving the old brand name Locwil.
1985 Lockerbie & Wilkinson (Birmingham) Limited was wound up voluntarily; S. J. D. Wilson Bett was chairman[3]
2003 Following John Wilson-Bett’s death, Stewart Wilson-Bett took over the company. The factory now employs seven people. Locwil’s products are in use all over the UK and parts of Europe, including railway stations, cafes, motorway service areas, conference centres and commercial offices.