Wardrobe and Smith
Wardrobe and Smith Ltd. of Meadow Steel Works, and Arley Steel Works, Sheffield
1877 Wardrobe and Smith, of Meadow Steel Works, Well Meadow Street, Sheffield, listed as exhibitors at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. Steel bars, files, edge tools, turning tools, etc. [1] Their advertising around this time indicates the firm founded in 1850, but this perhaps refers to earlier occupants on Meadow Steel Works, the Nicholsons, as they are shown as late John Nicholson, Junr
1879 Sheffield directory entry - Wardrobe and Smith, of Meadow Steel Works, Wellmeadow Street and Paris. Partners Richard Wardrobe and Benjamin Joseph Smith.
Richard Wardrobe was a former cutlery maker and merchant, in business with Henry Robert Pearce as Wardrobe and Pierce in Orchard Street. Benjamin Smith was a former steel melter, but whether a journeyman or in business is not clear.
1881 Census - Benjamin Joseph Smith, steel manufacturer, 10 men. Richard Wardrobe, steel manufacturer, employing 9 men and 1 boy. His son Richard Frederick Wardrobe was employed as a commercial traveller.
1892 Meadow Steel Works, formerly occupied by the late John Nicholson, jun., now by Messrs Wardrobe and Smith, to be sold or let.[2]
1893 Meadow Steel Works, formerly occupied by Messrs Wardrobe and Smith, to be sold or let with immediate possession.[3] W and S had relocated to Arley Steel Works.
1901 Sheffield directory entry – Wardrobe and Smith, steel converters and refiners and manufacturers of files and hammers and general merchants. Arley Steel Works, Arley Street. [4]
1907 NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Richard Wardrobe and Benjamin Joseph Smith, carrying on business as Steel and File Manufacturers and General Merchants, at the Arley Steel Works, in the city of Sheffield, under the firm name of " WARDROBE AND SMITH," has been dissolved as from the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred and six, the said Benjamin Joseph Smith retiring from the firm. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Richard Wardrobe, who will continue to carry on the said business at Arley Steel Works, under the said firm name of Wardrobe and Smith.—As witness our hands this second day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seven. Richard Wardrobe. B. J. Smith.[5]
1909 Richard Wardrobe died 9 Jul 1909, aged 80.[6] The business passed into the hands of his son, Richard Frederick Wardrobe, though whether he was already a partner is not clear.
1913 Benjamin Joseph Smith died 5 Jan 1913, aged . [7]
1919 “Wardrobe and Smith, Ltd.—Private company. Registered August 2. Capital £10,000 in £1 shares (5,000 Preference). To take over the business of a steel manufacturer carried by R. F. Wardrobe, Arley Steel Works, Sheffield, as Wardrobe and Smith. The subscribers (each with one share) are:— R. F, Wardrobe, Arley Steel Works. Sheffield, steel manufacturer; P. Wardrobe, Arley Steel Works, Sheffield, steel manufacturer. Directors: R. F. Wardrobe (chairman and governing director), and P. Wardrobe. Qualification; 100 shares. Registered Office: Alley Steel Works, Arley Street, Sheffield.” [8] Memorandum and Articles of Association are available in Sheffield City Archives, MD7058. P Wardrobe mentioned as a director was Percy Wardrobe, Richard Frederick’s son.
1934 Richard Frederick Wardrobe, governing director of Wardrobe and Smith Limited died 5 Feb 1934.[9]
1939 Percy Wardrobe managing director.[10]
1960 Said to have been acquired by John Vessey and Sons Ltd., though they are still listed in the 1968 phone directory, but not in 1969.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ London Gazette – 18 Dec 1877
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 7 Jun 1892
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 23 Jan 1893
- ↑ White’s Directory of Sheffield 1901
- ↑ London Gazette – 22 Mar 1907
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 12 Jun 1909
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 7 Jan 1913
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 8 Aug 1919
- ↑ Sheffield Independent - 6 Feb 1934
- ↑ 1939 Register