William Wilkins
of 85 Long Acre, London
Lathe and Tool Makers. Products included engineers' lathes and ornamental turning lathes.
1841 'TO AMATEURS, CARPENTERS, CABINET-MAKERS, COACH BUILDERS, and Others.—GENERAL TOOL and PLANE-MANUFACTORY, No. 85, Long-acre, London. E. COX begs to inform the Public that has had 20 years' practical experience in Moon’s General Tool Establishment, formerly of St. Martin's-lane, who has now retired; and that he has entered into Partnership with W. Wilkins, Lathe, Slide-rest maker, &c., as above, and are selling the best Articles that can be manufactured, at much reduced prices. All persons requiring Tools, &c., will find this Establishment worth their notice.' [1]
1841 Partnership dissolved: William Wilkins and Edward Cox (2), engineers and tool makers, Long-acre and Castle Street. [2]
1842 Sale notice: 'To Amateur and Professional Turners, Engineers, and Others. — Turning Lathes, and Philosophical Instruments. TOPLIS and SON have been favoured with instructions to SELL by AUCTION, at their Rooms, No. 16, St. Paul's Churchyard, on Wednesday, June 1, at One precisely, a very complete LATHE, late the property of the Rev. the Dean of St. Patrick, deceased, with eccentric and other chucks, and numerous apparatus for ornamental turning, the whole made by Holtzapffel and Co., and in excellent condition. Also, the property of a gentleman leaving for the Continent, an oxyhydrogen microscope, a glassblower's table, a model of a vibrating and condensing steam-engine, a model of a locomotive engine, a beautiful model of a howitzer, a piece of asbestos cloth, two microscopes, a mahogany work bench, with tools. Also the turning lathes and tools of Mr. Wilkins, engineer, Long-acre, comprising several excellent iron lathes, with double gear, slide, rests, &c. A 15-inch engineer's powerful lathe, with iron handle and wheel, and all the working tools and anvils, numerous castings for lathe frames, and a valuable assortment of steam-engine and lathe patterns, and other effects.— May be viewed the day preceding, and morning of sale, and catalogues had at the rooms.'[3]