Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

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Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,701 pages of information and 247,103 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

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of Union Works, Willenhall, Staffordshire. Telephone: Willenhall 345. Telegraphic Address. "Locks, Willenhall"
[[Image: Im19191211MC-Union.jpg|thumb| 1919.]]
[[image: Im19191101IM-JosiahParkes.jpg|thumb| Nov 1919. ]]
[[image: Im19211203IM-JosiahParkes.jpg|thumb| Dec 1921. ]]
[[image: Im19211210IM-JosiahParkes.jpg|thumb| Dec 1921. ]]
[[Image: ImIDH1938-LogoJosiahParkes2.jpg|thumb| 1938.]]
[[image: ImIDH1938-LogoJosiahParkers.jpg|thumb| 1938.]]
[[image: Im1945Benn-Parkes4.jpg|thumb| 1945.]]
[[Image: Im1951Benn-Parkes4.jpg|thumb| 1951.]]
[[Image:Im1961-18Ben-Parker.jpg|thumb| 1961. [[Josiah Parkes and Sons]] and [[Edwin Showell and Sons]]. ]]


The Parkes family were originally from Gornal. The eldest brothers, William (born 1822) and Richard both served apprenticeships as locksmiths in Willenhall. Josiah Parkes (born 1824) was apprenticed to Hickman’s Iron Works in Bilston.
of Union Works, Willenhall, Staffordshire.  Telephone: Willenhall 345.  Telegraphic Address. "Locks, Willenhall". (1937)


It seems that the three brothers set up in the ironmongery trade about 1840 in  premises at 28, 29 and 30 Doctor’s Piece.  It seems that Josiah continued to work at Hickman’s, only helping the firm in the evenings.  
The '''Parkes family''' were originally from Gornal. The eldest brothers, '''William''' (born 1822) and '''Richard''' both served apprenticeships as locksmiths in Willenhall.  '''Josiah Parkes''' (born 1824) was apprenticed to [[Hickman's Iron Works]] in Bilston.


The trade done in those days was considerable, as iron at the time was the material most commonly used by lock and key makers throughout the land.  The business grew in volume and scope and new premises were taken in Union Street.  Old catalogues show that merchanting was done in iron and a great variety of general goods, from mole traps to clothes' horses, from ash pans to carpenters’ tool baskets .... and locks.
1840 Company founded.


Richard did not stay with the firm but it is not known when he left.  William had an ironmongery business at 9 Union Street.  About 1850 Josiah and his wife, Catherine, moved to premises at 3, Union Street and Josiah began working full-time with Richard in the ironmongers.
c1840 The three brothers set up in the ironmongery trade about 1840 in  premises at 28, 29 and 30 Doctor’s Piece. '''Josiah''' continued to work at Hickman's, only helping the firm in the evenings. 
 
The trade was considerable, as iron at the time was the material most commonly used by lock and key makers throughout the land.  The business grew in volume and scope and new premises were taken in Union Street.  Merchanting was done in iron and a great variety of general goods, from mole traps to clothes' horses, from ash pans to carpenters’ tool baskets and, of course, locks.
 
'''Richard''' did not stay with the firm but it is not known when he left.  '''William''' had an ironmongery business at 9 Union Street.   
 
c1850 Josiah and his wife, Catherine, moved to premises at 3, Union Street and Josiah began working full-time, with Richard in the ironmongers.
   
   
By 1851 William and Josiah were in partnership and were advertising in the local papers and trade journals as William and Josiah Parkes, Iron, Steel and Wire Merchants, Union Street.  The partnership made locks and other hardware but they also traded in those goods, acting as factors.  They would supply the raw materials to other locksmiths and buy back the finished products from them, selling them on to wholesalers and retailers.  
1851 William and Josiah were in partnership and were advertising in the local papers and trade journals as "William and Josiah Parkes, Iron, Steel and Wire Merchants", Union Street.  The partnership made locks and other hardware but they also traded in those goods, acting as factors.  They would supply the raw materials to other locksmiths and buy back the finished products from them, selling them on to wholesalers and retailers. The brothers were obviously successful in this trade and  in the 1850s were able to take on three apprentices. 
 
1852 They acquired new premises in Union Street.   


The brothers were obviously successful in this trade and  in the 1850s were able to take on three apprentices. More tellingly they acquired new premises in Union Street in 1852 and opposite in Wood Street in 1883.
1860s The Parkes brothers began to concentrate more on manufacturing and merchanting locks. An advertisement in the Wolverhampton Guide of 1864 described them as "general merchants and manufacturers of all kinds of rim, mortice, pad locks, bolts and latches".


In the 1860s the Parkes brothers began to concentrate more on manufacturing and merchanting locks. An advertisement in the Wolverhampton Guide of 1864 described them as "general merchants and manufacturers of all kinds of rim, mortice, pad locks, bolts and latches".
1861 The brothers were able to move their families to better premises. William and his wife, Elizabeth, and their four children, moved to 78 Union Street.  Josiah and his wife and five children moved to 77 Union St.  The iron warehouse and shop lay between the two houses.


In 1861 the brothers were able to move their families to better premises.  William and his wife, Elizabeth, and their four children, moved to 78 Union Street.   Josiah and his wife and five children moved to 77 Union St. The iron warehouse and shop lay between the two houses.
1868 The original business was dissolved when his son, '''William Edmund''' (1855-1920), joined Josiah, trading as iron merchants and hardware factors. They moved into 28 Doctor’s Piece. '''William Edmund''' concentrated on the hardware section and '''Josiah''' looked after the iron merchanting.


The original business was dissolved in 1868 when his son, William Edmund, joined Josiah.  In 1885 James Harry, another son of Josiah, joined the firm, when it became Josiah Parkes and Sons.  
As the business grew, the Parkes children came into the Company. '''William''' had three sons: Samuel, Josiah and William Fletcher, who all joined as iron merchant's clerks.  Josiah Parkes had five sons, who were all younger than their cousins.  Friction developed between the two families about who was going to control the business.


As the business grew the Parkes children came into the Company. William had three sons: Samuel, Josiah and William Fletcher, who all joined as iron merchants clerks.  Josiah Parkes had five sons, who were all younger than their cousins.  Friction developed between the two families about who was going to control the business.  To resolve the problem William and Josiah dissolved the partnership around 1873 and set up two separate businesses.  William and his sons became  Parkes, Parkes and Co. but soon both Samuel and Josiah started other businesses, Samuel as a hardware merchant in New Road and Josiah as a brass founder in Wood Street.
To resolve the problem William and Josiah dissolved the partnership around 1873 and set up two separate businesses.  William and his sons became  '''Parkes, Parkes and Co''', but soon both Samuel and Josiah started other businesses, '''Samuel''' as a hardware merchant in New Road and '''Josiah '''as a brass founder in Wood Street.


Josiah set up a company with one of his sons, William Edmund (1855-1920), trading as iron merchants and hardware factors. They moved into 28 Doctor’s Piece. William Edmund concentrated on the hardware section and Josiah looked after the iron merchanting.  By 1880 business was doing well enough for them to employ three men and expand the premises to 18, 29 & 30 Doctor’s Piece.  Advertisements from 1884 refer to Josiah Parkes and Sons as "bolt, nut, screw, hinge, latch and lock furniture manufacturers". Josiah Parkes Junior and John Parkes both joined the firm.
By 1880 business was doing well enough for them to employ three men and expand the premises to 18, 29 and 30 Doctor’s Piece.  Advertisements from 1884 refer to '''Josiah Parkes and Sons''' as "bolt, nut, screw, hinge, latch and lock furniture manufacturers". Josiah Parkes Junior and John Parkes both joined the firm.


In 1887 Josiah Parkes Senior retired (Josiah died, aged 76, in August 1899 and was buried in the churchyard at Little London Baptist Church) and in January 1888 a new partnership under the same name was established between William Edmund, John and James Harry Parkes. Josiah Parkes Jnr did not join this firm but carried on the iron merchanting business by himself. The youngest son, Ebeneezer Thomas decided to go into a career in banking.  In 1889 the other brothers decided to concentrate their firm’s attention on the manufacture of locks and gradually ceased trading in iron and other goods.  When more factories for lock making appeared, as the lock industry grew in size and importance, Josiah Parkes and his sons recognised the trend, discontinued iron trading in 1896 and took up the manufacture of locks.  The enterprise began in quite a small way and gathered pace in later years.
1883 More premises were acquired in Wood Street.  


On their first products that they manufactured, the company stamped the image of a hose coupling - a product that they also made -  and this image became the trade mark of Josiah Parkes even when they stopped hardware trading.
1885 '''James Harry''', another son of Josiah, joined the firm, when it became '''Josiah Parkes and Sons'''.  


There was a lot of foreign competition in hardware goods and iron products in the 1880s and 1890s. Despite this Josiah Parkes and Sons were successful and they provided goods to shops and businesses all over the country.  But the Union Street business of Parkes, Parkes & Co. faded out, as did the Samuel Parkes’ business.  Josiah Parkes and Sons were able to buy  the old Union Street property and sold the Doctor’s Piece property in 1890.
1887 Josiah Parkes Senior retired (died, aged 76, in August 1899).


A letterhead from 1910, showing three trade marks and still claiming to be in builders' hardware.  
1888 A new partnership under the same name was established between William Edmund, John and James Harry Parkes. '''Josiah Parkes Jnr''' did not join this firm but carried on the iron merchanting business by himself. The youngest son, Ebeneezer Thomas, decided to go into a career in banking.


The 1910 letterhead above shows three trade marks: the hose coupling; WW in an oval; and EWW in a triangle. The hose coupling was their main mark in their earlier days, reflecting their early trade in hardware.   
1889 The other brothers decided to concentrate their firm’s attention on the manufacture of locks and gradually ceased trading in iron and other goods.
The entry from a trade mark listing (supplied by Trevor Dowson) also shows two versions of the word "union", which became their usual trade mark.
 
There was a lot of foreign competition in hardware goods and iron products in the 1880s and 1890s, but '''Josiah Parkes and Sons''' successfully provided goods to shops and businesses all over the country.  The Union Street business of Parkes, Parkes and Co faded out, as did the Samuel Parkes’ business.  '''Josiah Parkes and Sons''' were able to buy the old Union Street property and sold the Doctor’s Piece property in 1890.
   


This engine, exhibited at the Black Country Living Museum, was made by Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd.  
1896 When more factories for lock-making appeared, as the lock industry grew in size and importance, Josiah Parkes and his sons recognised the trend, discontinued iron trading and took up the manufacture of locks.  The enterprise began in quite a small way and gathered pace in later years.  Their first products were stamped with the image of a hose coupling (a product that they also made); this image became the trade mark of '''Josiah Parkes''' even when they stopped hardware trading.


William Cyril Parkes, elder son of William Edmund Parkes, joined the family business in 1903.  In 1911 Harry George Parkes, son of James Henry Parkes, joined and his younger brother, Arthur Joseph, joined in 1919.
1903 [[William Cyril Parkes]], elder son of William Edmund Parkes, joined the family business.   


In 1906 their employees totalled 35 but by 1913 they had increased to 100.  (In 1934 there were 550, the 1948 figure was 900, in 1958 it had reached 1300 and by 1971 it was over 1800, despite increase mechanisation.)
1911 '''Harry George Parkes''', son of James Henry Parkes, joined and his younger brother.  An important step was taken when the company began the manufacture of cylinder locks and latches.  At the time comparatively few were being made in this country.


An important step was taken in 1911 company began the manufacture of cylinder locks and latches started.  At the time comparatively few were being made in this country.  
1906 Employees totalled 35.  


In 1913 the company was able to expand and build a new lock shop adjoining the original Union Street premises.   
1913 The company was able to expand and build a new lock shop adjoining the original Union Street premises and employees increased to 100.   


Just prior to the first World War the locksmiths union had managed to establish itself and in negotiations with the Lock Manufacturers Association (of which Josiah Parkes were members) had set new wage levels:
WWI. At the beginning of the war trade was depressed due to few government contracts and the decrease in exports. In due course the factory was turned over to the production of munitions.


Boys aged 16-17          3d per hour
1916 '''Josiah Parkes and Sons''' was formed into a limited company. The company was incorporated on 13 December, with William Edmund Parkes as Chairman and Managing Director and William Cyril Parkes as assistant Managing Director.
Boys aged 17-18          4d per hour
Boys aged 18-19          5d per hour
Boys aged 19-21          6d per hour
Over 21                      7d per hour


At the beginning of the war trade was depressed due to few government contracts and the decrease in exports. But in due course the factory was turned over to the production of munitions.
1917 By then, so many men had enlisted that '''Parkes''', like most other manufacturers in the area, had to employ women workers.  When the war ended the women did not automatically lose their employment. Conditions were not easy for women employees - they were not allowed to speak at work and had to meet together to walk home at the end of the day, to avoid attracting men’s attention.  


In 1916 Josiah Parkes & Sons was formed into a limited company with a share capital of £25000.  The company was incorporated on 13 December 1916 with William Edmund Parkes as Chairman and Managing Director and William Cyril Parkes as assistant Managing Director. With the death of his father in 1920, William Cyril Parkes became Chairman and joint Managing Director with his brother, Arthur Josiah Parkes.
1919 '''Arthur Joseph''' joined.


By 1917 so many men had enlisted that Parkes  like most other manufacturers in the area, had to employ women workers.  When the war ended the women did not automatically lose their employment. Conditions were not easy for women employees - they were not allowed to speak at work and had to meet together to walk home at the end of the day, to avoid attracting men’s attention.  
1919 Set up [[Union Engines]] to produce '''Union''' two-stroke engines which it sold for several years.


In the 1930’s the Union Street premises in Willenhall were modernised and a new office block was completed in 1933.  
1920  With the death of his father, [[William Cyril Parkes]] became Chairman and joint Managing Director with his brother, '''Arthur Josiah Parkes'''.


An architect's drawing of the proposed new offices in Gower Street, built in 1933.  
1928 '''Cyril William''' toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada to explore the possibilities of expansion.


The new offices as built in 1933.  
1930s The Union Street premises in Willenhall were modernised and a new office block was completed in 1933.


The Union Works, on the corner of Gower Street and Union Street, built as an extension to the existing works, and in a style matching the new office building.  
1934 There were 550 employees.


The company was converted into a public company under the name of Josiah Parkes & Sons Ltd, in 28th November 1936, taking over J. P. and Sons (Holdings) Ltd (formerly Josiah Parkes & Sons Ltd).  The directors were C. W. Parkes (Chairman and joint MD), A. J. Parkes (joint MD), W. E. Egar (Secretary) (Stock Exchange Yearbook 1946).  The new company had a paid up share capital of £200,000.
1936 The firm became a public company under the name of '''Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd''', in November, taking over '''J. P. and Sons (Holdings)''' Ltd (formerly Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd).   


In the Second World War (as in the First) the skill and machinery of the company were put to essential munitions manufacture, notably grenades, fuses for shells, detonators, etc. as well as locks to secure the spinners of aeroplanes and thousands of padlocks to secure kit bags and numerous other purposes.
1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair.  Locks and Builders' Hardware.  (Stand No. A.624) <ref>[[1937 British Industries Fair]] p399</ref>


In 1945 work began on building a new factory, covering 150,000 square feet, on spare land at the Company’s Sports Ground situated half a mile from the Union Street Works. This land at Portobello had first been rented in 1921 and the freehold acquired, with a view to building a new factory, in 1935. The factory started producing lock parts in 1946.
WWII. During the war, skills and machinery were put to essential munitions manufacture, notably grenades, fuses for shells, detonators, etc., as well as locks to secure the spinners of aeroplanes and thousands of padlocks to secure kit bags and numerous other purposes.


View some photographs
1945 Work began on building a new factory, covering 150,000 square feet, on spare land at the Company’s Sports Ground situated half a mile from the Union Street Works. This land had first been rented in 1921 and the freehold acquired, with a view to building a new factory, in 1935.
of the works interior


Josiah Parkes & Sons Ltd had built up a thriving export business over the years.  In 1928 Cyril William had toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada to explore the possibilities of expansion. By the late1940s there were representatives and agents in over 50 countries worldwide. In 1948 Josiah Parkes & Sons (South Africa) Ltd. was formed with W F Boustred as Chairman, for the purpose of manufacturing Union locks and architectural furniture in South Africa. The factory was based at Fordsburg, Johannesburg. In the 1960s Josiah Parkes & Sons Rhodesia Ltd and Josiah Parkes & Sons Nigeria Ltd. were formed. Two further factories were established in Singapore and Kenya to manufacture and assemble Union products in their respective countries.
1946 The factory started producing lock parts.  


This advert, from the Ironmongers Guide 1950, is emphasising quality and tradition. Under their name are the words "Established 1840".  The text says that the lock was made about 1770 and was in the company's museum. The inscription on the lock says "John Webar fecit".  
1948 Employees totalled 900. '''Josiah Parkes and Sons (South Africa)''' was formed, for the purpose of manufacturing Union locks and architectural furniture in South Africa. The factory was based at Fordsburg, Johannesburg.  


In 1956, the old established business of Edwin Showell & Sons of Stirchley, Birmingham, was acquired.  Showells was founded around 1830 and manufactured door springs and architectural brass ware. The principal object of the amalgamation was to enable Parkes to offer builders merchants, the architects and the building trade a comprehensive range of builders hardware.
By the late 1940s there were representatives and agents in over 50 countries worldwide.


In 1964 Cyril Parkes retired as chairman and was succeeded by his brother Arthur who himself retired in 1967.
1956 The old established business of [[Edwin Showell and Sons]] of Stirchley, Birmingham, was acquired.  Showells was founded around 1830, and manufactured door springs and architectural brass ware. The principal object of the amalgamation was to enable Parkes to offer builders merchants, architects and the building trade a comprehensive range of builder's hardware.


The company was acquired by the Chubb Group of security companies in 1965 and became a member of the Racal Group of companies in 1984 on the acquisition of Chubb & Son plc by Racal Electronics plc.
1958 Employees had reached 1300.  


In 1977 the company’s excellent record in the export trade was rewarded by their becoming the first lock manufacturer to be honoured by the Queen’s Award for Export Achievements.  
1960s '''Josiah Parkes and Sons Rhodesia Ltd''' and '''Josiah Parkes and Sons Nigeria Ltd''' were formed. Two further factories were established in Singapore and Kenya to manufacture and assemble Union products in their respective countries.  


The company was acquired, along with Chubb Locks, by Williams Holdings 1997.  In October 1997 William’s Holdings announced changes to the organisation of their Security Products Group.  They planned to close the Union factory in Wood Street, the Yale factory in Temple Bar (this was the Yale Die Casting Division on the site of the old Enoch Tonks factory, and had been due for closure before the William’s take over). They also closed the Planetary Road Warehouse, which had been used as a warehouse following the move of Chubb Lock making to Portobello; this was the old Albert Marston factory. The Yale Wood Street site was planned to become the company headquarters and manufacturing unit for all cylinder and padlocks locks.  The Parkes Portobello site would concentrate on all mortice production and become the sole distribution site.  The proposals would create 240 redundancies over the next 15 months. (E&S 9-10/10/97). 
1961 Manufacturers of Union locks and building hardware. 2,000 employees. <ref>[[1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE]]</ref>


The change over to produce all cylinder locks and padlocks at Wood Street took place in May 1998 .  The production of the Union Cylinder locks ceased and all locks were made to the Yale design but were marked both Yale and Union.  The move to produce all mortice locks at the Portobello site was completed in July 1998, when they ceased to make Yale mortice locks and only made the Union range, although they were sold branded Yale and Ingersoll.
1964 Cyril Parkes retired as chairman and was succeeded by his brother Arthur who himself retired in 1967.


At this point (April 1999) the whole of the Williams Group lockmaking side was reorganised under the name Yale Security Products UK Ltd, with offices in Wood Street, Willenhall.  All the administration, sales and purchasing etc. took place from there.
1965 The company was acquired by the [[Chubb and Sons|Chubb Group]] of security companies


Early in 2000 it was announced that Williams were selling this division off to Assa-Abloy, a Swedish lockmaking company.  The official take over did not take place until the end of August 2000.
1984 Became a member of the [[Racal Electronics|Racal Group]] of companies when [[Chubb and Sons]] was acquired by Racal Electronics plc.  


For further information on this company after the Assa Abloy takeover, see the entry for Chubb.
Later became subsidiary of [[ASSA ABLOY Group|ASSA ABLOY]] Ltd


2002 Name changed to [[C. E. Marshall (Wolverhampton)]] Ltd


* 1937 Listed Exhibitor.  Locks and Builders' Hardware.  (Stand No. A.624)


== See Also ==
<what-links-here/>


== Sources of Information ==
== Sources of Information ==
* [http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/locks/gazetteer/parkes.htm] Lical History - A Gazeteer of Lock and Key Makers
<references/>
* [[1937 British Industries Fair]] Page 399
* [http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/locks/gazetteer/parkes.htm] Local History - A Gazeteer of Lock and Key Makers
 
{{DEFAULTSORT: Parkes, J }}
[[Category: Town - Willenhall]]
[[Category: Locks and Safes]]
[[Category: Iron and Steel]]
[[Category: Iron Works]]

Latest revision as of 17:24, 23 November 2023

1919.
Nov 1919.
Dec 1921.
Dec 1921.
1938.
1938.
1945.
1951.
1961. Josiah Parkes and Sons and Edwin Showell and Sons.

of Union Works, Willenhall, Staffordshire. Telephone: Willenhall 345. Telegraphic Address. "Locks, Willenhall". (1937)

The Parkes family were originally from Gornal. The eldest brothers, William (born 1822) and Richard both served apprenticeships as locksmiths in Willenhall. Josiah Parkes (born 1824) was apprenticed to Hickman's Iron Works in Bilston.

1840 Company founded.

c1840 The three brothers set up in the ironmongery trade about 1840 in premises at 28, 29 and 30 Doctor’s Piece. Josiah continued to work at Hickman's, only helping the firm in the evenings.

The trade was considerable, as iron at the time was the material most commonly used by lock and key makers throughout the land. The business grew in volume and scope and new premises were taken in Union Street. Merchanting was done in iron and a great variety of general goods, from mole traps to clothes' horses, from ash pans to carpenters’ tool baskets and, of course, locks.

Richard did not stay with the firm but it is not known when he left. William had an ironmongery business at 9 Union Street.

c1850 Josiah and his wife, Catherine, moved to premises at 3, Union Street and Josiah began working full-time, with Richard in the ironmongers.

1851 William and Josiah were in partnership and were advertising in the local papers and trade journals as "William and Josiah Parkes, Iron, Steel and Wire Merchants", Union Street. The partnership made locks and other hardware but they also traded in those goods, acting as factors. They would supply the raw materials to other locksmiths and buy back the finished products from them, selling them on to wholesalers and retailers. The brothers were obviously successful in this trade and in the 1850s were able to take on three apprentices.

1852 They acquired new premises in Union Street.

1860s The Parkes brothers began to concentrate more on manufacturing and merchanting locks. An advertisement in the Wolverhampton Guide of 1864 described them as "general merchants and manufacturers of all kinds of rim, mortice, pad locks, bolts and latches".

1861 The brothers were able to move their families to better premises. William and his wife, Elizabeth, and their four children, moved to 78 Union Street. Josiah and his wife and five children moved to 77 Union St. The iron warehouse and shop lay between the two houses.

1868 The original business was dissolved when his son, William Edmund (1855-1920), joined Josiah, trading as iron merchants and hardware factors. They moved into 28 Doctor’s Piece. William Edmund concentrated on the hardware section and Josiah looked after the iron merchanting.

As the business grew, the Parkes children came into the Company. William had three sons: Samuel, Josiah and William Fletcher, who all joined as iron merchant's clerks. Josiah Parkes had five sons, who were all younger than their cousins. Friction developed between the two families about who was going to control the business.

To resolve the problem William and Josiah dissolved the partnership around 1873 and set up two separate businesses. William and his sons became Parkes, Parkes and Co, but soon both Samuel and Josiah started other businesses, Samuel as a hardware merchant in New Road and Josiah as a brass founder in Wood Street.

By 1880 business was doing well enough for them to employ three men and expand the premises to 18, 29 and 30 Doctor’s Piece. Advertisements from 1884 refer to Josiah Parkes and Sons as "bolt, nut, screw, hinge, latch and lock furniture manufacturers". Josiah Parkes Junior and John Parkes both joined the firm.

1883 More premises were acquired in Wood Street.

1885 James Harry, another son of Josiah, joined the firm, when it became Josiah Parkes and Sons.

1887 Josiah Parkes Senior retired (died, aged 76, in August 1899).

1888 A new partnership under the same name was established between William Edmund, John and James Harry Parkes. Josiah Parkes Jnr did not join this firm but carried on the iron merchanting business by himself. The youngest son, Ebeneezer Thomas, decided to go into a career in banking.

1889 The other brothers decided to concentrate their firm’s attention on the manufacture of locks and gradually ceased trading in iron and other goods.

There was a lot of foreign competition in hardware goods and iron products in the 1880s and 1890s, but Josiah Parkes and Sons successfully provided goods to shops and businesses all over the country. The Union Street business of Parkes, Parkes and Co faded out, as did the Samuel Parkes’ business. Josiah Parkes and Sons were able to buy the old Union Street property and sold the Doctor’s Piece property in 1890.

1896 When more factories for lock-making appeared, as the lock industry grew in size and importance, Josiah Parkes and his sons recognised the trend, discontinued iron trading and took up the manufacture of locks. The enterprise began in quite a small way and gathered pace in later years. Their first products were stamped with the image of a hose coupling (a product that they also made); this image became the trade mark of Josiah Parkes even when they stopped hardware trading.

1903 William Cyril Parkes, elder son of William Edmund Parkes, joined the family business.

1911 Harry George Parkes, son of James Henry Parkes, joined and his younger brother. An important step was taken when the company began the manufacture of cylinder locks and latches. At the time comparatively few were being made in this country.

1906 Employees totalled 35.

1913 The company was able to expand and build a new lock shop adjoining the original Union Street premises and employees increased to 100.

WWI. At the beginning of the war trade was depressed due to few government contracts and the decrease in exports. In due course the factory was turned over to the production of munitions.

1916 Josiah Parkes and Sons was formed into a limited company. The company was incorporated on 13 December, with William Edmund Parkes as Chairman and Managing Director and William Cyril Parkes as assistant Managing Director.

1917 By then, so many men had enlisted that Parkes, like most other manufacturers in the area, had to employ women workers. When the war ended the women did not automatically lose their employment. Conditions were not easy for women employees - they were not allowed to speak at work and had to meet together to walk home at the end of the day, to avoid attracting men’s attention.

1919 Arthur Joseph joined.

1919 Set up Union Engines to produce Union two-stroke engines which it sold for several years.

1920 With the death of his father, William Cyril Parkes became Chairman and joint Managing Director with his brother, Arthur Josiah Parkes.

1928 Cyril William toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada to explore the possibilities of expansion.

1930s The Union Street premises in Willenhall were modernised and a new office block was completed in 1933.

1934 There were 550 employees.

1936 The firm became a public company under the name of Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd, in November, taking over J. P. and Sons (Holdings) Ltd (formerly Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd).

1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Locks and Builders' Hardware. (Stand No. A.624) [1]

WWII. During the war, skills and machinery were put to essential munitions manufacture, notably grenades, fuses for shells, detonators, etc., as well as locks to secure the spinners of aeroplanes and thousands of padlocks to secure kit bags and numerous other purposes.

1945 Work began on building a new factory, covering 150,000 square feet, on spare land at the Company’s Sports Ground situated half a mile from the Union Street Works. This land had first been rented in 1921 and the freehold acquired, with a view to building a new factory, in 1935.

1946 The factory started producing lock parts.

1948 Employees totalled 900. Josiah Parkes and Sons (South Africa) was formed, for the purpose of manufacturing Union locks and architectural furniture in South Africa. The factory was based at Fordsburg, Johannesburg.

By the late 1940s there were representatives and agents in over 50 countries worldwide.

1956 The old established business of Edwin Showell and Sons of Stirchley, Birmingham, was acquired. Showells was founded around 1830, and manufactured door springs and architectural brass ware. The principal object of the amalgamation was to enable Parkes to offer builders merchants, architects and the building trade a comprehensive range of builder's hardware.

1958 Employees had reached 1300.

1960s Josiah Parkes and Sons Rhodesia Ltd and Josiah Parkes and Sons Nigeria Ltd were formed. Two further factories were established in Singapore and Kenya to manufacture and assemble Union products in their respective countries.

1961 Manufacturers of Union locks and building hardware. 2,000 employees. [2]

1964 Cyril Parkes retired as chairman and was succeeded by his brother Arthur who himself retired in 1967.

1965 The company was acquired by the Chubb Group of security companies

1984 Became a member of the Racal Group of companies when Chubb and Sons was acquired by Racal Electronics plc.

Later became subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY Ltd

2002 Name changed to C. E. Marshall (Wolverhampton) Ltd


See Also

Loading...

Sources of Information

  1. ↑ 1937 British Industries Fair p399
  2. ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
  • [1] Local History - A Gazeteer of Lock and Key Makers
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