George Walker (1816-1881)
George Walker (1816-1881) of Walker and Hall
Mr. George Walker worked for Mr. John Harrison, of Scotland street
The art of had its origins in Birmingham, the inventor being in that town.
Mr. Wright, a young surgeon in Birmingham, invented a process fof electro-plating and gilding. He told Messrs. Elkington and Co., silversmiths and gilders, about it and they agreed to patent it, and to allow him a handsome life annuity, and Mrs. Wright after him.
(Mr. Wright did not live long after that discovery, and his widow came to live in the neighbourhood of Sheffield and has become a second time a widow, her husband dying a millionaire).
John Harrison took a licence from Elkingtons for using the process in his own establishment in Sheffield. He sent George Walker to Birmingham to be instructed in the art. George Walker was, therefore, the first operative electro-plater in Sheffield.
After about 18 months employment, Harrison instructed Walker to teach his son the plating business, which Walker declined to do and left. Walker's brother-in-law, Samuel Coulson, agreed to support him in setting up an electro-plating business. Walker went to Birmingham to obtain a licence to plate for the whole of Sheffield, except for Mr. Harrison, which he achieved just before Harrison was able to contact Elkington.
Messrs. Walker and Co then began to gain success and celebrity in the electro-plating business in Sheffield.
1865 January 1st: Walker retired from the partnership of Walker and Hall