J. R. Gaunt & Son Advertisements

['Ticker' Riley]

As we’ve seen a few postings about J. R. Gaunt lately I thought Forum members might find the following advertisements of interest. I happened across them whilst flicking through a volume of the Army and Navy Gazette for 1918 recently:

The first one appears in a number of issues from April right through to October 1918, but the other only in December 1918 (probably also after that, but I didn’t have time to look at the volume for 1919). Although the two ads are essentially the same, the wording in the second is slightly different and the address has also changed. Another cracking advert is the following from Peck’s Circular Trades Directory and Detailed Byers’ Guide to the Manufactures of Birmingham and District ... for 1896-7:

As well has having a nice little depiction of the Firm’s works, the ad lists the array of different badges, buttons, fittings, clasps, etc. that the Company made at that time. Intriguingly it gives them as having been “Established 1860”, and also as being the “Successors to David Faris” – what the significance of this is I do not know, as I have yet to do much research into Gaunts and their history. If anyone else knows of any Gaunt advertisements then I’d be glad to hear about them, and if I find any more I’ll be sure to put them up here.

Regards

Martin

[Keith Blakeman]

Very interesting. However established 1860 & 200 years conflicts a bit.

['Ticker' Riley]

Hello Keith

Yes the date 1860 certainly seems at odds with Gaunt’s 1918 claim that they were by then some 200 years old! Perhaps the advert in Peck’s Circular is referring to the establishment of this “David Faris” in 1860? Interestingly in btns’ recent posting to another Gaunt thread he quotes “The new company J.R. Gaunt & Son was established in Birmingham in 1884” (Aucioneer DNW sales info), and seems to suggest that the 200 year history Gaunt claimed was actually that of another company - namely Edward Thurkle. Further, both the ‘Button and Badge Makers’ section of the Oldcopper website and ‘Backmarks on British Buttons and the Dates Used’ on Diana’s Buttons site talk about J. R. Gaunts at Birmingham as having operated from 1870-1973 (or at least that button marks would suggest these dates), whilst Firmin’s History webpage tell us “J R Gaunt & Son” were established in 1750. I think this last date is probably the more correct one for the establishment of Gaunt themselves, though the fact they took over other firms at various times does look to have clouded the issue quite a bit. At some point I do hope to look at Gaunt’s history in more detail, but from what has already been put up on the Forum elsewhere it would appear to be a rather daunting task to say the least!

Best regards

Martin

[btns]

Hello Martin,
Thank you for your very valuable contribution.
The clasp manufacturing firm of David Faris, est 1860, must have been one of the first major acquisitions. Gaunt moved to the Faris' address. DNW states "by 1895".
regards,
btns

[btns]

The factory in the advertisement burned down in 1912. Everything was lost, including 20,000 dies.
I assume they subcontracted other workshops until the factory was rebuilt.

['Ticker' Riley]

Hello btns

I’m glad you found my postings of interest, and it certainly seems that you’ve turned up some very useful information yourself. I’m especially grateful to you for confirming that the 1860 establishment date is for David Faris, and that Gaunts actually moved into his former premises. The fact you have also found out that this factory was then destroyed by fire in 1912, along with the loss of all the dies, is exceptionally interesting and significant. It’s good to see another Forum member taking such an interest in the history of this particular badge maker, and I very much look forward to reading more about your discoveries in due course.

Best regards

Martin

[Warstone]

Originally Posted by btns

The factory in the advertisement burned down in 1912. Everything was lost, including 20,000 dies.
I assume they subcontracted other workshops until the factory was rebuilt.

As rebuilt, viewed from the Alfred (Pemberton) Street side.

[grey_green_acorn]

Here are some more recent (circa 1986?) advertising flyers from J R Gaunt & Son Ltd. "A Subsidiary of the Birmingham Mint plc"

['Ticker' Riley]

Hello grey green acorn

Many thanks for posting up these 1980s Gaunt publicity flyers - really interesting to see some of what the Firm were producing at that point, even if they were no longer independent. It’s a shame they aren’t around as such anymore, though I suppose it was inevitable given the state of manufacturing and market pressures. Ironic too that after J. R. Gaunt and his son C. F. Gaunt left Firmin to found their Company all those years ago, it should ultimately end up as part of Firmin’s portfolio today! Anyway, thank you again for sharing things with the rest of us.

Best regards

Martin

['Ticker' Riley]

Thought I’d just put up a couple more Gaunt advertisements that I’ve come across recently. The first is from The Army Annual and Year Book for 1913, and, although sadly not containing any illustrations like the previous ones I posted, I personally think it is interesting if only as another example of how the Firm sought to sell themselves and their wares:

This particular add mentions the factory on “Warstone Parade” as well as the “53 Conduit St” outlet, and also notes the fact that an “Illustrated Catalogue” may be obtained “on Application” I think I have seen mention of these catalogues elsewhere on the Forum, and would dearly love to know if they had pictures of any Leicesters badges in them. Anyway, the next ad actually appeared in the 1934 Dress Regulations for The Army, along with other advertisements for Firmin & Sons and Charles Pitt & Co.:

By then the Company had moved their London branch to “2 New Burlington Place”, but apart from that the content of the ad is much the same as before - emphasising the wide range of items they made, as well as their “200 Years” of history. Interestingly by this point they were using the Royal Coat of Arms and the phrase “By Appointment to H.M. The King”, rather than the previous ones of “Manufactures to His Majesty’s Government” or “Contractors to the British and Foreign Governments”. Hope a few other members find all of this as interesting as I do? I always think things like this add a little to the historic background of the hobby.

Regards

Martin

[Keith Blakeman]

Good stuff again Martin. I'll have to check where Burlington Place is exactly, I'll take a photo of what's there now.

Having a quick internet search on Jennens buttons last night came up with something I wasn't aware of and that is that Gaunt and Jennens amalgamated in 1922. I'd previously thought it was a buy out.

['Ticker' Riley]

Hi Keith

I haven’t been looking at Jennens myself, but fellow Forum member and researcher btns recently kindly pointed me to an interesting note that appeared in the December 2008 edition of Button Lines about this very subject. The short piece is by Peter B. Boyden, and he quotes from a Board of Trade file at the United Kingdom’s National Archives (ref. BT 31/20678/122097). The basics are that Jennens & Co. Ltd came to an end in 1925 with the compulsory liquidation of the Firm, upon a petition made by Firmin & Sons, one of their creditors. According to Mr Boyden’s research Jennens was purchased by J. R. Gaunt & Son for £4,500, with the final balance of this sum being paid to the Receiver on 8 July 1925. No mentioned here of any kind of amalgamation three years earlier, so it would appear pretty conclusive Gaunts did buy Jennens, and that it was in 1925 that they ceased to be an independent company – all interesting stuff!

Best regards

Martin

P.S. Just checked the entry for Jennens in The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914: From the London Assay Office Registers, Volume I, and it says that it was Jennens who by 1917 had moved “to 2 New Burlington Place, W1”; so Gaunt must have taken over this premises with the buyout in 1925. I’d be interested to see what’s there now, if you do take happen to take a photo sometime.

[Warstone]

Originally Posted by Keith Blakeman

Good stuff again Martin. I'll have to check where Burlington Place is exactly, I'll take a photo of what's there now.

Having a quick internet search on Jennens buttons last night came up with something I wasn't aware of and that is that Gaunt and Jennens amalgamated in 1922. I'd previously thought it was a buy out.

2 New Burlington Place

[kingsley]

Hi all, I am not quite sure if this is relevant, but I have a couple of interesting Gaunt advertising items. The main one is a huge 1908 fully illustrated catalogue which I believe was used by salesmen to show the different types of badges, buttons, bullion and edged weapons the company could make. It shows the varying quality and prices and it also has pages of "old and curious" badges and buttons. They really ARE old and curious! If anyone is interested I can make a few scans, unless the book is a well known resource (it's the only one I have ever seen).
The second item is illustrated, a "quality and type" sample card, again from pre-WW1. I took the two missing badges off and put them in my collection years ago and still have them. The missing top one is a high quality King's crown enamelled officer cap badge of the 1901-03 Qiueensland Infantry, and the bottom one is the first ACMF Australian rising sun hat badge in bright gilt, superb quality.
You should be able to see the other samples.

[sketchley kid]

Also not relevant but does any one have a picture of reverse of Bays badge by Gaunt with the small tablet as on broken badge below?