Early Australian Silversmiths

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S. HOFFNUNG & Co.

Charlotte Street, Brisbane.

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S. Hoffnung & Co - Brisbane - 1891

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T. WILLIS & Co.

35, Little Collins Street East, Melbourne, later, 350-356, Little Collins Street East, Melbourne, and 163, Pitt Street, Sydney, and Cornwall Buildings, Newmarket Street, Birmingham


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T. Willis & Co. - Melbourne - 1888


Willis, T., and Co., Melbourne. This business was founded in 1860 by Mr. Thomas Willis, under the style of R. and T. Willis, merchants and wholesale jewellers, in premises at Collins-street cast, on the site where the Athenuaeum now stands, Mr. Richard Willis acting as London buyer and agent. Within a very short time the business, having become thoroughly established, was removed to more commodious premises in Little Collins street east. When the protective tariff was introduced the firm started a manufactory for jewellery, employing eight or nine hands. In 1869 Mr. R. Willis retired, and in 1874 a branch was opened in Sydney, N.S.W., under the charge of Mr. E. M. Dietrich, the Melbourne business being conducted by Mr. T. Willis until 1877, when his eldest surviving son was admitted as partner, the London arangements being revised, and Mr. Herbert Willis placed in charge. In 1880 Mr. T. Willis retired to a well-earned rest, and the firm was reconstituted by his three sons, who have conducted it to the present time. In 1874 they removed to the present premises, at 35 Little Collins-street east. Agencies have been established in Western Australia for the purchase of pearls, and in Adelaide, S.A., and Tasmania for general business. In 1882 the firm were appointed agents for the well-known watchmakers, Taylor and Dent; and since then for Messrs. Mammait and Sons, plate manufacturers, of Sheffield. They are also agents for, we believe, the only successful diamond mine, the "Pine Ridge," of Inversel, N.S.W. Over 5000 carats of gems have passed through their hands up to the present. The manufacturing department, under careful management, has increased rapidly, over sixty hands being now employed in the manufacture of jewellery only, while during the past few yeais the trade of the firm in watches, clocks, jewellery, precious stones, jewellers' sundries, and electroplate, has expanded to such an extent that the premises which four years ago seemed large enough for any possible increase in business are now quite inadequate, and the firm will probably be compelled to remove their manufactory to the outskirts of the city.

Source: Victoria and its Metropolis, Past and Present - Alexander Sutherland - 1888


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Willis & Sons Pty.Ltd. - Melbourne, Sydney and Birmingham - 1919

Noted as Richard and Thomas Willis from 1858, and styled as T. Willis & Co. in 1876, Willis & Sons Pty Ltd. in 1904. They ceased manufacturing in 1931, but continued as wholesale jewellers and importers.

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T.F. WIESENER

348, George Street, Sydney.

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T F Wiesener - Sydney -

Few men were better known to the' Members of the Institution of Surveyors that Mr. T. F. Wiesener, of George Street, and the news of his death on the 1st Inst, came as a shock to us all. He arrived in this colony in the ship " Winifred " in 1870, and the following year commenced business as a watchmaker and optician at the corner of Phillip and Hunter Streets. He afterwards removed to the corner of George and Hunter Streets, and in 1875, established his largely increased business on the present site. His stock of surveyors' materials and scientific instruments was undoubtedly the largest in Sydney, and he was well-known to all those interested in microscopical research in New South Wales. Death was caused by heart disease, supposed to be the after-effect of rheumatic fever contracted about 30 years ago. Mr. Wiesener had the esteem and regard of a very large circle of friends, and the respect of all who had business relations with him.

Source: The Surveyor - 21st July 1897

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CHARLES ALLEN BROWN

88, Edward Street, Brisbane.

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C A Brown - Brisbane -

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C A Brown - Brisbane -

This would be Charles Allen Brown who served his apprenticeship under the Sydney silversmith Christian Ludwig Quist.

Brown is thought to have many fine pieces that were unmarked including the three silver mounted emu eggs that were exhibited by Queensland in the London Exhibition of 1872-3 and very much in the style of Quist's work. He also may well have been the maker of the Queensland mother-of pearl exhibit at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. His later work was marked 'C.A.Brown-Brisbane'.

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MACKAY BROTHERS

101, Albert Street, Brisbane.

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Mackay Bros. - Brisbane - 1885

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F.W. WHITE

78, George Street, Brisbane.

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F W White - Brisbane - 1885

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GIVEN & Co.

Queen Street, Brisbane.

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Given & Co. - Brisbane - 1876

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CHARLES MORRELL

Brisbane

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Ch. Morrell - Brisbane - 1876

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Ch. Morrell - Brisbane - 1896

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C.W. SNOW

SNOW BROTHERS

125, Queen Street, Brisbane and 7, Thavies Inn, London


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C.W. Snow - Brisbane - 1874

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C.W. Snow - Brisbane - 1876


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Snow Brothers - Brisbane - 1879

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Snow Brothers - Brisbane - 1885

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Snow Brothers - Brisbane - 1887

Rich Quartz.– There are at present on view in the windows of Messrs. Snow Brothers, jewellers, of Queen Street, Brisbane a number of very rich specimens of quartz from the Golden Gully Gold Mining Company's ground at Ironbacks, N.S.W. The specimens in all weigh 1/2 cwt., and consist of white quartz, red quartz, ironstone and pyrites. The gold shows in the red quartz in regular nuggets and is distributed right through the stone, while the ironstone is so rich that an assay by Mr. Vale, the well-known assayer of Sydney, shows that it would go 4,000 ozs. to the ton. The pyrites also show free gold, and the assay gave from 8,000 ozs. to 1,200 ozs. to the ton. Although assays of particular portions are very often deceptive as to the value of the quartz in bulk, there can be no doubt that the mine from which these specimens were taken is a very rich one. The specimen stone under notice is valued at £400, and the amount of gold it contained is estimated at 100 ozs. Mr. Wilkinson, the N.S.W. Government geologist, says the stone is the richest ever got out of any mine in that colony. The mine from which it comes comprises an area of some twenty acres, and, strangely enough, like a good many other pieces of ground that have afterwards turned out exceedingly rich, it was worked by a company fourteen years ago and abandoned as a duffer after a shaft of 80 ft. had been sunk. The present holders went 5 ft. deeper and struck the pyrites, and subsequently at intervals of a few feet the other three reefs, which run from 15 in. to 22 in. in thickness. It is only six months since the mine was re-opened, and since then there has been a revival of mining on what was at that time a deserted field.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1888

See: https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopi ... ow#p211069

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E. REYNOLDS

Corner of Edward Street and Adelaide Street, Brisbane.

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E. Reynolds - Brisbane -

As can be seen, Mr Reynolds was formerly employed by Flavelle Brothers.

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FREDERICK WILLIAM KURZ

Errol Street, Hotham.

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Source: Government Gazette - Volume 53 - 1877

Frederick Kurz appears in trade directories during the period 1873-1877

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KILPATRICK & Co.

39, Collins Street West, Melbourne.

Kilpatrick and Co., Melbourne, Jewellers and Watchmakers, Collins Street West. Mr. John Thomson is sole proprietor of the above business, and was a partner in the original firm of the same name, which was founded in 1853. as a wholesale house, at 20 Queen Street, where the trade was carried on for two years, until 1855, when the present business was opened at 39 Collins Street West, now removed to No.12 of same street. On an average the firm gives employment to twenty hands, including apprentices, does an extensive manufacturing business, besides giving a large amount of work to outside artisans.

Victoria and its Metropolis, Past and Present - Alexander Sutherland - 1888

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Kilpatrick & Co. - Melbourne - 1881

'The nugget obtained in the Midas Company's mine, on the Dowling Forest Estate, Ballarat, on June 11th, has been named the "Lady Brassey." It was found within two feet of the spot in the drive from which a dish of stuff was washed by her Ladyship when she visited the mine the previous day, and it has since been shown to her in Melbourne, and by her leave has been named after her. Its weight is 167 oz., and it consists almost entirely of pure gold. Together with the rest of the gold obtained from the mine last week (117 oz.) the nugget will be exhibited in the window of Messrs. Kilpatrick & Co., jewellers, Collins Street. The Midas Company was only registered in October 1885, since which time the gold won has realised a total of 5,400 oz. The Company began operations with 500l. and has not had to make a single call.'

Source: The Melbourne Argus - 14th June 1887

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Kilpatrick & Co. - Melbourne - 1882

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WILLIAM SAMUEL HUSBANDS

84, Queen Street. 454 Bourke Street West, Melbourne.

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Husbands - Melbourne - 1886


Husbands, William Samuel, Melbourne, is the son of Mr. Henry Husbands, of the well-known firm of Husbands and Sons, practical opticians, &c, Bristol, England, established 1762. Mr. W. H. Husband was born in Bristol in 1849, and commenced business in 1863 with his father, to whom he served twelve years in the working branches of the profession. He arrived in Victoria in 1875, and purchased from Mr. Grimoldi the business of manufacturing optician and importer which that gentleman had established in 1862 at the present address, 84 Queen-street. Mr. Husbands still carries on the business of manufacturing optician and importer of every description of spectacles and optical and scientific instruments, of which he has a very large stock, and is always glad to show and explain to visitors the character and uses of the numerous scientific appliances on the premises. He exhibited and took the gold medal for his class of goods at the Melbourne international exhibition 1880-81.

Source: Victoria and its Metropolis, Past and Present - Alexander Sutherland - 1888


Husbands case detail from their original English establishment situated at 85, St Augustine's Parade, Bristol. c.1800:

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Wm. S. Husbands - Melbourne - 1886

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Wm. S. Husbands - Melbourne - 1889

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Wm. S. Husbands - Melbourne - 1899


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W. ANDERSON

88, Market Street, Sydney.

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W Anderson - Sydney - 1876

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HENRY ELDER

Melbourne

HENRY ELDER,
(Fron Dent's, London),
CHRONOMETER AND WATCHMAKER,
18, Little Collins street west.

SUPERIOR CHRONOMETERS and Watches. Gold or Silver Cases and Clocks (from the best makers), on Sale at moderate prices. Performance guaranteed.

Colonial Jewellery made to order.

London made Jewellery, best quality, at very reduced Prices.


Source: The Age - 7th August 1855



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Henry Elder - Melbourne - 1871

Henry Elder was recorded at the following addresses:

18, Little Collins Street West, Melbourne - 1854
58, Bourke Street East, Melbourne - 1857
63, Bourke Street East, Melbourne - 1858-1877

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H.J. FREEMAN

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Mr. H.J. Freeman, Watchmaker, of Manners Street, Wellington, was born in the town of Cambridge, and brought up in London. On 2nd December 1852, he sailed for Australia, landing in Melbourne May 3rd 1853. After spending ten years in Victoria, he left for Dunedin in 1863, returned to Melbourne November 1864, arrived in Wellington, 1866, was employed by Mr. Charles Campbell, Watchmaker, in whose employ he remained until Mr. Campbell retired in December 1877, when he took over the lease of the premises, and has carried on the business successfully since that date.

Source: Glimpses of the Australian colonies and New Zealand - William Jackson Barry - 1903

See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 42#p111542

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WOOD

314, Little Collins Street, Melbourne, and 299, George Street, Sydney

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Wood - Melbourne - 1896

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E.A. GOSEWINCKEL

332, Collins Street West, Melbourne.

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E A Gosewinckel - Melbourne - 1889

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WILLIAM BRADLEY

High Street, Sandhurst (Bendigo), Victoria.

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William Bradley - Sandhurst - 1862

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SYDNEY A. M. LEVEY

Church Street, Paramatta.

Sydney Levey, Watchmaker and Jeweller, Church-street, is a native of the colony, and was educated in Sydney. After serving his apprenticeship, he passed ten years with Messrs. Flavelle Bros., George-street, Sydney, and is the best practical watchmaker in Parramatta–a fact which is a great advantage, as the greater part of the watchmaking of the district falls into his hands. He also does a considerable business in manufacturing jewellery. The shop is situated on the bridge crossing the river, and forms a bright feature of the thoroughfare.

Source: The Aldine Centennial History of New South Wales - Volume 2 - W. Frederic Morrison - 1888

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