A topic for recording information regarding Sir John Bennett Ltd. and any information regarding the earlier business and the man himself.
If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
An illustration of Sir John Bennett's premises at 65, Cheapside published in 1852:
Sir John Bennett Ltd. was established in 1889 to continue the business of Sir John Bennett, one of the most flamboyant personalities in 19th century London. The business was to continue until 1940 when their premises were destroyed during an air raid on London.
A despatch from London to the New York Tribune, under date of July 5, announced the death of Sir John Bennett, the famous watchmaker.
The late Sir John Bennett was the son of John Bennett, a watchmaker, of Greenwich, where he was bom in 1814. He was educated at Lewisham Grammar School, and was for many years a retail watchmaker in Cheapside. Since 1802 he had been a member of the Common Council of the City of London. In 1871-72 he was Sheriff of London and Middlesex, and he was a member of the London School Board from 1872 to 1879. In 1877 he was three times elected Alderman of the Ward of Cheap, but upon each occasion the Aldermen of London refused to ratify his election. It was at the end of his shrievalty that the Queen made him a Knight. He was also a Lieutenant for the City of London and a Doctor of Laws for Middlesex. He possessed the decoration of the Legion of Honor. He was a man of strong character, very eccentric, and one of the most familiar figures in London.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 7th July 1897
Sir John Bennett, the great English watchmaker, says:—The life of the Swiss watchmaker was vastly superior to that of the watchmaker in Clerkenwell, Islington, and the neighbourhood, where they lived in close alleys and courts, having no Sunday, breathing but little of the breath of heaven, and seeing scarcely any of the sun's glorious light. The Swiss had also much better tools to do their work, and by means of the mandril the female could turn out very rapidly and most exactly a great variety of work. The education of the children there was very different and much superior to the education given to the poor English children. In Switzerland it was national, free, and compulsory. It was there believed and acted upon, that if men and women were required to carry out the system of work, means must be taken to perfect the men and women in intelligence; they must know what was right, and not only that, but must practise what they knew. Their education was begun in infancy, because it was believed that just in proportion as the workman was made perfect, so was the work of his hands. In Switzerland ignorance was considered as a poison and a pestilence for the people, and detrimental to the highest interests of the community, therefore it was made criminal for a parent to bring up his child in ignorance, to be a nuisance to the community, when the child could be made a man in the true sense of the word. The Government decided that education should be universal, compulsory, and good. Since that decision great advances had been made towards a practical result, and their system of education was about as perfect as any that existed in the world. Both male and female were educated in Switzerland. A college for high class education has been established, and in that college the future watchmakers are being educated. All classes are taken in the college, and in the same rooms could be seen hanging side by side the handsome dresses of the children of rich parents, with the commoner made up clothes of the children of poor parents. The Swiss could not be made to believe that "ignorance is bliss." Wherever business, enterprise, or money, or the power of distribution would avail to accomplish anything, the English beat other nations; but where precision, beauty in decoration, or colour, or form was required, there the English suffered. Every school in Switzerland was a school of design, and every child had a pencil in his hand; and that was the way to cultivate the power of observation. There was also much refinement among the Swiss : there were to be seen paintings and music; every child had half an hour's instruction, morning and evening, in musical notation. Although certain persons might not think much of such education, still it tended greatly to refine the pupils, and it afforded a certain amount of rational amusement, and human beings were better prepared for work by such innocent enjoyment. In that country there was no need of workhouses. At six in the summer and at seven in the winter the children of all classes were sent to the common school, for grades and social distinctions were no more thought of there than grades of instruction, or grades of light from the sun, or a different atmosphere for different persons; but in Switzerland, in proportion to the destitution of the child so was the excellence of the education given to it, for, having no friend, it should be educated as to become its own best friend. In the evening the children had an hour's practical instruction in the work of their future life. If it were to be watchmaking, they had their instructor, and thus served an hour of their apprenticeship. The law compelled them to attend school up to the age of fourteen. But in England if the great-grandfather were a pauper, so was the grand-father, the father, the chad, and so on to interminable generations, and thus there was 5 per cent, of the people in this country made paupers by gross mismanagement. The educational commissioners in Switzerland were the fathers of the poor Swiss children; and, after their education, application would be made to some manufacturer, to whom, after having a report of the boy's progress at school, he would be, apprenticed. The boy then stood on his own merits, and probably became a foreman. After a number of years one of the commissioners might go to the bankers, who would invite the man's employer, and, if a good account were given of the foreman, he would be advanced £2000 or £3000. Thus the lowest classes were brought up and educated and became men of business. In England, however, it was once a pauper always a pauper. That really was the reason why the English workman was beaten by the Swiss. The result came from the very foundation—the character, the quality of the instruction that the child obtained. He had once heard Cobden say, "Put brains into the ends of the boy's fingers —brains; fingers alone won't do." And they did so in Switzerland, and that was the reason why they beat the English. Sir John Bennett is said to be not only the best watch and clock maker in the world, but the kindest landlord in Sussex, and his farm near Hastings is described as "a rural paradise."
By order of the sheriff, the contents of Glen Druid, Chislehurst, the residence of Sir John Bennett, were submitted to auction on the 22nd ult. With the exception of the books, the whole of which were claimed, the entire contents of the mansion were put under the hammer. The catalogue contained upwards of 450 lots, and they were all crowded into one day's sale, so that the proceedings were not concluded until between seven and eight. The attendance wasremarkable from the fact that it included most of the leading dealers of the metropolis, who secured all the chief articles. Among the lots was a very handsome chime and musical clock by the late George Bennett (a relative of Sir John's) whichfetched 38 guineas. A fine clock, by Bennett and Co., with modelled bronze figures, representing a palanquin with negro bearers, realised 28 guineas. Another clock, with bronze figures representing Paul and Virginia, fetched 21 guineas. The pictures went at very reasonable prices, " The Lost Boy," by Lewis, being secured by Mr. Macfarlane for £8 10s. The grand piano, by Erard, fetched 38 guineas ; a Sevres tea-set, £12 ; a brilliant silver-glass mirror. £10 ; and the silver averaged its full value, some of especially fine workmanship realising 14s. 6d. an ounce. A set of twelve chairs with Sir John's monogram on the backs were also sold.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd September 1889
In the Exchequer Division on Monday, Mr. Macfarlane, of Portland-place, brought an action against Sir John Bennett, watchmaker, of Cheapside, for breach of contract. The plaintiff in 1876 bought from the defendant for £126 a repeater watch, which struck the hours and quarters, and in the invoice it was stated that the performance of the watch was guaranteed. At the end of six months the watch stopped, and was several times returned to the defendant for adjustment, but as it did not then give satisfaction the plaintiff suggested that it should be exchanged, but this proposal was declined. He then submitted the watch for examination to another watchmaker, who pronounced it to be of second-rate quality, roughly finished, and made in part of Swiss works. Evidence in favour of the watch was given by the maker and by the defendant’s workmen, who said that while it was with them it kept very good time. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, with £86 damages.
Mr. Goschen, M.P., presided last Tuesday night at a dinner, given at the Cannon-street Hotel, to celebrate the election of Sir John Bennett to the aldermanic chair of the Ward of Cheap. The guests, who numbered about 250, included many members of the House of Commons, In proposing the toast of the evening, Mr. Goschen remarked that the difficulties which had arisen respecting Sir John Bennett had not been foreseen by the electors, and had not been foreshadowed in any way on any other occasion when Sir John had been before the citizens. The main cause of the advancement of Sir John to his present honourable position was his unwearied labour in the cause of popular education. In reply, Sir John Bennett expressed the utmost confidence as to the result of the proceedings of the Court of Aldermen, his desire to work in harmony with his colleagues, and his determination to devote his life to the public service. Mr. Kirkman Hodgson, M.P., Mr. Watkin Williams, M.P., Mr. T. Hankey, M.P., Mr. Sullivan, M.P., and Mr. S. Whitbread also spoke to various toasts. Several of the speakers expressed a hope that the Court of Aldermen would not interfere with the freedom of popular election.
Source: The Illustrated London News - 21st July 1877
A very interesting and instructive Lecture on the Watch, what to make, and how to make it, was delivered by Sir John Bennett, on the 20th ult., at the Congregational Chapel, Ruol Road, Bermondsey. Want of space precludes our giving detailed quotations of the excellent lecture in the present number, but hope to be able to do so in our next. The lecture was to have been repeated at Ealing, on the 27th ult., but through some misunderstanding on the part of those who had previously promised the room for another purpose, it has been postponed.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th April 1877
Would it have been such a dire calamity after all had the City Fire Brigade, in the event of a Zepp. raid, as suggested by Chief Inspector Hewitt would be the case, smashed up those Gog and Magog bells which bang out their monotonous “tunes ’’, four times an hour, year in and year out? £20 under the conditions of their ringing at night, contrary to the regulations, was a light get-off for the offending company, Sir John Bennett, Ltd,, and we would not be surprised to hear that the offenders’ neighbours in Cheapside would gladly add another like sum if, upon the next visit of the Zepps. to this country, occasion may be found for the fulfilment of Chief Inspector Hewitt’s threat. When Sir John passed away, his chef d’oeuvre might well have passed with him.
The statutory meeting of this company has just been held, and the shareholders were regaled with very sanguine expectations of what they may expect by and bye.
The chairman, Mr. James Inch, stated that "the reports of the business they are doing in Cheapside are satisfactory." They had " been able to keep the thing going fairly well." Considering the state of trade they had, " under the circumstances, done very well." Shareholders would see by the progress of the company that " they were, taking steps to secure the desirable result of increased business, and he trusted that their efforts would be satisfactory." These very guarded prognostications acted as a damper upon the meeting, and nothing that was said afterwards tended to lighten the gloom. A shareholder asked the pertinent question whether the directors intended to pay the dividend on the eight per cent, shares — it will be remembered that of the capital of £90,000, £60,000 is made up of 12,000 " A" shares of £5 each, entitled to an eight per cent preferential dividend — half-yearly, but the chairman did not see his way to promise that. " Of course," said Mr. Inch, " if they found themselves at the end of six months in a position to pay the accrued interest he should be the very first to propose that it should be immediately paid," but, though pressed, he would not go beyond that.
The most reassuring remarks made by Sir John Bennett were that they had been " passing through bad times," and all he could say was that " during the past fourteen weeks the results had been quite equal to what they were in the first fourteen weeks of last year."
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1889
