Names on Weights - Q to Z: A list of 'named' weights, from Quiney to Young.

Quiney [b]
F. Quiney, Leytonstone
In 1890 Quiney was working at 4 Ranelagh Place, Leytonstone Road, and from 1908 to 1926 he was at 268 High Road, Leytonstone. The name occurs on brass weights dating from the early twentieth century.

Ratcliff [c]
I & C. Ratcliff
This name is seen only coin weights [W2276a,b]. Their weights closely resembled those produced by the Royal Mint, so the dies were confiscated [AW 38]. 

Reynolds and Wadsworth [i]
Reynolds & Wadsworth, Barnsley
Reynolds and Wadsworth began trading in 1871. White's Directory (1879) describes the firm as ironmongers, tinplate workers, iron, oil and seed merchants, 17-19 Market Hill. In 1892, the premises were swept by fire - a detailed account appears in the Barnsley Chronicle. The address is given as 29 Market Hill. At the turn of the century they advertised in local almanacs and seem to be also involved with Agricultural Implements and Farm Machinery at the 'Eldon Works'. The Market Hill address is given as 15, 17, & 19, as well as Peel Square. They traded in Market Hill until 1967, although from 1963-1967 they were known as Reynolds-Lowrance and Wadsworth.
My thanks to Barnsley Local Studies Library for this information.
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Rice & Co [i]
Rice & Co.
Seen on a 7lb bar weight.

Rogers [a,i]
P. Rogers & Co.
P. Rogers & Co, Birmingham
A catalogue dated 1899 gives the address as Peter Rogers & Co., 48 Green St, Deritend, Birmingham. It says that the firm was established in 1820, and that they were manufacturers of 'all kinds of weighing apparatus, brass and iron weights', etc. Several types of brass trade weights are illustrated in the catalogue, but the name Rogers has been seen only on iron weights and brass apothecaries weights [AW 70]. Peter Rogers, scalemaker etc. at 45 Digbeth [1852 Slater]. Peter Rogers & Co. at 105 Digbeth [1875 Kelly], 48 Green Street (1899-1912).

Sabberton [i]
Sabberton, Norwich
Seen on a 56lb bar weight. 

Salter [i]
Salter (with trademark knot)
This firm was founded in the 18th century. Throughout the 19th century they made spring balances at their works in West Bromwich (the works football team became West Bromwich Albion.) [See Bache]. Their main line was spring balances, for which, of course, no weights were required. In 1885 the firm bought the business of William Bullock, where weights were being produced, and they continued to make weights for several years thereafter, including some with a 'scalloped' edge [AW 71]. By the middle of the 20th century the firm was importing iron weights from India. These were sold in a box labelled 'Salter Weights Set' with the name and address given as Salter Housewares Limited, 211 Vale Road, Tonbridge, Kent. The weights themselves do not bear the firm's name. Salter are still in existence, as part of Avery Weigh-Tronix, whose web site is http://www.averyweigh-tronix.com/

Sangster [b]
R.Sangster
R.Sangster Southampton
R.Sangster Landport
J. Sangster, a member of an old London scalemaking family. Recorded in Portsea in 1830 [Pigot]. His son R.Sangster is recorded as working 1845-89. The name has been seen stamped on weights with both pre- and post uniform (447) Portsmouth verification marks, and on a brass bell-weight with founders marks.

Sheldon [i]
E. Sheldon & Co.
E.S. & Co.
Edward Sheldon set up an ironfoundry at Coseley in 1826, later known as Cannon Foundry. Apparently, the name Sheldon was used only on iron weights made from c.1870 onwards, a distinctive edge-decoration [AW 59].
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Shenston [b]
Shenstons Improved 395 Strand
Seen on a knobbed weight which looks like it may have come from a postal scale. There was a James Shenston recorded as a scale-maker 1834-1846, but the weight looks more recent than that.

Shepherd [b]
Shepherd, Bath
Seen on a 2oz brass weight with ER38 (Bath) verification mark. 

Sherwood Foundry [i]
Sherwood Foundry
Seen on iron bar weights. Possibly the Sherwood Foundry in Mansfield, thought to be operating from 1759. The foundry may still be open, run by James Maude & Co. Ltd (established c1753).

Shuttleworth [b]
J.P. Shuttleworth & Son, Dundee
Joseph Percival Shuttleworth was born in 1864 in the Birmingham area, where he worked for his father in the scale trade. In 1891 he moved to Dundee, where he set up in business as a scale maker, first at 21 North Tay Street and later at 9 North Lindsay Street. A few years later he married Christina Nicholl, daughter of the local inspector of weights and measures. The family firm continued to flourish into the middle of the twentieth century, and was sold to Averys c1965.

Siddaway [i]
E. Siddaway, West Bromwich
E. Siddaway was at the Victoria Foundry, George Street, West Bromwich, c1878.
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Siddons [b,i]
J&J. Siddons, West Bromwich
J&J. S
Siddons W.B.
Siddons
A firm of ironfounders, established c1818 by Luke and Jesse Siddons at the Hill Top Foundry, West Bromwich. The firm was later known as Joseph and Jesse Siddons. The name is found on iron weights with copper plugs, of the 'usual' style, c1850-90. Other versions of the name are seen on both iron and brass weights from the 20th century. In the 1950s the firm supplied the GPO (General Post Office) with brass weights for postal scales. For the later history of the firm see [Church, p232].
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Silk [i]
Silk & Co. Great Bridge
Edward Silk & Co. were at the Globe Iron Foundry, Great Bridge, near West Bromwich, c1872. The form of Silk & Co.(no mention of Great Bridge) seen on iron weights with pre-1890 copper plugs.
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Slater [i]
Slater Iron Foundry, Tipton
Nothing else known.
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Smirk [b]
T. M. Smirk, Newcastle
Thomas Moffitt Smirk was listed as a grocer in 1870, at 9 Richmond St. in Newcastle, and subsequently at 11 Gibson St. and 13 Gibson St. The last listing traced was in 1927, as a Grocer, Outfitter, scalemaker and shop & office furnisher. His obituary is in the Newcastle Daily Journal 8 Jan. 1925.
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Smith [b]
Smith & Co., London
William Smith & Co., London
Wm Smith & Co., Borough, S.E.
W. Smith, Borough.
William Smith was a London scalemaker, working c 1802-47. The name (William) Smith & Co., London appears on weights with pre-1865 verification marks. The address is given as 'Borough' (a street in South East London) from c.1870 onwards. By 1905 the firm seems to have been merged with Gilbert & Co, and Doyle & Sons. A coin-scale label of c.1830 describes Smith & Co. as scuccessors to Dutton and Smith. The address was 238 High Street, Borough.

Stanley [s]
H.M. Stanley
H.M. Stanley (S&W) Ltd.
Makers of weights and scales, mainly for bankers and the bullion trade. At 28 Ramsden Road, London SW, in the early years of the 20th century. At 2 Albemarle Way, London EC1, in 1945, where they remained until the firm was dissolved in 1972. The name was H.M. Stanley (S&W) Ltd until September 1970, when it was changed to Stanley Weights. 

Stirling [b]
Alex Stirling, 2 Baines Street Glasgow
Seen on a brass bell weight. Nothing else known.

Stevens [b]
Stevens & Son, London E.C.
Stevens, 33 Goswell Rd, E.C.
Charles Stevens and his son William were at 38 Goswell Road in 1881 [Census]. The name has been seen on weights with Middlesex verification marks from around this time.

Sutcliffe [i]
H. Sutcliffe & Co.
R. Sutcliffe
H. Sutcliffe & Co. were a firm of scalemakers with premises at 49 Thomas Street, Manchester. In 1913 the firm was taken over by John Nesbitt, the name being retained [EQM 1455]. Reuben Sutcliffe set up a seperate business, and his name has been seen on iron weights dating from c.1895. The Reuben Sutcliffe firm was bought by Berry & Warmington in 1927. See EQM 2681.
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Sylvester [postal weight]
Sylvester & Co, 27 Strand
This name appears, apparently as the maker, on 'The Post Office Letter Weight', a design registered in 1839 for H. Hooper [AW 62]. 

Swain [i]
Swain
Matthew Swain, of The Railway Foundry, Manchester. A firm working mainly in the cast-iron hollow-ware trade, still in existence in 1957. Their address is given as Newton Heath, Manchester, in 1955, when they were still advertising lasts and sadirons. See also [EQM 585]. 

Thompson [b]
W. Thompson & Son, Swansea
Seen on a 2oz brass weight with GR287 (Swansea) and (19)22 marks. 

Thorns [i]
R E & F Thorns, Norwich
In Post Office Street, Norwich in 1883 [Eyre]. Seen on a 28lb bar weight.

Todd [b]
Todd Cambridge
Founded 1931. At 118 East Street Cambridge in 1955 and 1967. In 2000 at Studlands Park Industrial Estate, Newmarket.

Todner [i]
J. Todner Leeds
Seen on a 2lb iron weight with Leeds verification marks. Possible James Todner (b.1845), furniture broker and shopfitter [1881, 1901 Census].

Tongue [c]
J. Tongue
Tongue was at 24 Summer Row, Birmingham in 1835. The name is known only on some very rare sovereign weights [W2277a,b].

Turner [i]
Turner, Reading
R Turner Maker Windsor
Robert Turner founded a scale making business in Reading c1870. In 1881 he was at 49A Friar Street, where he had three apprentices, including his son, also called Robert. An 8oz brass weight with the name TURNER READING and Victorian and Edwardian verification marks is illustrated in [AW 75]. Robert Turner senior died in 1903, after which the business in Reading was carried on by his widow until about 1911. The son moved to Windsor around 1883 and set up his own business at 52 Peascod Street. His name on occurs on weights with VR 291 (Windsor) verification mark. The Windsor business closed down around 1934.

Union Mill [i]
Union Mill Beverley 
This name appears on the side of cast-iron ring weights, with a representation of a five-sailed windmill on another side. Some of them also have the date 1797, but this is almost certainly not the date of manufacture. The Union Mills were established around that time, to combat the power of the capitalist mill-owners [EQM 1116- 1120]. 

Vandome [b,s]
R. Vandome,London
Vandome Titfords' & Pawson, London
Vandome's, Makers, London
Vandome and Hart Ltd
Vandome & Hart trace their beginnings to 1660, when Samuel Freeman, a blacksmith and scalemaker, operating from 117 Leadenhall Street, supplied scales to the Bank of England. This business was taken over by William New around 1780. Richard Vandome (of a French Huguenot family) served his apprenticeship with New, subsequently taking over the firm. He was made free in 1781. Shortly afterwards he acquired the long-established business of S. Read, and the firm became known as R.Vandome. There were many subsequent changes of name. Vandome's nephew William Titford suceeded him. The firm merged with that of Hart in 1930, and was eventually taken over by Herbert and Sons in 1995. 

Victoria Foundry [i]
Victoria Foundry, Tipton
Seen on a flat-circular iron weight of Victorian appearance.
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W & S [b]
W & S
Seen on a 4oz weight with Leicester (VR110) verification marks. Possibly a precursor of Whitehead and Honey.

Wadsley [i]
Wadsley, Corporation of Huntingdon
Seen on a 4lb bar weight (with unmarked copper plug).
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Walker [i]
S. Walker & Co.
This was one of the first iron and steel firms established in the Sheffield area, c1741 by Samuel, Aaron and Jonathan Walker. The name appears on flat-circular iron weights with copper plugs, from the 1850-90 period.
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Warmisham [b]
Warmisham, London
Warmisham, 18 Norton Folgate, Bishopsgate, London
Samuel Warmisham, working 1849-1895, was a member of an old London firm. The name is fairly common on weights with Edwardian, and later 20th century marks. 

Waters
J Waters, Maker, Bordesley St. Birmingham
Seen on Victorian brass weights of the 'convex' type.
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Webb [b]
Webb & Co., London
R.W. Webb was at 10 High Street, Marylebone, c1820. In 1869 the Standards Commission interviewed a representative of the London firm of Webb & Skinner, 115, Union St, Borough, who made both brass and iron weights [Third Report, p19]. The name Webb & Co is stamped on brass weights with marks from the period 1865- 79. Unfortunately the relationship between RW Webb, Webb & Skinner, and Webb & Co. is not yet clear. 

Wedderburn [b,i]
Wedderburn, Maker, Southampton
The Wedderburns were a large family of scalemakers, based in London for most of the 19th century. Towards the end of the century, a branch of the family moved to Southampton. Jabez Wedderburn was born about 1797, and was trained as a scale maker in London, under William Lewis Nicholl. He founded a business that grew rapidly, particularly under his son, Jabez II (1827-1882). In 1881 there were several branches in London. After the death of Jabez II, his widow Harriet took over for a short period, followed by her son Frederick William Wedderburn. At about the same time another son George Arthur Wedderburn moved to Southampton and bought up the business of Henry Wood. (This was probably the same Wood who had sold his London business to Herberts in 1867.) The firm of G.A. Wedderburn was at 54 Bernard Street until 1940 when the factory was destroyed by bombs. The firm moved to new premises and is still going strong. See their website www.wedderburn.co.uk, and very interesting site about the family, perso.wanadoo.fr/euroleader/wedderburn
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West [b,i]
W.H. West, Norwich
W.H. West, 41 Elm Hill
W.H. West, Exchange St., Norwich
In 1883 William Henry West took over the scalemaking business of William and Martha Stanley, at Pettus House, 41 Elm Hill, Norwich. After his death (c1923), his son E.H. West took over, and the firm moved to 41, Exchange Street. Later the business was bought by Bentall of Maldon, Essex. In 1962 it was sold to Avery and closed down. The name appears on weights covering almost the entire period of the firm's existence [AW 75].
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Weylux [i, zinc alloy weights]
Weylux
This is a trade name of H. Fereday & Sons Ltd, a family firm established c1850, and still making weights. They expect to continue making Imperial weights for the next five years. Their website is at www.hfereday.com. In addition to iron weights, the name also appears on zinc alloy weights with metric denominations. They use the trademarks WEYLUX and CATERLUX.
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White [i]
J.W.&S
John White & Sons, Auchtermuty, Scotland. 

H White [b]
H White Devonport
Seen on a brass weight with cancelled verification mark.

Whitehead & Honey [b,i]
Whitehead & Honey, Leicester
Seen on brass and iron weights from the Edwardian period, and later.
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Whitehouse [i,b]
J. & J. Whitehouse, Tipton
Whitehouse, Tipton
J &J W, Tipton
Whitehouse
Jabez and John Whitehouse, Phoenix Foundry, Castle Street, Tipton. The name is seen on iron weights with pre-1878 verification marks, including some with edge- decoration like that used by the Crane Foundry. The name is also frequently seen on 20th century weights, including some brass ones of 2oz and below. 

L Whitehouse [b]
L. Whitehouse, Nottingham
Seen on a 1 oz weight last verified in 1957. At this point it is not clear if there is any connection with J & J Whitehouse above.

Whitfield [i]
T & H. Whitfield
Edward Whitfield & Sons advertised in Wrightson's Birmingham Directory for 1818 that they made 'scales, scale-beams, steelyards', as well as 'English and foreign weights of every description in brass and iron'. Their address was in Church Street. Edward Whitfield & Sons, 16 Church Street [1835 Pigot]. Samuel Whitfield (brazier and scale beam maker) of this address was granted a patent in 1809, as was William Whitfield in 1812 and 1814. Thomas D. Whitfield, weightmaker, at 15 Church Street [1847, 52 Slater]. Thomas Whitfield is also recorded at 23 Summer Row. The name T. & H. Whitfield has been seen on cast-iron weights of the usual 1850-90 style.

Wignall & Deeley [i]
Wignall Deeley & Co.
See Deeley & Wignall.
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Wilcock [b]
W. Wilcock & Sons, Preston
Seen on 2oz brass weight, dated (19)36, and others. William Wilcock started out as a furniture broker in 1858, then combined this trade with that of ironmonger and hardware dealer for a few years. By 1882 the firm is described as "auctioneers & valuers, ironmongers and scale manufacturers". They operated at various addresses in Lancaster Road - 28 and 29 in the 19th century, 97-99 in the 20th. They were listed in the Preston trade directory as "scale makers" in 1966, but were absent in the 1968 edition.

Wilder [i]
J Wilder, Reading
Seen on a 4lb bar weight - nothing else known.
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Williams [b,s]
Williams, London
Williams & Sons, 27 Cannon St., City, London
Thomas Williams and his descendants were at 71 Cannon Street from 1783 onwards, and during the 19th century the firm had several other premises. The name is seen on trade weights [AW 35] and multiple sovereign weights, dating from almost the entire Victorian period. The address at 27 Cannon St is on a 100 sovereign weight, c1900. The firm was taken over by Vandome, c1910. 

Wilson [i]
Wilson & Co.
This name appears on 4lb cast iron block weight [AW 49], with a pre-1878 Leicester mark. 

Winfield [b, c]
R.W.Winfield
Founded in 1829, at Cambridge Street, Birmingham. They specialised in decorative brass objects, particularly brass bedsteads. Weights known to bear their name are rare coin-weights dated 1842 [W2280a, b; W2281b], and brass (cased) bell-weights bearing the 'R W W & Co' legend. The cased weights are iron (rather than the usual lead) cased with brass, a process patented c.1865.

Winsbury [b]
J. Winsbury, Maker
John Winsbury of London took over the scalemaking business of Robert Bassingham in 1843. The name has been seen on a brass weight with pre-1878 Middlesex and Essex marks. After 1888 the firm was known as J. Winsbury & Son. 

Young [b]
Youngs
Young & Marlow
Young Son & Marlow, Makers, Kew Bridge, London
An old London firm, known (1811-1901) as Young & Son, and originally based at 5 Bear Street, Leicester Square, London. Known as Young Son & Marlow 1902-1972.
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