John Lilley and Son
of 10 London Street, Fenchurch Street, London (1873), nautical instrument, magnetic compass, sextant and telescope manufacturer
of The New Quay, North Shields. Telephone: 6. Cables: "Gillie, North Shields". Also of London (1929). Maker of nautical compasses and binnacles.
1812 John Lilley, a 24 year old optician, went into business.
Later his son, John Lilley junior, joined the business
Appointed by the Navy and the East India Co. - known to have sold magnetic compasses.
1846-1865 - Traded at 7 Jamaica Terrace, Limehouse, London.
1859 John Lilley senior died
John Lilley junior took out two patents during the 1850s and 1860s relating to improvements to compasses.
1865 the company moved to the London Street address.
1873 John junior's son, George Charles Lilley of 10 London Street, patented " improvements in cocks or taps." .
1881 John Lilley Junior died, leaving the business to his son George Charles Lilley and the firm is documented as being involved in chronometer trials at the turn of the century.
1870-1885: Traded at 9 London St, London EC.
1890-1901: Traded at 10 London St, London EC.
1911 George Lilley went into partnership with John Wilson Gillie; the new company was also called John Lilley & Son Limited
1913 The firm amalgamated with Wilson and Gillie
1929 Advert as Compass and Binnacle Maker. Sounding Machines, Nautical Instruments and Chronometers. Standard and Steering Compasses, Semaphores, Liquid Compasses for Trawlers and Lifeboats, etc., Morse Lamps, Q.E.D. Pelorus**, Ships Logs, Chart Appliances, Clock Cases, Pendulums, Sounding Machines, Depth Recorders. (Scientific Section - Stand No. O.38) [1]
1930s John Wilson Gillie arranged a merger of Reynolds and Son with his firm, John Lilley and Son[2], as Lilley and Reynolds.
1937 Instrument manufacturers. "Gillie's" Portable Tapper for Morsing. [3]
1943 Became John Lilley and Gillie
See Also
- Much more detail is given in a Wikipedia article but without any supporting references: [2]; similar information is given on [3]
- [4] Science Museum
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1929 British Industries Fair Advert 122 and p103
- ↑ [1] Australian Victorian Collection
- ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries