Harris and Sheldon
of Stafford Street, Birmingham (1908), Shop Fitters and Manufacturers of Shop Fittings
1880 Established in 1880 by Sydney Harris
A few years later John Eccleston Sheldon joined the company.
1900 The company was registered on 17 May, to acquire the business of shop-front builders, etc of a firm of the same name. [1]
At some point, formed Sankey-Sheldon Ltd, of Cannon Street, London, EC4, as joint venture with Joseph Sankey and Sons, of Hadley Castle Works, Wellington, Salop, which was operated by Harris and Sheldon.
1923 Sankey-Sheldon fire-proof cabinets and other steel furniture were advertised jointly by Harris and Sheldon of 46 Cannon St, London, and Joseph Sankey and Sons of Hadley Castle Works of Wellington, Salop[2]
1929 Advert for Sankey-Sheldon British Steel Furniture. Manufacturers of Metal Office Furniture, viz., Filing Cabinets and Supplies, Cupboards, Clothes Lockers, Adjustable Shelving, Storage Bins, Desks and Tables, Plan Cabinets, Card Index Cabinets, Strong-room Equipment, Stools, Waste Baskets, etc. (Stationery Section - Stand Nos R.7 and R.153) [3]
WWII Made major components for most of the operational aircraft, contributed to major development work on radar, as well as making ammunition boxes and stirrup pumps[4]
c.1948 Began expansion programme, seeking diversification within reasonable limits
1962 Harris and Sheldon Holdings, shop fitting specialists, acquired J B Brooks Industries[5]
1963 The subsidiary companies could be arranged into 3 groups[6]:
- A: English Rose Kitchens, Evans Lifts of Leicester, Evertaut of Darwen, various Harris and Sheldon shop, hotel and office display and lighting fittings, Kent McClain of Canada, Pytram of West Molesey.
- B: Joseph Billingham of Cradley Heath, Castle Products of Worcester, Desmo of Brierley Hill, M. D. M. of Smethwick
- C: Antler of Bury, Brexton of Birmingham, Foxcroft Luggage of Bury and Littleborough.
c.1972 Acquired Jet Filters[7]
1988 Sold Evertaut, third largest maker of office and commercial seating, and A. S. Toone, maker of plastic and wood panels, to Wassall[8]