Difference between revisions of "James Hinks"
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James Hinks ( | James Hinks (1816-1905) the founder of [[James Hinks and Son]] | ||
1816 Born in Caldicote, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, Woolcomber, and his wife Maria Lester. Brother to [[John Hinks]] | 1816 Born in Caldicote, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, Woolcomber, and his wife Maria Lester. Brother to [[John Hinks]] | ||
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1905 Obituary. 'Mr. James Hinks, founder of the firm of James Hinks and Sons, lamp manufacturers, Birmingham, died at his residence, Edgbaston. Birmingham, on Thursday, in his 90th year. The deceased gentleman was the pioneer of the lamp trade. In 1838 he patented the first lamp for burning petroleum oil, and continually improved the invention, eventually introducing the patent duplex burner. As result of extensive travels he brought out a punka lamp, which is in use almost every habitation in India. The concern was converted into a limited liability company in 1872.'<ref>Sheffield Independent - Saturday 23 December 1905</ref> | 1905 Obituary. 'Mr. James Hinks, founder of the firm of James Hinks and Sons, lamp manufacturers, Birmingham, died at his residence, Edgbaston. Birmingham, on Thursday, in his 90th year. The deceased gentleman was the pioneer of the lamp trade. In 1838 he patented the first lamp for burning petroleum oil, and continually improved the invention, eventually introducing the patent duplex burner. As result of extensive travels he brought out a punka lamp, which is in use almost every habitation in India. The concern was converted into a limited liability company in 1872.'<ref>Sheffield Independent - Saturday 23 December 1905</ref> | ||
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'''Biographical Notes.<ref>20200605 LB</ref> | |||
James Hinks was lamp manufacturer and the founder of the company, James Hinks & Son. He was born in about 1816 in Atherstone, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, a wool comber. James was also the younger brother of John Hinks who was a very well-known and successful Steel Pen manufacturer, also buried in Key Hill. | |||
James left home when he was 16 and he tried his hand at a range of occupations, including wood turning and japanning, pub landlord, brush making, die sinking, medal making and cotton reel manufacture before turning his mind to perfecting the design of oil lamps. By 1858 James was in business manufacturing lamps from the Crystal Lamp Works on the corner of Great Hampton Street and Hockley Street. The great selling point of their lamps was that they didn’t need frequent trimming or give off nasty smoke or smells. In 1864 they developed the “Patent Duplex Lamp”, which used two wicks instead of the usual one, and gave out twice the light. Hinks lamps were state-of-the-art until the early 20th century when electric lighting became the norm. | |||
The firm had bases in London and Birmingham. Important customers included railway companies, which used oil lamps to light stations, trains and signals. With an eye to the domestic market, Hinks’ lamps were also decorative and borrowing from the designs of beautiful European china and porcelain table decorations their lamps were also a byword for domestic beauty, so much so that there is still a flourishing market for antique Hinks’ Lamps. They also developed specialist lamps and hurricane lanterns for India which was one of their most lucrative markets. | |||
James married Elizabeth Benton (1816-96) in Birmingham in 1839; they had six children but sadly Rosa Maria (1844-45), Alice (1853-55) and James (1856-57) died in infancy and are buried with their parents in Key Hill; they had two surviving daughters and a son, Joseph. James retired in 1898 at the age of 83 and handed over the reins to Joseph. | |||
James had interests outside of business. For a time he was president of Aston Villa Football Club and he regularly attended matches at the old ground at Perry Barr. One member’s meeting he chaired was abandoned when after it was proposed to increase subscriptions it became too disorderly to continue– some called it a riot; others say it was drunk and disorderly! James enjoyed hunting until he got to old and then he got himself a kennel of greyhounds and was a very well known ‘courser’ (someone who races greyhounds); some of his dogs were very well known in their time. | |||
James died in Edgbaston, aged 90, on 21 December 1905 and was buried in Key Hill. When he died his estate valued at over £80k [about £8m in today’s money] and his Will made generous bequests to local hospitals, charities and his servants (as well as his family). | |||
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== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
Latest revision as of 10:42, 6 June 2020
James Hinks (1816-1905) the founder of James Hinks and Son
1816 Born in Caldicote, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, Woolcomber, and his wife Maria Lester. Brother to John Hinks
1839 Married in Birmingham to Elizabeth Benton
1861 Living at (?), Handsworth: James Hinks (age 48 born Caldicote, Warks), Lamp Manufacturer employing 120 hands. With his wife Elizabeth Hinks (age 44 born Birmingham) and their three children; Joseph Hinks (age 20 born Birmingham); Rosa J. Hinks (age 13 born Birmingham); and Clara E. Hinks (age 1 born Hornchurch, Staffs.) Two servants.[1]
1905 December 21st. Died, of Cedars, Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston. Probate to Joseph Hinks and others.
1905 Obituary. 'Mr. James Hinks, founder of the firm of James Hinks and Sons, lamp manufacturers, Birmingham, died at his residence, Edgbaston. Birmingham, on Thursday, in his 90th year. The deceased gentleman was the pioneer of the lamp trade. In 1838 he patented the first lamp for burning petroleum oil, and continually improved the invention, eventually introducing the patent duplex burner. As result of extensive travels he brought out a punka lamp, which is in use almost every habitation in India. The concern was converted into a limited liability company in 1872.'[2]
Biographical Notes.[3]
James Hinks was lamp manufacturer and the founder of the company, James Hinks & Son. He was born in about 1816 in Atherstone, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, a wool comber. James was also the younger brother of John Hinks who was a very well-known and successful Steel Pen manufacturer, also buried in Key Hill.
James left home when he was 16 and he tried his hand at a range of occupations, including wood turning and japanning, pub landlord, brush making, die sinking, medal making and cotton reel manufacture before turning his mind to perfecting the design of oil lamps. By 1858 James was in business manufacturing lamps from the Crystal Lamp Works on the corner of Great Hampton Street and Hockley Street. The great selling point of their lamps was that they didn’t need frequent trimming or give off nasty smoke or smells. In 1864 they developed the “Patent Duplex Lamp”, which used two wicks instead of the usual one, and gave out twice the light. Hinks lamps were state-of-the-art until the early 20th century when electric lighting became the norm.
The firm had bases in London and Birmingham. Important customers included railway companies, which used oil lamps to light stations, trains and signals. With an eye to the domestic market, Hinks’ lamps were also decorative and borrowing from the designs of beautiful European china and porcelain table decorations their lamps were also a byword for domestic beauty, so much so that there is still a flourishing market for antique Hinks’ Lamps. They also developed specialist lamps and hurricane lanterns for India which was one of their most lucrative markets.
James married Elizabeth Benton (1816-96) in Birmingham in 1839; they had six children but sadly Rosa Maria (1844-45), Alice (1853-55) and James (1856-57) died in infancy and are buried with their parents in Key Hill; they had two surviving daughters and a son, Joseph. James retired in 1898 at the age of 83 and handed over the reins to Joseph.
James had interests outside of business. For a time he was president of Aston Villa Football Club and he regularly attended matches at the old ground at Perry Barr. One member’s meeting he chaired was abandoned when after it was proposed to increase subscriptions it became too disorderly to continue– some called it a riot; others say it was drunk and disorderly! James enjoyed hunting until he got to old and then he got himself a kennel of greyhounds and was a very well known ‘courser’ (someone who races greyhounds); some of his dogs were very well known in their time.
James died in Edgbaston, aged 90, on 21 December 1905 and was buried in Key Hill. When he died his estate valued at over £80k [about £8m in today’s money] and his Will made generous bequests to local hospitals, charities and his servants (as well as his family).