The advert (above) which accompanied this entry refers to gun locks, gun springs, iron, steel and brass case locks; and gives the trade name "Resilience", which presumably came from the Resilience Lock company. 

THOMAS SKIDMORE, STAFFORDSHIRE SAFE WORKS, STEWART STREET, WOLVERHAMPTON

The company continued to make safes up until the 1920s when it was decided that the new equipment needed to make bent steel safes was not worth investing in.

Thereafter the company continued to do repairs and other work on their safes and to sell safes, with their name on them, but they were all made by other firms:  firstly, S.Withers of West Bromwich, then Stephen Cox of Sedgley, then the Dudley Safe Co.

This continued until about 1990 when all work ceased.

An advert from 1902.

(Thanks to the late Dick Rhodes, sometime partner in the Wolverhampton firm of Skidmore, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, which was established by the same Skidmore family).
 

Key maker.  Not in existence in 1921 or 1970.  Existing in 1953.  

Thomas Smith started the business in the Lichfield Road, New Invention, in the houses by the Post Office.  

Thomas' children were Abraham and Thomas, who joined him in the business;   Peter, Leonard, Dora  and Florence.  Peter was a locksmith who became the manager of Bloxwich Lock and Stamping Co.. He married Lavinia Smith (nee Whitehouse).  They had seven children of whom two, Reginald and Peter, worked at Bloxwich Lock and Stamping. 

Abraham Thomas married Caroline.  Their children were William, Percy [Ivy and Leonard’s father], Thomas, Leonard, Dora, Irene and Carry.  Ivy remembers that Caroline used to polish the keys on the kitchen table with a oily rage and then wrap them in brown paper. 

Abraham eventually took the business over when his father died.  He later moved to 72 Essington Road and built a wooden workshop behind the house.  This was next door to his sister Dora, whose husband, Mr Cook, ran a shop. They were the parents of Bill Cook.

Thomas, who continued the business after his father died in 1941, joined Abraham.  Thomas continued with the business for some years, while his wife, May, ran a drapery shop by the Gate Inn.  During the war May use to deliver keys on her bike to Bloxwich Lock and Stamping. 

(Information from Ivy Ridgway 12/5/2000;  and from Paul K Smith, the grandson of Peter Smith, 26/04/2003)

ARTHUR E. SMITH,  37 POWLETT STREET,  WOLVERHAMPTON

Established in 1860 as makers of safe, cabinet deed box, pad and rim locks.  They also made brass furniture and fittings for the metal box and safe trade.  Existing in 1921 and 1953.  Not in existence in 1970.  Nothing else known.

Key maker.  Not in existence in 1921 or 1970.  Existing in 1953.  Nothing else known.

James H Smith[2] founded his lock making firm in 1896 (Stubbs Directory 1970) at No 2 Merridale Street Wolverhampton, when he split from his father's cabinet lock making company of Jeremiah Smith[1] who had works in Sweetman Street, Wolverhampton.  The two firms continued for three quarters of a century making the same products in the same town and competing for the same customers.

By 1921 Jeremiah Smith and Sons Ltd are listed in Kelly’s Directory as being at No 9 Newbridge Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.  James had premises in Retreat Street.  Both Jeremiah[1] and James[2] were Methodist local preachers in the Wolverhampton area.  The business was taken over by James son[3].  By 1953 the company were at No 2 Merridale Street West, manufacturing cabinet and brass ships locks.  The business then passed into the hand of his son David[4].  In 1973, for sentimental reasons David purchased the goodwill of Jeremiah Smith and Sons Ltd from Ernest Smith[2], who by this time had virtually finished making locks.  In 1976 David merged his business with Thomas Benton and Co. Ltd to form Benton Smith (Locks) Ltd. (Information from David Smith)

Brass cabinet lock makers.  In 1880 (Kelly’s) Jeremiah Smith had an address in Sweetman Street, Wolverhampton.  By 1921(Kelly’s) he is listed as being 9 Newbridge Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.  There is a possibility that the works were always at Newbridge Street and that Jeremiah lived in Sweetman Street, where he may have had an office.  The firm specialised in the manufacture of brass cabinet locks, they made their own brass casings and by the 1890s were employing over 100 people.  In the 1920s the business was being run by Jeremiah William Jones (possibly Jeremiah Smith's son in law) and Fred and Ernest Smith, Jeremiah's sons.  They then employed about 30 people.  It remained in the family until 1973, when Ernest Smith, who by that time had virtually finished making locks, sold the goodwill of the business to David Smith of James H Smith .

A. V. J. (Tony) Whitehouse, a great grandson of Jeremiah William Jones, remembers the works in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 

Read the description of the works

Key maker. In existence in 1913 and 1953, but not 1970. Nothing else known.
 

SYDNEY SMITH, MOUNT PLEASANT PLACE, WILLENHALL

An advert from 1851.

(Was this Smith Wallis?)  Makers of heavy mortice locks.  Mrs Davis wrote to Maurice Hartland saying that her husband worked there and, when they were married in 1930, his wages were £3-7-6 per week.  The factory was very run down and often rats kept the locksmiths company. When it was closed the business was transferred to Marley Brothers and then sold to Tonks, who eventually amalgamated with William Newman to form Newman Tonks.

In 1940 there was a Charles Smith and Co at Franchise Street Birmingham 22. Was there any connection?

In 1940 Tonks (Birmingham) Ltd, making coin-feed locks, were at 201 Moseley Road, Birmingham 12.

In 2001 Smith Wallis were members of the Basta Parsons Group

In the early days, Alzo and Elroy’s mother Sarah, and their wives to be, Barbara and Olive, helped to wrap the locks and pack them into boxes on a Friday evening ready for Elroy to deliver to Willenhall on the back of his bike.  Elroy insisted on being paid in cash there and then, so that when he returned back to work he would be able to pay the waiting employees their wages.

During the Second World War A & E Squire worked for the Government making ammunition cases.  

The business was incorporated as a limited company in 1960.  They are still on the same site today as we were in 1927 and the original workshop at the rear of 1, Little Lane is still in use as part of the finishing department.  The house was demolished many years ago and they no longer have an entrance in Little Lane.

Throughout the years many of the Squire family have worked in the family business.  As well as the parents and wives of the founders already mentioned, their brother Lionel and sister Iris, children and grandchildren have all been employed at the company.

Elroy’s son Derek, and Alzo’s son Keith, joined the firm in 1951 & 1953 and now the firm is managed by the third successive generation of the family.  Alzo died in 1974 and Elroy died in 1980, leaving Derek and Keith to continue their good work.  In more recent times Derek’s children have sustained the tradition of joining the family business (Diane 1976, Martin 1977 and Craig 1986).  Unfortunately the Managing Director Derek died in 1996.  This left the following members of the family running the business: Martin Squire - Sales Director; Craig Squire - Financial Director; Keith Squire - Technical Director Diane Sims - Company Secretary.