I came across this clock key for sale on eBay apparently for a clock manufactured by "Wales & McCulloch". They seemed to be a London-based firm with a shop at 20 Ludgate Hill. I haven't yet managed to track down who this McCulloch was or where he came from so it's still an unsolved mystery! Any further information about Wales & McCulloch would be gratefully received. And yes.. I did buy the key :)
Edit: Aug 2021
Added a few other beautiful items found online, retailed by Wales & McCulloch:
Pair of antique silver caviar trays in original box retailed by Wales & McCulloch
A yellow metal Egyptian style brooch, with scarab beetle type insert in fitted case for Wales and McCulloch
A mahogany clock by Wales & McCulloch
Edit: June 2023
I found a photograph of their retail premises at Ludgate Hill, dated 3rd June 1906:
Looking east down Ludgate Hill towards St Paul's Cathedral. Wales & McCulloch's retail premises can be seen on the far left, next door to Kent Bros. Shirt Makers. This photograph is dated 3rd June 1906 which was a Sunday. All retailers would be closed as they were not permitted to be open on Sundays until 1994.
I also decided to see if I could find any advertising for Wales & McCulloch as I thought this would be interesting and perhaps provide some new clues.
The Times, 26th May 1915
First new clue - established in 1853.
The Times, 22nd May 1918
The Times, 8th Dec 1919
I wonder if a copy of their "Illustrated Xmas Catalogue" has survived to 2023!
The Times, 22nd Nov 1920
Nice advert showing the range of items they were retailing in 1920.
The Times, 18th Dec 1924
Change of premises and a possible downsizing?
Sources:
English Heritage Archives. (1906. June 3rd). Historypin. https://www.historypin.org/en/person/11736/explore/pin/73163
Wales & McCulloch. (1915, May 26). Times, 5. https://link-gale-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/doc/CS84214970/TTDA?u=nla&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=9ccc9c7bMultiple Display Advertisements. (1918, May 22). Times, 9. https://link-gale-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/doc/CS151194294/TTDA?u=nla&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=ec66385e
Multiple Display Advertisements. (1919, December 8). Times, 16. https://link-gale-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/doc/CS268635528/TTDA?u=nla&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=77dc528a
Wales & McCulloch Ltd. (1920, November 22). Times, 11. https://link-gale-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/doc/CS185143158/TTDA?u=nla&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=eb350a0f
Multiple Display Advertisements. (1924, December 18). Times, 7. https://link-gale-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/doc/CS117905298/TTDA?u=nla&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=be8be1b4
I found a reference to "Wales and McCulloch" in The Standard (London, UK) on Tuesday November 1, 1887.
ReplyDelete22-20 Ludgate Hill is the address listed.
I tried to post the clip but blogspot didn't like it. They were selling music boxes.
Ah that’s a shame it won’t attach. Thanks for finding that though :)
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