2004/3

John Fowler & Co. (Leeds) Ltd.,

Bronze nameplate. Etched 'John Fowler & Co., (Leeds) Ltd'. On the other side it is etched 'G. D. Walford & Partners, Chartered Surveyors'.
This is a rectangular bronze nameplate. It is etched on one side with the words 'John Fowler & Co., (Leeds) Ltd' and filled in, possibly with enamel. On the other side it is etched and filled 'G. D. Walford & Partners, Chartered Surveyors'. There is a hole in each corner for affixing it to a wall. It was put up in St. James Street, Westminster in the late 1940s for G. D. Walford & Partners, and was presumably used by John Fowler & Co. before that.

1 nameplate: bronze; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'NAMEPLATE // Description // 1 Nameplate // Rectangular, bronze nameplate. // 'John Fowler & Co., (Leeds) Ltd' etched on one side and filled in with [enamel?]. On other side: 'G. D. Walford & Partners, Chartered Surveyorsso etched in and filled with [enamel?]. Hole in each corner for affixing to wall. // Dimensions // 46 x 31cm (width x height) // Associated information // See attached sheet.', Email, Barry Woodman to Roy Bridgen, 22 December 2003 - 'The only history I know about the nameplate is that I believe it was put up in St. James' Street, London S.W.1 in the late 1940s, when G.D. Walford & Partners, Chartered Surveyors, moved to offices there. There it remained until, in about 1990 the firm, of which I was then a Partner, decided to change its name to "Walfords". I asked for the plate to be saved as an item of minor historical interest to the firm, but was surprised to find that the plate had been used previously by John Fowler & Co. Ltd. Presumably recycling of metal was an attractive option so soon after the Second World War and, as something of a traction engine enthusiast, I found this even more interesting. Whether Fowler's had an office in London, or where this plate may have been displayed in its former life I do not know - and history does not record if Walfords thought they were getting (and paying for) and brand new plate! What I do know for certain is that for the last 12 years or so it has been languishing in my garage, so if you feel that it is an object you wish to keep with the archive you are welcome to have it.'

1940

Walford & Partners, Ltd, Chartered Surveyors (Corporate Body)
Fowler (Corporate Body)