G.E. WALTON & CO. LTD. Jeweller, Gold & Silversmith

The premises of partners George Edwin Walton senior & George Edwin Walton junior were located at the heart of the Birmingham jewellery quarter. The partnership was dissolved in 1870. Thereafter the firm was known as G.E. Walton & Co. By the late Victorian era the business was styled as a limited liability company (1886).  In 1887 his firm was described as one of the largest watch-key and gold & silver chainmakers in the world. At this time it employed as many as 300 highly skilled workers. The company manufactured patented goods for other businesses. For example Birch’s patent watchkeys and also other brands of watchkeys.

US PATENT 282605

BIRCH’S PATENT ADJUSTABLE POCKET WATCH KEY

The hallmarked sterling silver “Birch's Patent” Adjustable Pocket Watch Key shown above was crafted by the firm of G. E. Walton.

The key is inscribed “LICENSED TO BIRCH” on the pusher end and also 'BIRCH’S PATENT'. 

Watch keys are used to wind watches.

COLONIAL BUILDINGS 59-61 HATTON GARDEN LONDON

At the beginning of the Edwardian era the businesses were listed as manufacturing jewellers with premises located at 59-61 Hatton Garden, London and 52-54 Hylton Street, Birmingham.

22 ELY PLACE LONDON EC

By 1913 their London showrooms had been relocated to 22 Ely Place, Holborn Circus, London.

This area is one of London’s most prestigious locations. 

Today this building is sited in one of London’s few gated areas.

The wide range of wares crafted by this manufacturing concern included high quality gold jewellery. For example gold lockets, some of which were fitted with hair art. The company probably outsourced the hair art creations to specialist hair artists. 

Here is a list of some of these lines crafted by this maker:

Seamless stems (vases), gold & silver chains, eye-glass chains, clocks, collar studs, pearl jewellery, silver seals, compasses, gold and silver Albertina chains, scent bottles, decanters, salt & pepper pots, card cases, purses, brooches, pendants and tea sets.

This business also registered a number of patented designs.

These patents include scarf slides, tea infusers and improvements for brooches. 

Walton’s Patent Flexible Self-acting Scarf-slide is a capital article and easy to adjust -

a quality scarf rings seldom possess.

WALTON’S SCARF SLIDE SHOWN ACTIVATED

PATENT DRAWINGS FOR A TEA INFUSER

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