Thomas Russell and the first English watch industry

The Thomas Russell name is synonymous with the Lancashire watch industry and is an icon to watch purists and enthusiasts the world over. But how he became a watchmaker and why Lancashire played such an important role in the watch industry is a fascinating story.

In the 17th century, farmers and farm workers who needed to supplement their income during the winter months were engaged in much of the work of watchmaking. In and around Lancashire this was particularly important and the proximity of metalworking, the availability of fine metal tools and the port of Liverpool aided the growth of the industry. In the 18th century, watch parts were outsourced to small farms and country houses throughout the region.

Another factor in the growth of this cottage industry was the significantly lower overheads enjoyed by farmers as part-time workers in their own homes. Elsewhere, wages were the largest contributor to the total cost of watchmaking with the cost of raw materials, aside from the gold and silver used to make expensive, relatively small cases.

One commenter notes that, “From Prescott to Liverpool, eight miles as the crow flies, the countryside was dotted with cabins from spring makers, wheel cutters, chain makers, box makers, dial makers, all the specialties that were used. in the making of a watch. “At the end of the 18th century, this system produced between 150,000 and 200,000 watches a year, meeting the national need for accurate timekeeping as the industrial revolution took hold of it.

Lancashire’s outsourcing system allowed the production of watch movements at such low prices that, by the late 18th century, Lancashire manufacturers supplied most of the large watch firms in London, Coventry and Liverpool. All these companies needed to do was make or purchase their own case and dial, and then assemble the watch.

Thomas Russell joined this hive of activity in 1848 when he moved his watchmaking business to Slater Street in Liverpool. The city was an important seaport and the manufacture of watches and chronometers for ships became an important source of income for the business.

Thomas Russell’s father, also called Thomas Russell (1780-1830), the founder of this watchmaking dynasty, was born in Eskdale, a small town in Cumberland. He served his time in watchmaking at New St. Broughton-in-Furness Lancashire under William Bellman, then served his time as an officer with William Wakefield at Market St Lancaster, where he later started a business of his own just down the road.

She had two children; one named Thomas married Mary in 1831. They also had two sons, Thomas Robert (1833-1894) born in Lancaster and Alfred Holgate Russell (1840-1893). In about 1840, the family moved to Halifax and established a watch business on Lord St. It was here that Alfred was born.

By 1848 the family had moved once more and records show that Thomas Russell was a watchmaker with facilities at 20 or 22 Slater Street, Liverpool and later at 32 Slater Street. It was here that Thomas Russell became arguably Liverpool’s finest watchmaker and the company produced quality watches, including the celebrated Russell Hunter pocket watch. Thomas Senior and his eldest son, Thomas Robert, received a royal authorization from Queen Victoria indicating their rapid progress in watchmaking.

Around 1859, Thomas handed control of the business to his sons Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate and the company changed its name to Thomas Russell & Son. After the death of Thomas Russell in 1867, the business split in two; the business side continued under the same name and was led by Alfred and Thomas ran Russells Limited. The retail business became an importer of Swiss watches and music boxes.

By 1877, the company had relocated the business once again, this time to Cathedral Works, 12 Church Street, Liverpool, with additional offices on Piccadilly in London and Toronto, Canada. It was now known as the Russell Watch and Chronometer Factory and in 1880 was listed as “Keyless Clock and Chronometer Manufacturers and Jewelry and Lever Traders” and further “by appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and HRM the Duke. Edinburgh and the Admiralty “.

After the death of Queen Victoria, Thomas Russell still signed his watches “Creators of Queen Victoria” even though the order had officially ceased with the death of the queen. This was tolerated for a time before removing it from their watches.

Following the death of Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate, Alfred’s son Bernard Holgate Russell and his cousin Thos Townsend Russell took over the company and the company name was changed in 1894 to Russells Limited. From this date it appears that they continued as retail jewelers with several branches in Liverpool and, in the early 20th century, also in Manchester and Llandudno.

Bernard married and had a son, Thomas Graham (1906-1999). In 1915, Bernard and Thos Townsend Russell invited Joseph Wright to become a fellow director of Thos Russell & Son. Joseph had extensive business knowledge, traveled extensively and had business contacts in Switzerland and work experience with the famous American Illinois Watch Case Co.

All the sons of these directors appeared to have worked and run the business in later years. During World War II, Joseph Wright kept the company going despite a shortage of materials and men during the war until the sons returned from the war. In around 1994, both the Liverpool Russells Ltd retail business and the workshops and offices at 12 Church Street closed their doors for the last time.