Britannnia Sewing Machine Company

of Magdalen Street, Colchester

Est. 1866 - 1880s

1811 William Dearn, a nail maker, used the site for business.

1827 Became St Botolph's Works.

1830s The Works was used as an iron foundry as well as for nail making.

1859 William Dearn died. His son, William Dearn Jr., continued to run the ironfounders with a small workforce until his own death in August 1866.

1860 Because of bankruptcy, the premises were sold over Dearn's head to Joseph Blomfield, a Colchester ironmonger who sold Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines. When the patent on these expired, he was approached by Thomas Mayhew Bear, an engineer and ironfounder from Sudbury, suggesting a partnership to make sewing machines.

 

1866

In 1866Thomas Mayhew Bear and Joseph Blomfield joint to form the Britannia Sewing Machine Company to produce sewing machines.

It was so successful that, when William Dearn junior died, Blomfield and Bear gave up their general foundry work and sold the stock, patterns and goodwill to Davey, Paxman and Davey who had recently set up in business.

 

1868

Joseph Blomfield - Patent GB 2.093 (June 30, 1868)

Improvements in stands or tables especially applicable for sewing machines

***

1868 - B. REYNOLDS & Co. LEEDS
1868 - B. REYNOLDS & Co. LEEDS
Leicester Mail - 05 December 1868
Leicester Mail - 05 December 1868

 

 

1869

1869 The London Gazette, Issue 23545, Page 5516
1869 The London Gazette, Issue 23545, Page 5516
Le Courrier du Commerce March 20, 1869
Le Courrier du Commerce March 20, 1869

 

1870

1870 Advrt
1870 Advrt

 

1871

In 1871 the Britannia Sewing Machine Company employed 105 people

 

1873

1873 advertisement
1873 advertisement

 

 

1874

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper - 06 December 1874
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper - 06 December 1874

 

 

1877

June 1877 - New No. 6 Hand Shuttle Machine
June 1877 - New No. 6 Hand Shuttle Machine

 

 

1878

1878 advertisement
1878 advertisement
1878 August , advertisement
1878 August , advertisement
1878 December , advertisement
1878 December , advertisement
1878 - " THE LITTLE BRITANNIA "
1878 - " THE LITTLE BRITANNIA "

 

 

1880's

Overwhelming competition from the Singer Sewing Machine Company of USA forced them to manufacture other products, mainly machine tools and oil engines.

An Ornamental Iron Table - October 1882
An Ornamental Iron Table - October 1882

 

1883

MARCH  1883
MARCH 1883

 

 

1884

INDIAN EXHIBITION  1884
INDIAN EXHIBITION 1884

 

 

1885

1885
1885

The above illustration is one of the powerful lathes manufactured by the Britannia Company, of Colchester, England. The lathes are exceedingly well finished with all the latest improvements and are suitable for almost any kind of work. They are much used for sewing machine repairs and also for the repair of any kind of machinery which is temporarily out of order. A special feature is the uses to which they can be adapted for almost any kind of work.

1885
1885
1885
1885

 

1888

1888  advertisement
1888 advertisement

 

1889

1889  advertisement
1889 advertisement
Engineering December 13, 1889
Engineering December 13, 1889

 

 

1891

1891
1891