| AdminHistory | As Tann's became among the leading manufacturers of locks and safes, generations of the family had been plying their trade from as far back as 1795. By 1814 Edward Tann senior, his son Edward and his son John were operating from premises in Hope Street London, Bethnal Green. An early account book provides details of customers, and products marketed by the company, between 1828-1840, including locks; iron doors and safes. The lock and chemical fire-resistant material were patented under the name Edward, Edward and John Tann. In 1845, the business was transferred to John Tann and the company bore this name for much of its history.
The Industrial Revolution, which began to evolve in the early 19th century, gave Tann's access to steam-driven technology. At this point, one of its principal customers was another lock maker, Wolverhampton-based Charles Chubb. Many of this company's enquiries about secure equipment and insulating materials were sourced through Tann's. During its heyday in the 19th century, Tann's zealously guarded the integrity of its product, including in the form of advertisements for 'patent lock and proof safes'. Its merchandise was clearly distinguishable from other brands by virtue of 'a plate infront marked 'J. Tann'*.
Following Edward junior's death in 1862, the company traded briefly as 'late E. Tann and Sons'. A similar company run by another son George, ceased trading in 1900, and sold the goodwill of the company to John Tann in 1917. By 1900, the main factory had located in St. Stephen's Road, Bow. After WW2, the company elected to become part of a larger engineering group, and by 1965 fell under the aegis of the Clayton Dewander group. Following this brief arrangement, John Tann was acquired by the Stratford Safe Company.
Tann's more recent showpieces include the London Silver Vaults and Chancery Lane Safe Deposit (built in 1953) and the doors to the Jewel House at the Tower of London. From the 1970s, the climate for the lock and safe manufacturing industries in Britain underwent structural changes. Consequently, Tann's began to lose its pre-eminence in the market. Its factories, which by then had relocated to the Home Counties, closed, and production moved to Sweden, from where Tann's models are produced by Rosengrens, now part of the Gunnebo Security Group.
Sources of information:
safemen.org.uk/edwtann
lockdowncollectors.eu
British Safe and Vault Trade Association
*East London Observer: 25th January, 1862 and 10th September, 1864 (Advertisements) |