| AdminHistory | Thomas Blundell's name first appears in local directories in 1855, as a coppersmith, based in premises in West India Dock Road and carrying on the business of Jonathan Downton, inter alia, brass founder and water closet manufacturer. Downton can be traced via directories dating back to 1843. The firm was trading in the area until the 1920s. By 1870, the company had become Blundell Thomas & Sons (late Jonathan Downton) London Copper and Brass Works.
Like many local industrialists, Blundell aspired to political influence, including campaigning for election to the Limehouse District Board of the Metropolitan Board of Works. He promoted 'the business abilities by which I trust I have been characterised for the past 20 years ... not only as a large ratepayer, but as a large employer of labour... (and) of some service to my fellow ratepayers in the many public appointments I have held'.**
Thomas Blundell & Sons was dissolved in December 1874, from whence it plied its trade as Blundell Bros.*** The company continued to operate from West India Dock Road - close to the Strangers' Home and a Salvation Army hostel. Later the hostel was replaced by an engineering works, which was subsequently absorbed by Blundell's.
The early 20th century saw the company engage in further expansion, as brewers' engineers. In 1910, the company re-registered as Blundell's London Copper and Brass Works (1910) Limited, West India Dock Road, Limehouse. By the 1920s, Blundell Bros. had become partners with T. Albert Crompton & Co. Ltd., marine engineering specialists. By the 1930s, the company was trading as Blundell & Crompton, Marine, Mechanical and Brewers' Engineers. Later directories record that it traded from West India Dock Road until well into the 1960s. The company is listed in The Dictionary of Shipowners & Marine Engineers in 1971. It was advertising in trade journals into the 1970s, although by 1973, the branch works was based at Tilbury Docks.
Sources of information:
**'To The Members of The Board of Works for The Limehouse District ': p.4 in East London Observer, Saturday, 6th April, 1872 (British Newspaper Archive)
***p.177 in The London Gazette, 15th January, 1875, in londongazette.co.uk
'West India Dock Road: A Short History ' in islandhistory-wordpress.com
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| CustodialHistory | Two items were deposited by two different depositors but both were purchased at car boot sales in the west of England. Another was purchased by THLHLA. |