A. Wells and Co
of Progress Works, Somers Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 Telephone: Walthamstow 2521-2 Cables: "Welstoys Walt, London"
1919 A.Wells & Co. was founded in 1919 by Alfred Wells, established in Somers Road. Later known as Wells-Brimtoy Distributors Ltd, mechanical toys.
1924 The Well's "O" London trademark was first used. At that time a clockwork trainset was introduced on the market. The company also launched several tin toys. These toys were cheaper than the models from the German competition.
Between the World Wars it captured a large part of the German trade.
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Mechanical and Non-Mechanical Tin Toys. (Stand No. D.33) [1]
1932 Brimtoy Ltd was taken over by A. Wells and Co to form Wells Brimtoy.
The factory was moved some time after 1938 to Stirling Road.
1948 Patent - A new or improved toy glider towing unit.
1949 Approximately 700 employees.
1949 Wells Brimtoy Distributors of Progress Works, Stirling Rd, Walthamstow, supplied Equiflex anti-vibration mountings for radio equipment[2]
1951 Equiflex mountings used in English Electric Canberra[3]
1962 Patent - Improvements in carpet sweepers.
c1965 The works closed.
1970 Central Manufacturing and Trading acquired a company called "A. Wells" which made toys and plastic housewares - this seems likely to be the same Wells as it still offers Equiflex anti-vibration mounts.
- Note:
1956 One of the suppliers of components for the Fairey Aviation Co: F.D.2 was A. Wells and Co, Ltd[4]
1958 Supplier of equipment for Vickers Aircraft: Valiant aircraft[5]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1929 British Industries Fair Page 178
- ↑ Flight [1]
- ↑ Flight [2]
- ↑ Flight [3]
- ↑ Flight "A. Wells and Co"