'Archibald Kenrick & Sons'

Archibald Kenrick & Sons is a historic English hardware manufacturer founded in 1791 in West Bromwich, West Midlands. Over its 230+ year history, the company transitioned from a prominent industrial-era iron foundry into a modern supplier of window, door, and architectural hardware.

• Founding (1791): Archibald Kenrick, a buckle maker from Wales, set up an iron foundry along the Birmingham Canal at Spon Lane, West Bromwich. 
• Name Evolution (1827): The firm became Archibald Kenrick & Sons when his son, Archibald Junior, joined as a partner. 
• The Peak Era (Late 1800s): By 1899, the company employed over 1,200 workers and was one of the largest hardware manufacturers in Britain. 
• War Effort: During World War II, the company shifted production to manufacture 7 million hand grenades and 1.5 million mortar bombs. 
• Evolution: In 1965, the company ended its traditional iron-founding operations to focus on zinc die-casting, aluminum hardware, and security locks.
• Present Day: The company still operates from its historic Spon Lane site under the name Kenrick.

Antique items bearing the "A. Kenrick & Sons" stamp are highly collectible today. Their traditional catalog included:

• Hollow-ware: Cast-iron cooking pots, 3-gallon cauldrons, kettles, and saucepans.
• Domestic Items: Coffee grinders, flat irons (sad irons), potato mashers, and trivets.
• Builders' Ironmongery: Highly ornamental door knockers, door handles, and unique cast-iron doorstops (such as their famous Scottish Highlander doorstop).
• Shepherd Castors: Licensed in 1949, these highly successful carpet-protecting furniture wheels became a staple of British homes

A lovely piece of social history.

NZ national delivery included.