Elkington & Co.

Other names: Elkington, Mason & Co. (1842-61) Elkington and Co. Limited (c.1880s)

Active: 1871 -

Function: Bronze statue founders, art metal smiths, gilders, bronze and ormolu manufacturers, medallists, bronze foundry

History or description: The company pioneered the use of electroplating in Britain. Elkington's had a factory in Birmingham from the late 1830s and offices in London from the 1840s.

In 1842 further capital was injected into the business by Josiah Mason (1795-1881), the successful Birmingham manufacturer of steel pen nibs, and the firm was consequently renamed Elkington, Mason & Co. The company traded under this name until 1861 when the partnership was dissolved.

By the mid-1860s Elkington's employed nearly a thousand workers and was firmly established as the leading silver-plate and electroplate company in the world.

In 1910-11 Elkington's took over 'Thos. Smith and Son', Glasgow and were listed as polishers and fine art finishers in the local trade directory.

The company has changed name a number of times during the twentieth century but has continued to trade under the Elkington name.

Citing this record

'Elkington & Co.', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1213000359, accessed 24 May 2022]