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Thomas Russell & Son was a prominent British watchmaking company founded in the early 19th century. Originating from the cottage industries of Lancashire, the company became renowned for its high-quality timepieces, including pocket watches and chronometers, serving both domestic and maritime markets.
== Early History == In the 18th century, farmers and agricultural workers in Lancashire supplemented their income during the winter months by producing watch components in their home workshops. This thriving cottage industry supplied parts to watchmakers for assembly.[1]
=== Thomas Russell (1780–1830) === Thomas Russell was born in 1780 in what is now Cumbria. He worked as an outworker or journeyman watchmaker before establishing his own business in Lancaster in 1811. Russell continued his craft until his death in 1830, laying the foundation for a watchmaking dynasty.
== Move to Liverpool == After Thomas's death, his son, also named Thomas, took over the business. Around 1848, he relocated the company to Liverpool, a major seafaring port at the time. Here, he launched the "Time 'O Day" range of watches. The sale of ships' clocks and chronometers became a significant source of income due to the bustling maritime industry.
== Business Expansion and Split == Around 1860, the business was taken over by Thomas's two sons, Thomas Robert Russell and Alfred Holgate Russell. The company effectively split:
Thomas Robert Russell renamed his branch to Russell, Watch & Chronometer Manufactory, establishing branches in Liverpool, Toronto, and London. His focus was on providing chronometers to the booming shipping industry.[2] Alfred Holgate Russell continued under the name Thomas Russell & Son. In 1870, he introduced the famous Russell Hunter watches, featuring the "Tempus Fugit" trademark on the dial. == Royal Warrant and Swiss Imports == In 1880, Thomas Robert Russell's company was awarded a Royal Warrant by HM Queen Victoria and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1884, the warrant expanded to include the Admiralty. During the early 1880s, Alfred's company began importing Swiss watch movements from makers like Longines.
== Later Years == After the deaths of Thomas Robert and Alfred, Alfred's son Bernard Holgate Russell and cousin Thomas Townsend Russell took over in 1894. They continued using the Royal Warrants for several years after Queen Victoria's passing, which was frowned upon at the time.
From 1915, Bernard's son Thomas Graham Russell and Thomas Townsend Russell ran the company. They invited Joseph Wright to become a director due to his industry knowledge and Swiss connections. The Russell family managed the company until its closure in 1994, marking the end of a long and illustrious history.
== Legacy == Thomas Russell & Son is synonymous with the English watchmaking industry and remains an iconic brand among watch collectors. Their antique full hunter pocket watches, especially those featuring the "Time 'O Day" branding and "Tempus Fugit" trademark, are highly sought after.
References
edit- ^ https://www.timewornwatches.co.uk/manufacturers/thomas-russell-son/#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20Thomas%20Russell%20%26%20Son%20dates,started%20business%20as%20an%20independent%20watchmaker%20in%20Lancaster.
- ^ https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG79977#:~:text=Bibliography%20Loomes,%20B.%20(2006).%20%22Watchmakers%20and%20Clockmakers%20of%20the%20World%22,