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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Watch And Jewellery Trade. — Including—Goldsmiths, Diamond Cutters, Mounters, and Setters; Opticians; Watchmakers and Jewellers

page 758

Watch And Jewellery Trade.
Including—Goldsmiths, Diamond Cutters, Mounters, and Setters; Opticians; Watchmakers and Jewellers.

Benjamin, D. and. Co. (David Edward Theomin and Phillip Isaacs), Jewellery Importers and General Merchants, Victoria Street, Wellington. Telephone 922. Bankers National Bank of New Zealand, (Limited). Chief office and warehouse, Dowling Street, Dunedin, Branch, 141 Hereford Street, Christchurch (Mr. J. Davis, manager). This old-established firm will be more fully referred to in the Otago volume. The Wellington branch which is managed by Mr. George L. Bannatyne, was opened in 1891 the business being conducted in Brandon Street till the completion of the fine new warehouse, adjoining the premises of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., Limited, in Viosoria Street. The building is a two-story brick structure containing over 6000 square feet of floorage space, three-fourths of which is used by the firm, the other portion being leased to Messrs. Cook and Gray. Messrs. Benjamin and Co. deal in jewellery, fancy goods, hardware, stationery, tobaccos, etc., wholesale only, their travellers visiting the various towns and cities of the Colony periodically.

Chisholm, John Arthur Daniel, Watchmaker, Jeweller, Optician and Importer, 33A, Cuba Street, Wellington. Telegraphic address: “Chisholm, Wellington.” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, 10 Thompson Street. Agent, Mr. James Davidson, Kaikoura. The business in which Mr. J. Arthur Chisholm is now so well known was established in 1886 by Messrs. W. Littlejohn and Son, as a branch shop. Three years ater, Mr. Chlsholm, who had managed it for some time previously, purchased it from his employers, and has since then made effective alterations. The shop is well stocked and well kept, and the windows are always attractive. Though Mr. Chisholm's trade in mainly local, he does a fair business outside the city, especially in manufacturing and repairing. For these departments, various parts of the Colony (from Auckland in the North to Dunedin in the South) are laid under contribution. Mr. Chisholm was born in Wellington, and educated at Mr. Curtis's Grammar School and at the old Wesleyan School under Mr. Stevens. Removing with his parents to Wanganui, Mr. Chisholm was apprenticed to the business in all its branches, with Mr. S. H. Drew, the well-known jeweller of that town. On the completion of his apprenticeship, in 1882, Mr. Chisholm returned to Wellington, and entered the employ of Messrs. Littlejohu and Son, with whom he remained some six or seven years, having now twenty years' experience at his trade. Socially, Mr. Chisholm takes an active part in all matters having for then objects the physical and mental development of the young. For many years he has taken an interest in cricket, and is at present a member of the Wesley and Jewellers' Clubs. In his younger days as a cadet in the volunteers, Mr. Chisholm made a name as a marksman, being on at least one occasion a runner-up for the championship. In musical circles, Mr. Chisholm is known as a 'celloist.

Douglas, Donald Macpherson, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 114 Manners Street, Wellington. Private residence 119 Stafford Street. Mr. Douglas was born in London, and served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Johnston and Co., of John Street, Bedford Row, W.C. He arrived in Lyttelton in 1883, per ship “British Queen,” under engagement to Messrs. B. Petersen and Co., of Christchurch, as silversmith. After four years service, Mr. Douglas removed to Wellington, entering the employ of Mr. S. Kohn, of Lambton Quay, in 1888. All kinds of gold and silver-work are undertaken at this establishment, and many champion lilver cups, and sets of silver plate for presentation purposes have been made by Mr. Douglas. In cleaning and repairing clocks and watches, and making and mending jewellery, he does an mproving trade. The business was established in 1892.

Freeman, Henry James, Watchmaker and Jeweller, under the square clock, Manners Street. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Mr. Freeman is a native of Cambridge, and was brought up in London. In 1852 he caught the gold fever and emigrated to Australia. After ten years he came over to Otago at the time of the Molyneaux rush, subsequently returning to Melbourne. He came to Wellington in 1866, and found employment with Mr. Campbell, who had established the present business in 1865. On January 1st, 1879, Mr. Freeman took over the lease from his employer, and has conducted the business ever since. He has secured a new lease for twenty-one years of the premises, which are of wood and iron, two stories in height, with a floorage space of 2500 square feet. Mr. Freeman is the repairing agent for Wellington provincial district for the Waterbury Watch Company. His specialties are the manufacture of masonic jewels and working tools, besides the general business of a watchmaker and jeweller. Mr. Freeman is a direct importer of all classes of goods, but specially Masonic and optical goods in all varieties. He has a telescope with astronomical eye-piece, which he will deliver to any part of New Zealand for 25s., also a students' pocket microscope of enormous magnifying power, at the low price of 6s. Mr. Freeman has declined public life, preferring to give his energies to the prosecution of his own concerns.

Grady, Frank, Jeweller, Willis Strcet, Wellington. Telephone 380. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Private residence, Woolcombe Street. This business was established in 1880, and in 1895 Mr. Grady moved into his present fine premises, which are handsomely fitted, and lighted throughout with electric light. The building is of two stories, built of brick, wood, and iron, Five hands are employed on the premises. Mr. Grady is a large importer of jewellery.

King, James, Watchmaker and Jeweller, Cuba Street, Wellington. Bankers, Bank of Few [sic] Zealand. This business is one of the earliest of its kind established in Wellington, and Mr. King claims to have been the first to start manufacturing jewellery locally. To his enterprise in taking the initial step in this industry, the thanks are due of the large number now directly engaged in, or otherwise benefitted by, the local manufacturing of jewellery. At present, Mr. King finds employment for five hands. His well-known shop is only a few yards from the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets, being very convenient for trams page 759 and 'buses to all parts of the city. The premises have a age of some sixteen feet, with a large show window. A comprehensive and tasteful array of both locally-made and imported fewellery attracts the passer-by to pause and examiue. The building is of brick and iron, shop and dwelling being combined. Mr. King's trade mark is the King of Diamonds. When there is business to be done in the jewellery line, Mr. King invariably secures a large share of it; and a testimony to the class of article sold and work done is the fact that those who once visit the establishment come again, or recommend their friends to go. (N.B.—Mr. King died on the 31st of May, 1896, the business being, at the time of writing, carried on by the executors on behalf of the children.)

Kohn, Siegfried, Diamond Cutter, Gold and Silversmith, and Practical Working Optician, 59 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. London agents, Messrs. Bradey and Cohn, 36 Basinghall Street, E.C. This business was established nearly forty years ago in Christchurch, and for some years the Wellington establishment was conducted as a branch, eventually being taken over by the present proprietor on his own account. Mr. Kohn's premises are centrally situated and well appointed. The building, which is of iron, containing upwards of 2500 square feet of floorage space, consists of shop, sight-testing room, and a large workshop at the back. The shop has a magnificent plate glass front, displaying a wealth of precious stones, jewellery, watches, plate-ware etc., which are dazzling in their brilliance, especially when illuminated by the electric light. The interior, fitted up with splendid show cases, each containing choice articles of great value, is lighted from a handsome dome, on which are emblazoned the coats of arms of successive governors of New Zealand who have bestowed their patronage on this prominent establishment. The optical department, which is elaborately furnished and lighted from above, is supplied with a vast collection of lenses numbering upwards of 15,000, and complete apparatus for accurately testing the sight, Mr. Kohn having devoted himself specially to this part of his profession, Further behind are situated the large workshops, which include a complete plant of machinery of the latest design. The rolling mill for silver and other metal plates is reputed to be the largest in the Colony: the sliding die box press will deliver a blow
Interior View of Mr. Kohn's Shop.

Interior View of Mr. Kohn's Shop.

Interior View—Sight-Testing Room.

Interior View—Sight-Testing Room.

equal to seven tons falling ten feet; there are also wire rollers and hammers for striking blows with steel dies, of which there are three hundred cut in hard steel, many of them having cost large sums to engrave; and a grinding machine for lenses. Mr. Kohn, who is a native of Prussia, served his apprenticeship with the celebrated diamond setters, Messrs. Lionhardt and Fiegel, of Berlin, and after several years subsequent experience, passed his examination at the Master Goldsmith's Institute, coming to New Zealand, per ship “Somersetshire” in 1873. As an exhibitor, he has taken prizes for jewellery at Paris, Melbourne, Sydney, and at all New Zealand Exhibitions. For many years Mr. Kohn has held contracts for the supply of passes, medals and watches to the Colonial Government — the members' gold passes for New Zealand railways, the medals granted by the Defence Department, and the guards' watches used for the last twenty years on the railways. Agricultural medals and large trophy shields in abundance have also been produced at these works. Mr. Kohn has a large staff of experts employed in the business. His brother in London acts as buyer, and makes regular shipments of clocks, watches, plate, optical goods, and jewellery of the best quality and of the latest and most fashionable styles, by mail steamers.

Levi, Alfred, Consulting and Manufacturing Optician, 65 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Bankers, Colonial Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, 76 Ghuznee Street. Mr. Levi was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and learned his profession in Melbourne, Victoria, and in New Zealand. He has had a large and valuable experience in the Colony as New Zealand agent for Messrs. N. Lazarus and Co., the celebrated opticians, of London. The premises occupied by Mr. Levi on Lambton Quay consist of a one-story building constructed of wood, and affording a total floorage space of 600 square feet. A beautiful room has been specially fitted up with all the latest appliances in sight-testing, and Mr. Levi has a large stock of lenses of every description suitable to all ages, and ready to cope with every diversity of sight. He has, too, a special department for grinding lenses and adjusting spectacles. During the past nine years Mr. Levi has been largely engaged in connection with sight-testing, and the preparation of lenses. A very large proportion of colonists are troubled with weakness of the visual organs. On one occasion in Hawkes Bay page 760 Alfred Levi Mr. Levi tested the sight of 550 children in the public school, the result of his investigation showing that while only two-and-a-half per cent. of them were short-sighted, a very large number were long-sighted or had weak eyesight. Residents of the City of Wellington are considered by Mr. Levi to be especially liable to have eye troubles, and this for no other reason than that the narrow and crooked streets, which are the rule and not the exception in the Empire City, limit the range of vision, and thereby injuriously affect the sight. Mr. Levi's business is a very extensive one, as he manufactures for the trade from one end of the Colony to the other— from Auckland to Invercargill. He is a direct importer of optical glasses, field and opera-glasses, lenses, mounted in gold, silver, steel, or nickel-plated, and his sight-testing arrangements are so accurate and so well understood that spectacles are made to correct all errors of vision that science can correct.

Littlejohn and Son (Alexander Ironside Littlejohn and Peter Still), Watchmakers and Jewellers, 85 Lambton Qnay, Wellington. Telephone 53. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Mr. Littlejohn is a native of Scotland, where he learned his trade with his father, Mr. Wilson Littlejohn, who came to the Colony in 1879, accompanied by the former, and founded the present large business in the same year. Mr. Still is also a native of Scotland; he is a nephew of the founder of the business, and has been associated with the latter since his boyhood's days. In the Old Land he learned the trade with his uncle, and on the latter's leaving to take up his residence in Wellington he was sent to the great centre of chronometer manufacture in London. Here he remained with several of the best and largest houses in the trade, for three years, and gained a large experience which for about twelve years past has been employed in the interests of the business in Wellington. Messrs. Littlejohn and Son have been prominent in the Empire City for many years. Their splendid establishment on Lambton Quay is noticeable to even the most casual observer. The building is a substantial three-story brick structure, with over 2500 square fect of floorage space, and was built by the firm to meet the requirements of an extensive and increasing manufacturing business. Every visitor to Wellington cannot fail to notice the cuphonious chimes proceeding from the turret clock in the Post Office every quarter of an hour. It is a revelation to those who anticipated a state of semi-barbarism to find such evidence of modern civilisation at the antipodes. But probably few will be disposed to believe that all the machinery contained in the clock in question was manufactured by the firm who are the subjects of this notice. No less than thirteen turret clocks manufactured by the firm, including those at Invercargill and Port Chalmera, are at present in use in the Colony. The firm have, more recently, completed a splendid clock for the Auckland Art Gallery. Messrs. Littlejohn and Son employ competent specialists for each department of their manufacturing trade, and have one of the largest and most complete establishments in the Colony for the manufacture of jewellery, chronometers, clocks, watches, instruments, and optical goods. The jewellery shop has all needful appliances for this department of the trade. In the mechanical workroom there is a good deal of machinery, including lathes and planing machines, for accomplishing the work required; while the optical department is kept entirely separate, and has contrivances for lens grinding, drilling, and all other needs of this branch of the business. Sixteen skilled workmen are employed in connection with the firm's trade, and from £130 to £150 are paid per month in wages. The handsome shop is elegantly furnished with immense show cases, which display useful as well as ornamental articles of divers kinds. The firm are also large importers, from British and Continental markets, of such goods as they do not man ufacture on the premises.

Raven, Harry Augustus, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 7A Courtenay Place, Wellington. Private residence, Newtown. Mr. Raven was born in Auckland, and became apprenticed to the watchmaking and jewellery trade in Christchurch, completing the latter part of his indentures in Wellington. In 1887, Mr. Raven removed to Petone, and commenced business on his own account, continuing in that rising manufacturing borough till January, 1895. when he sold out and removed to Greymouth. After about a year or the West Coast; Mr. Raven returned to the North Island, establishing himself as above His specialties are the cleaning and repairing of watches and clocks, and the making and repairing of jewellery.

Young, G. and T. (George Young and Thomas Gray Young), Watchmakers and Jewellers, 73 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Telephone 679. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Manager, Mr. Matthew Gray Young. Private residence, Talavera Terrace. Head office, Dunedin. Branches, Timaru and Oamaru. This large business was established in Dunedin in 1862, by the present proprietors, who opened the Timaru branch about 1876, and that at Oamaru about five years later. The Wellington branch was founded in 1889. Fuller information respecting this important firm will be given in the Otago volume.

Others In The Watch And Jewellery Trade.

Ahlgren, John Frederick, Watchmaker, Little Taranaki Place.

Barnett, John Denis, Watchmaker and Jeweller, Lambton Quay. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia. Established 1891.

Beaver, A., and Co., Wholesale Jewellers, Phœnix Chambers, Lambton Quay.

Campbell, James, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 61 Cuba Street. Estab. 1884.

Campbell, Charles, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 22 Ghuznee Strect. Estab. 1865

Coltman, William, Watchmaker, 91 Cuba Street.

Gamble, Henry Walter, Manufacturing Jeweller, Harbour Street. Bankers' National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Caroline Street, Estab. 1893

page 761

Hosie and Bell (Robert Hosie and Norris W. Bell), Watchmakers and Jewellers, 51 Cuba Street. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Estab. 1893.

Ingram, William Henry, Watchmaker, 170 Willis Street.

Jenness and Co. (Joseph S. Rash and Northend J. Gooder), Watchmakers and Jewellers, 66 Willis Street. Bankers. Bank of New South Wales. Established 1868, and conducted by present proprietors since 1891.

Ludwig, C., and Son (Louis William Ludwig), Watehmakers and Jewellers. Lambton Quay. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1870.

Ludwig, J. F., Watchmaker, Manners Street.

Nicol, Alfred. Watchmaker and Jeweller, 67 Willis Street. Bankers, Bank of Australasis. Established 1893.

Pryde, David, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 57 Manners Street. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand.

Robinson, John Henry, Watchmaker, Jeweller and Optician, Willis Street.

Rothschild, Isadore J., Wholesale Jeweller, Phœnix Chambers, Lambton Quay. Private residence, Kent Terrace.

Schatz, Louis and Co. (Louis Sehatz), Wholesale Jewellery Importers and Indenters, Lambton Quay. Established 1891.

Sherwood, C. G., Watchmaker and Jeweller, 92 Cuba Street. Established 1895.

Woodford, Thomas Curtis, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 229 Lambton Quay. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Tinakori Road. Established 1885.

Otaki Gorge.

Otaki Gorge.