H. Williamson Ltd.

H. Williamson started his clock manufacturing enterprize in
1871.  Clocks produced were - grandfather clocks, bracket
clocks, latern clocks, turret clocks, jewelers's drum clocks
and chime clocks.  In an advertisement they offered
estimates and drawings of the clocks they would make for the
customer.

By 1903 Williamson had branch factoires in Coventry,
Salisbury and Buren.  Also branch factory operated in
La Chau-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Main office and show room between years 1877-1879, at
81 Farrington Rd. Conventry and Buren.

Speedometer production was undertaken at the Buren plant
until fire destroyed the complex.  With assistance from the
Hambury American Clock Company (HAU), Schramberg (black
forest), Germany, changed to European style mass production
of clocks.

After rebuilding the Buren plant expanned manufacturing to
clocks movements, with lever escapements platforms, possibly
obtained from the Swiss.  Based on license agreements,
foreign clocks movements were imported and mounted in English
cases.

World War I brought the end of imports.  In 1914 H. Williamson
died and the company operated until 1920 then merged with
Grimshaw & Baxter.  In 1928 produced clocks under the name
Astral & Empire.  Due to the world wide depression in the
1930's the company was forced into receivership and became
then part of the English Watch & Clock Co. which was taken
over by Smith's English Clocks Ltd.  They continuted producing
clocks with the name of Astral up to 1955.

Regards,

Tim Sweet
M.O.S.T Watch & Clock Co.
Website:  http://www.tritco.com/most/most1.html
Member: NAWCC, BHI, AWI