Details

Name

Firmin & Sons

Brief Biography

founded 1677, British

Occupation

Button Manufacturer

Description

Firmin & Sons was founded in 1677, possibly earlier. During the latter half of the eighteenth century, manufacturers of metal buttons began to identify their products by marking the backs with their names and often their addresses, known as 'backmarks'. Firmin's backmark changes are as follows: 1770’s to early 1790s: 'Samuel Firmin (S.F.), near Somerset House'; 1793-1796: 'Samuel Firmin, Strand. London'; 1797-1799: 'Firmin & Westall'; circa 1800-1811: 'Firmin & Co'; 1812: 'Firmin, Philip'; 1815-1823: 'Firmin & Langdale'; 1824: 'Firmin & Sons'; 1826: 'Firmin, Robert'; 1838: 'Firmin & King'; 1839: 'Firmin & Sons'; 1841: 'Firmin, Philip & Samuel'. In the early 1850s (about 1852-53) there was another reorganization, although Firmins did not make any note of a change to their backmark in a pamphlet they issued in the 1950s. From the 1850s to 1875: 'Firmin & Sons'; 1875: 'Firmin & Sons Ltd'; 1894: 'Firmin & Sons Ltd, established 1677, 108, 109 St. Martin’s Lane. London'. The company has been based in Birmingham since 1882 and their current address is 82-86 New Town Row, Birmingham B6 4HU.