Not to be confused with the Charles Rowley & co of Manchester, manufacturer of picture frames and later artist's suppliers.
Charles Rowley is listed as a press tool maker at 22 Newhall St in the 1833 Wrightson's directory, and as a stamper and piercer at 23 Newhall St in the directories of 1839 and 1841. However by 1845 he is more specialised as Rowley Charles, stamper & piercer, manufacturer of brass & iron ships' thimbles, & button manuftr. & sole inventor of improved metallic lace holes, 23 Newhall st, and is very concerned with copying of his products:
He also acquires a London office and dabbles in producing some more exotic items:
However by 1860 Charles is no longer involved as he has been declared a lunatic.
The firm carries on for a while, but then it is unclear from directories what has happened. Much of the contents of the Newhall st site was sold but there remained a Charles Rowley & Co listed at the address. But a firm J Nicklin & Co at 166 Great Charles St,from around 1870 claimed to be "formerly Charles Rowley & Co"
Nevertheless this would seem to be just one of the many similar companies in Birmingham at this time, with no special product. However , although nothing was made of it at the time, Charles did invent one special thing we know of - the safety pin.
Charles Rowley is listed as a press tool maker at 22 Newhall St in the 1833 Wrightson's directory, and as a stamper and piercer at 23 Newhall St in the directories of 1839 and 1841. However by 1845 he is more specialised as Rowley Charles, stamper & piercer, manufacturer of brass & iron ships' thimbles, & button manuftr. & sole inventor of improved metallic lace holes, 23 Newhall st, and is very concerned with copying of his products:
He also acquires a London office and dabbles in producing some more exotic items:
However by 1860 Charles is no longer involved as he has been declared a lunatic.
The firm carries on for a while, but then it is unclear from directories what has happened. Much of the contents of the Newhall st site was sold but there remained a Charles Rowley & Co listed at the address. But a firm J Nicklin & Co at 166 Great Charles St,from around 1870 claimed to be "formerly Charles Rowley & Co"
Nevertheless this would seem to be just one of the many similar companies in Birmingham at this time, with no special product. However , although nothing was made of it at the time, Charles did invent one special thing we know of - the safety pin.
I wonder whether it was the same sort of dementia as it's known today?