J. Jeffs and Co. - seeking information

[denisg]

Hi all - I'm looking for any information on J. Jeffs and Co. of Birmingham, presumably later 19th century in date.

The name appears on the back of a clay tobacco pipe bowl found in a Melbourne, Australia archaeological dig, styled 'J.JEFFS & Co / BIRMINGHAM'. Dating is second half of 19th century, and that type of bowl stamp is usually associated with advertisers rather than makers, so likely to have been a promotional give-away with whatever it was they made or did.

I've had no luck with the trade registers and directories I've been able to access, but this has not been a systematic trawl. Very interested in any info at all about Jeffs and Co.

with thanks in advance

denisg

 

[Astoness]

hi and welcome...nice find and i am sure some of our members will be happy to check directories/newspaper archives for you..is there any chance you could post us a photograph of the bowl please..it would be interesting to see it..thanks

lyn

 

[denisg]

Thanks. Unfortunately I'm doing this third-hand from old reports, but I'll try to get my hands on a pic and will post it here when I can.

d

 

[mikejee]

In 1868 there was a John Jeffs, shopkeeper at 124 Heath Mill Lane
In 1888 there was Jeffs Joseph, watch & clock maker. 43 Ryland st. & 111Cregoe st
1895-1908 James Henry Jeffs & Co, leather merchants ,54 Great Lister St
Jeffs John William, leather & grindery dealer, 30 Spring Hill & 429 Bearwood Road, Smethwick

None of these seem associated particularly with smoking, and the only one which is described as a company is the leather merchant. Could it be a trade gift or protional item?

 

[denisg]

Thanks Mikejee - yes, almost certainly a promotional / advertising item, although as you say none of them seems a compelling suspect.

Most of the advertising pipes we have are tobacco firms, which is no surprise, but there are a few other trades, general merchants and importers. The only other Birmingham pipe found in Australia is from 'H.N. & Co.', which is the import-export merchants Henry Nathan, who were based there but had close family ties to Australia and were likely middle-men and agents for a lot of your local manufactures that ended up on the other side of the planet.

 

[Astoness]

i know this may sound silly but are you certain its from birmingham in england as i do know there is also a birmingham in alabama

lyn