The firm was founded by William Elliott (working 1807-53). In 1850 he formed a partnership with his sons, Frederick & Charles (Elliott & Sons) and the firm became Elliott Bros from 1854. They became successors to Watkins & Hill by 1856. The firm eventually became part of GEC after moving progressively into electrical equipment and automation.
A set of Elliott Bros chain scales in a leather covered case. The single sided twelve inch scales are for 30 & 60, 25 & 50, 20 & 40, and 35 & 45 to the inch.
The address on the scales and the box is 449 Strand, London giving a date between 1864 & 1886.
The address on the scales and the box is 449 Strand, London giving a date between 1864 & 1886.
Watkins & Hill, Charing Cross, London ivory rectangular protractor. Watkins and Hill were taken over by Elliott Bros in 1856, both partners having died by 1847 and the firm having been continued by A Day. The protractor probably dates from the 2nd quarter of the nineteenth century. It is the small (4 1/2”) size typically placed in small pocket cases.
A six inch lacquered brass protractor, signed “Elliott Brothers London”. I t has a fitted mahogany case lined with blue velvet. The original price is still written on the bottom of the box, “22/6” (twenty two shillings and six pence). This dates it to the late Victorian or Edwardian period.
William Elliott, 268 High Holborn, London, ivory scale rule, ‘10’ (to the inch). It dates from 1835-49.
A fine set of drawing instruments by W Elliott of 268 High Holborn, London, housed in a mahogany box with two lift out trays, lined throughout in purple velvet. They date from between 1835 and 1849.
The upper tray contains four ivory handled pens,one of which is a dotted line pen for which spare wheels are housed in a small, circular, ivory box in the lower tray.
The lower tray contains the compass and its inserts; hair dividers; pen and pencil bow compasses and divider spring bows. The extension bars & adjusting key for the compass are missing.
Under the upper tray are recesses for water colours , whilst under the lower tray is a signed ivory rectangular protractor.
An electrum set by Elliott Bros dating from the mid-Victorian period, housed in an electrum bound, oak case. The pen spring bow and pencil bow compass are replacements (not Elliott).
An Elliott Bros, electrum set in a brass bound, mahogany case. The 6" compass is missing.
A set of Elliott Bros brass instruments in a mahogany case from the late Victorian period. The dividers and pencil bow are replacements (not Elliott).
A fine, nickel-silver set of small size instruments in a walnut veneered box. The base of the box contains an ivory rectangular protractor and an ebony parallel rule, both signed Elliott Bros, London. The address given on the silk inside the lid is 101 St. Martins Lane.
A Capt. R F Jelley's sketching protractor (Reg no 374020) with diagonal & map scales on the face and tables of horizontal equivalent on the reverse, made by Elliott Bros, the design was registered in 1901. Intended for use by army officers.
A fine English, ivory sector by Elliott Bros, Strand, London dating from between 1854 and 1880. This is very typical of nineteenth century sectors, having scales for inches, decimal feet, lines of sines, tangents, equal parts, chords, numbers (log scales for multiplication), polygons, secants. It is a six inch size example.
An Elliott Bros boxwood scale rule, "120 to the inch". The rule is approximately four inches long and was intended for use with engine indicator diagrams. The scale is 120 pounds/sq.in to the inch. A spring of the same rating would have been fitted to the indicator cylinder, to resist the pressure of the steam or combustion gases acting on the piston., which was connected to the recording pen.
Fifteen inch, ebony & brass, parallel rule signed Watkins & Hill, Charing Cross, London. Dates between 1822 & 1856.
Watkins & Hill, Charing Cross, London 6” ivory rectangular protractor. This protractor has the much less common set of scales for navigational use. The diagonal scales have been placed on the front and the bottom half of the reverse has the following scales: CHO, LAT, SIN, INCL MER, TAN, HOU, RUM, SEC, P. It dates between 1822 and 1856 but I feel that it is likely to be from the earlier part of this period because of the scales it has on it. The only other protractor I have with this set of scales is in the Jacob & Halse set of 1809/10.
Elliott & Sons 56 Strand London pantograph. Brass with bronze fittings and ivory castors, 36” size, made between 1850 and 1853. Elliott & Sons 1851 price list (bound in the 1851 edition of J F Heather’s Treatise on Mathematical Instruments} lists pentagraphs (old spelling) from 5½ to 10 guineas. Complete with mahogany box and lead weighted fulcrum but missing tracing point and pencil holder. The picture below shows the replicas I have made together with a replacement box fitting, which was also missing.
Ron Bristow and John Bateman helped me with photos and details, from instruments in their collections, of the missing parts.
Elliott Brothers six inch ivory rectangular protractor. It has 0 - 180 and 180 -0 degree scales, 1/8 to inch plain scales and a yards 6” to 1 mile scale on the front, and a yards 8” to one mile scale, normal scale of slopes, and table of horizontal equivalents on the reverse. A military sketching protractor. Ca. 1900.
6.4” German silver protractor by William Elliott, signed Elliott 268 High Holborn London dating from 1835-49.
Brass 6¾ inch diameter folding arm protractor signed Watkins & Hill, Charing Cro∫s, London, dating from the second quarter of the nineteenth century.
18” ebony, ivory and brass architect’s rolling parallel rule signed W ELLIOTT 268 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON dating from 1835-49.