GILLETT & JOHNSTON

Arthur Johnston bought a partnership in the firm in 1877 and the firm became known as Gillett, Bland & Co until Charles Bland’s death in 1884 when the company name was changed to Gillett & Co.  During this time the business was further extended with the development of the Bell Foundry as there was a need to supply bells for the clocks.

The title Gillett & Johnston appears to have been used from around 1877 onwards and it was during this period that Arthur Johnston took over full control of the foundry.

Cyril F Johnston joined his father in the business in 1902 and was made a partner in 1907. In 1905 the earliest tuning machine was installed and by 1909 Cyril’s skills in bell tuning were already being noticed.  He first began to take an interest in Canon Simpson’s theories of tuning at the age of 22 and carried out many experiments before perfecting his own method of tuning.  It was during these years that Cyril perfected the lost art of tuning bells and his method is widely acknowledged to be the finest in the world.

Between 1844 and 1950 more than 14,000 Tower clock installations were manufactured at the Croydon factory.  In 1925 the company became known as the Croydon Bell Foundry Ltd and in 1930 the name changed again to Gillett & Johnston Ltd.

In 1948 Cyril Johnston resigned as Managing Director of Gillett & Johnston over a matter of policy and in 1958 the bell founding side of the business was sold to Cope Allman International and the clock section was bought by Synchronome.

Cecil Hector Coombes worked for Gillett & Johnston for many years – during World War II in the drawing office and eventually becoming Overseas Marketing & Sales Manager.  In 1962 Cecil bought the business and returned operations to Croydon.  The business soon outgrew the first premises and relocated to Sanderstead Road where the business continued to thrive, carrying out clock and bell work both at home and overseas.