Name | Ayres |
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Brief Description | Ayres, (mostly F. H. Ayres), was a prolific leading manufacturer of games, sports equipment and rocking horses during the Victorian era and early twentieth century. Later taken over by Slazenger (c1948). |
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Principal Maker | Y |
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Copyright Registrations in this name | 82 |
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Other Registrations | 30 registrations |
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Adverts | 27 adverts |
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Examples | 141 examples |
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| Thomas C. Ayres "Established 1810" preceded F. H Ayres. The firm was best known for sports equipment and rocking horses. They produced an enormous number of parlour and garden games too and around 1880s were great rivals with Jaques with frequent lawsuits being filed in both directions for infringements of patents and copyright. Established in 1810 by Edward Ayres in Clerkenwell, initially as a turner and maker of furniture and games, the firm increased their output into the burgeoning market of general sports equipment. Towards the end of the 19th century they were probably the leading manufacturer of sports and games equipment in Britain. In 1895, known then as F. H. Ayres, they employed a staff of 600 people at their manufacturing headquarters in Aldersgate Street, London. Soon after, they became incorporated. A steady decline followed in the early twentieth century (Frederick Henry Ayres apparently died in 1906) and rocking horse business became their leading business. By 1920 the business was struggling and the recession which followed did not help. The factory at Aldersgate St. was repurposed during WW2 for manufacture of military kit, uniform, parachutes and wooden airplane parts. At some point there was a direct hit from German bombers, and production there may have ceased, as it did with Jaques Hatton Garden premises, and the trading name was taken on by Slazenger.
Some addresses were
Edward Ayres in Clerkenwell 1810
Thomas C Ayres 28 Great Bath Street Clerkenwell, London EC
Frederick Henry Ayres, 10 Baldwin’s Place, Leather Lane, London EC by 1865
F.H.Ayres, 71 to 75 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell by 1869 to April1877,
F.H.Ayres, 111 Aldersgate Street, London, EC from September 1877
F.H.Ayres Ltd. c1905 (known mainly for outdoor games) |