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More Crowden & Keeves’ Hardware

May 29, 2013
by the gentle author

More magnificent hardware from the 1930 Crowden & Keeves catalogue in the possession of Richard Ince proprietor of James Ince & Sons, Britain’s oldest umbrella manufacturers, which Richard tells me has been knocking around his factory for as long as he could remember. Operating from premises in Calvert Avenue and Boundary St, Crowden & Keeves were one of the last great hardware suppliers in the East End, yet the quality of their products was such that items may still be discovered in use around the neighbourhood today.

You may also like to take a look at the first selection of

Crowden & Keeves Hardware

and these other hardware & ironmongery stories

Nicholls & Clarke’s Hardware

Allen & Hanburys’ Surgical Appliances

At London’s Oldest Ironmongers

Receipts from London’s Oldest Ironmongers

Photos from London’s Oldest Ironmongers

7 Responses leave one →
  1. Annie permalink
    May 29, 2013

    Yep, just checked on my flour bin (used to be my mother’s) and it fits the descriptions above. And, oh for a muffineer! What a brilliant stroll through a world of many long-forgotten domestic items – it reminded me of visiting my grandmother’s house. I could almost hear the jingle of the brass drawer handles of her sideboard.

  2. May 29, 2013

    What an emporium! I’ve seen it all now, vulture and skunk dusters!

  3. Jill permalink
    May 29, 2013

    Wonderful – all those things you never knew you needed! So much more exciting than The Lakeland catalogue.

  4. Andrew permalink
    May 29, 2013

    Absolutely brilliant! I live in the old Crowden and Keeves factory on Calvert Avenue/ Boundary Street and really appreciate being able to put the building into context with its manufacturing history. More power to your keyboard, Gentle Author!

  5. Pamela permalink
    May 31, 2013

    When I did home economics in high school we used the patent wire soap saver.

  6. Linda Haywood permalink
    January 21, 2016

    I used to work for Crowden & Keeves in 1968 as an Invoice typist, one of the best jobs I ever had.

  7. Andrew Murray permalink
    December 28, 2018

    This is a fascinating read I came apon it because I found a large quantity of Crowden and Keeves branded pencils while emptying my late mothers house- no idea where they came from. I use them all the time, they are a quality item.

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