J.C. Plimpton - BAYKO Inventor's Father
Business Interests

Grandfather to BAYKO, i.e. inventor C.B. Plimpton's father, J.C. Plimpton was an American Citizen, who was born in Walpole, Massachusetts on May 10th, 1850, where the Plimpton heritage is recognised even today, and has a sustained entrepreneurial spirit running through it.

J.C. Plimpton was, himself, evidently a very successful business man, though direct pieces of evidence for the business are not easy to unearth.  It would seem that his earlier efforts included importing items from the U.S.A., perhaps utilising contacts 'back home'. Whatever the origins, diversity seems to have been the watchword, though a 'horse nail' manufacturing operation eventually folded.

Thanks to Peter Gosnell, I can now confirm that the various Liverpool premises occupied over the years by J.C. Plimpton Ltd. are as follows : -

► Jerome Buildings, 63/65 Victoria Street 1894 - 1899

These buildings [right] have survived into the twenty first century.  It's difficult to be certain, but these premises look more like an office environment, possibly with a small warehousing space. Ideal as starter premises, or, perhaps, a regional office, but not enough as the main site for a successful business, so it's not difficult to see why they moved.

► Plimpton Buildings, 114/116 Old Hall Street 1901 - 1924

These premises [below, right] are much more substantial, and adding the name Plimpton Buildings was presumably pushing the image of success and permanence of the business.

They were very close to, if not actually overlapping, the site of the J.M. Centre, headquarters of the Littlewoods organisation, where I worked, for three years, in the mid 1970s.

Sadly the building is now long gone, a victim of a major 1960s redevelopment programme in the area, repairing wartime damage and bringing the area into the twentieth century.

The image [right] is actually just a humble postcard, on which the photograph [and probably the card itself] dates from around 1917 or 1918. That is certainly how it was listed on eBay anyway! The only person in the image is a soldier, he's in the foreground. He is shown, in what, certainly seems, to me, to be the standard British Army uniform from that period. It is the uniform which was worn  during the first world war - if not, it's something very much like it. Presumably this would have been a self-advertising J.C. Plimpton product - who else would have shown their premises?

There is a sign on the building which bears the legend “Department - Furniture, Sterling, Fancy Goods. Hardware Woodware Handles” and a further sign which reads “Rexhall United”. Rexhall is an American company which now manufactures motor homes.

The photo of the clock [left] was sent to me by Daniel Haggett, whose grandfather owned it, and, indeed, it may even have been him that bought it. Either way, it clearly passed through the J.C. Plimpton business at this time.  It was manufactured by the Simplex Time Recorder Company of Gardener, Massachusetts, and your friendly neighbourhood importer's name and address are there as well.

The image [right] shows, I admit not too clearly, the actual importer's label, which bears the legend “J.C. Plimpton Ltd, Liverpool”. It sits dead centre, immediately below the clock housing.

Daniel found this site when he Googled details of his grandfather's clock - it's nice to close the loop, as it were, by adding the two clock images to the site. Thanks Daniel. 

By one of those little quirks that make life interesting, C.B. Plimpton, who we know worked briefly in America for a clock manufacturer, may have worked in the same factory in which this clock was produced. This experience led him to develop “Improvements to Clocks and Clock Movements” for which he was granted a patent…

It appears that 'next door' to the watches, J.C. Plimpton also conducted a silver business : -

The image [above] shows what looks like a Shoe Button Hook - but it wouldn't be the first time I'd been wrong. It comes from the J.C. Plimpton silverware range, and probably dates from around the turn of the 19th century.

The image [left] shows the full hallmark and corporate branding embossed on the Shoe Button Hook handle.

If you click anywhere on this image [left] you'll launch a larger version of the image, on which you should find the hallmark much easier to see and to read…

…at least I hope so!

The third image [right] shows just the J.C. Plimpton corporate branding component of the overall hallmarking. This approach was usually associated with quality items.

The photos were sent to me by Dave Shore who's interest lies in the complete family businesses of J.C. and C.B. Plimpton.

► Plimpton Buildings, Gibraltar Row 1926 - 1932

Sadly, from a researcher's point of view, I can't find any trace of these buildings, the wrecking ball, again, having done its grizzly work.  I can't find a historical photograph either, I'm afraid.

It would appear from the above, that J.C.'s business interests were fairly eclectic, and the size of the building suggests, to me, that it was reasonably prosperous by this time.

In various business directories, from 1894 to 1901, J.C. Plimpton & Co. Ltd. are described as American merchants and factors.

The business changed over the years, the one consistent thread being its diversity : -

► For many years they were significant importers of Lawnmowers.

► From 1926 - 1930 they were sole representatives of the New Haven Clock Co.

► From 1931 - 1933 they were clock manufacturers in their own right.

The image [left], is taken from Grace's Guide…

It is extracted from J.C. Plimpton & Co. Limited's catalogue and dates from July, 1907. Although the page is certainly biased towards garden-related items, there are enough other items to give us a flavour of the somewhat eclectic nature of the business.

As an aside, the print quality of the catalogue appears to be excellent.

These two images, both, again, culled from Grace's Guide, here date from December, 1912 [left] and September, 1913 [right] and are taken from the JC Plimpton catalogues of those dates.

Personally, I think the clock is rather stylish and surprisingly modern. However, I think today's safety professionals would definitely approve of the clock's rounded edges, but not the way it would sit proud of the dashboard or handlebars.

The “96 years experience” claim in the right hand image is interesting, and suggests that JC Plimpton got into clock and watch making via the acquisition route.

There is another facet to the clock and watch making side of the business, as a certain Charles Bird Plimpton, of J.C. Plimpton & Co. Ltd., was granted patent #190,951 on March 9th, 1923 for : -

If you would like more personal and family information about J.C. Plimpton…

There is a little more information, about J.C. Plimpton himself, available from an article in the 'Liverpool Post and Echo', celebrating his eightieth birthday…

His 80th Birthday was also the final trigger for J.C. to retire from his businesses, which were, I believe, somewhat in decline. He continued his much cherished trips back to his homeland, and, indeed, died aboard his brother Herbert's yacht, off St. Petersburg, Florida, and was buried, probably there or in Maple Cemetery, Walpole, MA.

Well, that's it I'm afraid, I'll add more information as I come across it. If you know anything else about J.C. Plimpton or his business interests, then I'd love to hear from you…