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Bland</title></head><body>
<div>Many thanks for this detailed information. I will revise
the historical sketch on my G&J index page to fit, as what I had
there must have been based on a more limited range of information
(perhaps Chris's own list of big bells, as of a couple of years ago,
though that also suggests that G&B should start from 1877).</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Perhaps we can be reasonably sure that this list provides
"not later than" dates for the changes of name in the firm.
I understand that it was Arthur A. Johnston's joining the firm in 1877
which enabled them to expand from clockmaking into bellfounding.
It would appear that he became a junior partner in 1878 (hence the
"& Co."). The next change would appear to have
resulted from the departure of partner Charles Bland c.1883 (whether
through death or other cause I do not know). From some
undocumented source, I have that the G&J name had taken effect by
1889. The inconsistency in labelling of bells is indeed
surprising; I wonder whether we shall ever find any explanation for
it.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Meanwhile, can anyone provide clarification on when the
organizational name changes actually occurred?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Carl</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>_____</div>
<div>At 08:51 +0800 06/11/21, Chris Pickford wrote:</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>An initial listing - based on the
firm's title as given in inscriptions on some 260 bells - indicates
that the following names were used:<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>
<ul>
<li>Gillett and Bland, 1878-1881
<li>Gillett, Bland & Co, 1878-1884
<li>Gillett & Co, 1883-1892
<li>Gillett & Johnston [1891 - uncertain] 1893-1950s</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>The key thing to note is that there is an
overlap - so we can't be sure whether a bell dated 1880, for instance,
would have been signed by Gillett & Bland or by Gillett, Bland &
Co; or if one of 1883 would have had the name worded as Gillett, Bland
& Co or Gillett & Co.</blockquote>
<div>_____</div>
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