Antique Box Guide

The Toulmin & Gale company were originally established in 1735. By 1845, Joseph Toulmin and John Gale were in control of the company, based at 85-86 Cheapside, London.

They were awarded a prize medal for ‘excellence of material and workmanship’ for their dressing cases at the International Exhibition of 1862. A year later, the company had expanded and opened up a new manufactory at 18 Sise Lane, London and a further shop at 7 New Bond Street, London.

Toulmin & Gale were finally declared bankrupt in 1876. Interestingly, George William Betjemann was one of the trustees under their liquidation and this business continued as Betjemann & Gale Ltd.

By 1878, the name of Toulmin & Gale was trading again, with Joseph Toulmin at the helm. Based from 10 Cornhill, London, the business advertised itself as being ‘Late of Cheapside and New Bond Street’.

Early 1884 saw Joseph Toulmin deciding to discontinue the retail side of business, instead choosing to supervise the manufacture of products for James Hurry’s leather goods department based at 47 Cornhill, London.

Portrait of Joseph Toulmin taken circa 1890.

Toulmin & Gale engraved brass manufacturer’s plate from an antique jewellery box in coromandel with cantilever mechanism.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Cantilever Mechanism, by Toulmin & Gale.

Toulmin & Gale engraved brass retailer’s plate from an antique jewellery box in coromandel.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel Manufactured by Betjemann & Sons and Retailed by Toulmin & Gale.

Toulmin & Gale engraved brass manufacturer’s plate from an antique jewellery box in coromandel.

Bramah Patent lock plate engraved with ‘Toulmin & Gale London’.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel, by Toulmin & Gale.

Toulmin & Gale advertising card from 1862.

Toulmin & Gale newspaper advert from c.1860.

Toulmin & Gale newspaper advert from 1863.

Toulmin & Gale advertisement taken from Hart’s ‘The New Annual Army List, Militia List and Indian Civil Service List, for 1879’.