Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Houghton Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Houghton, George
  • Claudet, Antoine
  • Houghton, George, & Son
  • Houghton's Ltd
  • Butcher, W, & Son Ltd
  • Ensign Ltd
  • Elliott & Son Ltd
  • Barnet Ensign Ltd
  • Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Walthamstow, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England

Sectors:

  • Precision instruments production Optical equipment inc eyewear production
  • Precision instruments production Photographic, cinematographic, etc, equipment production

Notes:

Traced origins to 1836 when established at High Holbourn by George Houghton and Antoine Claudet, d1867, as wholesalers in glass. Came to focus on optical glass and photographic equipment. Known as George Houghton & Son from 1867 and incorporated as Houghton's Ltd in 1904. Opened camera, etc, manufacturing plant at Wathamstow in 1905 and reckoned largest in world by 1908. 1915 merged with W Butcher & Son Ltd to form Houghton Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd. 1930 converted to a public company, Ensign Ltd. 1939-45 focused on output for war use. 1945 merged with Elliott & Son Ltd of Barnet to form Barnet Ensign Ltd, later Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

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