Barnett Samuel and Sons Limited 1832 - 1928

1832 Company established by Henry Solomon, Barnett Samuel and Josiah Solomon in Sheffield manufacturing door knobs, knife handles and combs and dealing in musical instruments; moved to London c1860; 1872 Barnett's eldest son was taken into partnership and the title of the firm became Barnett Samuel and Sons; expansion of firm, manufacture of zithers, harmoniums and banjos in factories in Birmingham and London; 1901 became Barnett Samuel and Sons Limited, one of largest musical instrument wholesalers in country, with own piano factory in London; by 1911 the subsidiary company John Grey and Sons formed and used the name as a trademark on its instruments; 1914 Barnett Samuel and Sons were manufacturing a portable gramophone called the 'Dulcephone' sold under the trade name 'Decca '; by 1920s manufacturers of 'Deccalian' Gramophones; 'Decca' and 'Rally' Portable Gramophones, sales dwarfing those of musical instruments; 1928 Barnett Samuel and Sons bought by British Equity Investment Co. but could not use the firm's title, therefore renamed as the 'Decca Gramophone Co.'; instrument part of company was contained in just 8 shares of the John Grey and Sons and these were bought by Rose, Morris and Co. who made banjos up to and after the second world war