known patentees still have their works in the borough. The general trade centres round Willenhall, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
Looking-glasses.—Messrs. Hawkes's, Bromsgrove Street, is the largest looking-glass mannfactory in the world, more than 300 hands being employed on the premises. A fire which took place Jan. 8, 1879, destroyed nearly £12,000 worth of stock, the turnout of the establishment comprising all classes of mirrors, from those at 2(illegible text). a dozen to £40 or £50 each.
Mediæval Metalwork.—Mr. John Hardman, who had Pugin for his friend, was the first to introduce the manufacture of medieval and ecclesiastical metal work in this town, opening his first factory in Great Charles Street in 1845. The exhibits at the old Bingley Hall in 1849 attracted great attention and each national Exhibition since has added to the triumphs of the firm. Messrs. Jones and Willis also take high rank.
Metronome, an instrument for marking time," was invented by Mr. W. Heaton, a local musician, about 1817.
Mineral Waters.—The oldest local establishment for the manufacture of aerate! artificial and mineral waters is that of Messrs. James Goffe and Son, of Duke Street, the present proprietors of the artesian well in Allison Street. This well was formed some years age by Mr. Clark, a London engineer, who had undertaken a Corporation contract connected with the sewers. Finding himself embarassed with the flow of water from the many springs about Park Street and Digbeth, he leased a small plot of land and formed a bore- hole, or artesian well, to check the percolation into his sewerage works. After boring about 400 feet he reached a main spring in the red sandstone formation which gives a constant flow of the purest water, winter and summer,of over 70,000 gals, per day, at the uniform temperature of 50 deg. The bore is only 4in. diameter, and is doubly tubed the whole depth, the water rising into a 12ft. brick well, from which a 4,000 gallon tank is daily filled, the remain- der passing through a fountain and down to ti e sewers as waste. Dr. Bostock Hill, the eminent analyst, reports most favourably upon the freedom of the water from all organic or other impurities, and as eminently fitted for all kinds of aerated waters, soda, potass, seltzer, lithia, &c. The old-fashioned water-carriers who used to supply householders with Digbeth water from "the Old Cock pump" by St. Martin's have long since departed, but Messrs. Goff's smart-looking barrel-carts may be seen daily on their rounds supplying the real aqua pura to counters and bars frequented by those who like their "cold without," and like it good.—Messrs. Barrett & Co. and Messrs. Kilby are also extensive manufacturers of these refreshing beverages.
Nails.—No definite date can possibly be given as to the introduction of nailmaking here as a separate trade, most smiths, doubtless, doing more or less at it when every nail had to be beaten out on the anvil. That the town was dependent en outsiders for its main supplies 150 years back, is evidenced by the Worcestershire nailors marching from Cradley and the Lye, in 1737 to force the ironmongers to raise the prices. Machinery for cutting nails was tried as early as 1811, but it was a long while after that (1856) before a machine was introduced successfully. Now there are but a few special sorts made otherwise, as the poor people of Cradley and the Lye Waste know to their cost, hand- made nails now being seldom seen.
Neltlefold's (Limited).—This, one of the most gigantic of our local companies, was registered in March, 1880, the capital being £750,000 in shares of £10 each, with power to issue debentures to the vendors of the works purchased to the extent of £420,000. The various firms incorporated are those of Messrs. Nettlefold's, at Heath Street, and Princip-street, Birmingham, at
