James Hinks (manufacturer)

James Hinks (1816-1905) was a lamp manufacturer and the founder of the company, James Hinks & Son. He was born in about 1816 in Atherstone, Warwickshire, the son of Jonathan Hinks, a wool comber.[1] He was the younger brother of John Hinks, the well-known and successful Steel Pen manufacturer.

This article is about the lamp manufacturer. For the dog breeder, see James Hinks.

James left home when he was 16 and he tried his hand at a range of occupations, including wood turning and japanning, pub landlord, brush making, die sinking, medal making and cotton reel manufacture before turning his mind to perfecting the design of oil lamps.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] By 1858, in partnership with James Syson Nibbs, he was manufacturing an improved oil lamp from the Crystal Lamp Works on the corner of Great Hampton Street and Hockley Street, Birmingham.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] The partnership with Nibbs was dissolved in July 1858, although the lamps appear to have continued to be marketed by James under the “Nibbs and Hinks” name until December 1858.[12] [13]

James’ son, Joseph, worked for his father from about the time he was 17 and by 1861 he was recorded as a manufacturer in the same terms as his father.[14] [15] By 1862 the business was called “James Hinks and Son”. A patent was granted to James Hinks in 1863 for “improvements in lamps,” and there were subsequent design improvements.[16] [17] [18] The “Patent Duplex Lamp”, marketed from about 1864, used two wicks instead of the usual one, and gave out twice the light.[19] The great selling point of Hinks lamps was that they didn’t need frequent trimming or give off nasty smoke or smells.

The company was first incorporated in 1877 (and re-incorporated in 1896).[20] [21] [22] Newspaper reports suggest that James retired as Managing Director and became Chairman in about 1897-8, when Joseph took over.[23] The firm had bases in London and Birmingham. Important customers included railway companies, which used oil lamps to light stations, trains and signals. With an eye to the domestic market, Hinks’ lamps were also decorative and borrowing from the designs of beautiful European china and porcelain table decorations their lamps were also a byword for domestic beauty, so much so that there is still a flourishing market for antique Hinks’ Lamps. They also developed specialist lamps and hurricane lanterns for India which was one of their most lucrative markets.[24] Hinks lamps were state-of-the-art until the early 20th century when electric lighting became the norm.

James married Elizabeth Benton (1816-96) in Birmingham in 1839;[25] they had six children but sadly three died in infancy; they had two surviving daughters and a son, Joseph. James retired in 1898 at the age of 83 and handed over the reins to Joseph.

James had interests outside of business. For a time he was president of Aston Villa Football Club and he regularly attended matches at the old ground at Perry Barr. He was a very well known ‘courser’ (someone who races greyhounds); some of his dogs were very well known in their time.[26] [27] [28] James died in Edgbaston, aged 90, on 21 December 1905 and was buried in Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham.[29] [30] When he died his estate valued at over £80k [about £8m in today’s money] and his Will made generous bequests to local hospitals, charities and his servants (as well as his family).[31]

References
  1. Baptisms (PR) England. Mancetter, Warwickshire. 22 September 1816. HINKS, James. Warwickshire Baptisms. Ref: DR0130/6; p. 69. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  2. Aris's Birmingham Gazette. (1836) ‘Partnerships Dissolved’. 17 October. p. 4g. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  3. Census 1841 England. Birmingham, Warwickshire. HO107; PN: 1147; BN: 4; FN: 11; p. 14. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  4. Baptisms (PR) England. St Philips, Birmingham, Warwickshire. 8 November 1844. HINKS, Rosa Maria. Birmingham, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912. www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  5. Baptisms (PR) England. St Philip. Birmingham, Warwickshire. 9 May 1856. HINKS, Rosa Jane. Birmingham, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912. Ref: DRO 25; Archive Roll: M44. www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  6. Census 1851 England. Birmingham, Warwickshire. HO107; PN: 2059; FN: 138; p. 41. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  7. Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. (1859). ‘218. Patent Petrolene, or Liquid Gas Lamps; Nibbs and Hinks, Hockley-hill, Birmingham.’ p. 41. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41334847.pdf : accessed 1 June 2020.
  8. Bury Times (1858) ‘PATENTS SEALED DURING THE WEEK’. 11 September. p. 2e. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  9. Birmingham Journal. (1858) ‘THE NEW LIGHT’. 27 November. p. 9f. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  10. Birmingham Journal. (1858) ‘A NEW LIGHT’. 9 October. p. 8b. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  11. Shil, R M (2003). Birmingham's Industrial Heritage: 1900-2000. www.books.google.co.uk : accessed 21 May 2020.
  12. The Gazette. (1858) Partnership Notices: Nibbs & Hinks. 27 July. p. 3496e. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22166/page/3496/data.pdf : accessed 1 June 2020.
  13. Birmingham Journal. (1858). ‘THE NEW LIGHT’. 18 December. p. 9e. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  14. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (1907) ‘Midland Captains of Industry: XIII. --- MR. JOSEPH HINKS.’ 28 May. p.4. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  15. Census 1861 England. Handsworth, Staffordshire. RG 9; Piece: 2019; Folio: 133; Page: 28; GSU roll: 542904. ED: 06. www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  16. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (1907) ‘Midland Captains of Industry: XIII. --- MR. JOSEPH HINKS.’ 28 May. p.4. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  17. Field (1877) ‘Advertisement – Third Patent duplex Extinguisher Lamp’. 01 December. p. 49d. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  18. Leamington Spa Courier. (1878) ‘JAMES HINKS AND SON, LIMITED.’ 18 May 1878. p. 4d. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  19. Leamington Spa Courier. (1876). ‘Mr James Hinks’. 14 October. p. 7f. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  20. Birmingham Daily Post. (1873) ‘JAMES HINKS AND SON (LIMITED).’ 31 March. p. 8e. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  21. Birmingham Daily Post. (1873) ‘A NEW LOCAL COMPANY.’ 12 March. p. 4e. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  22. Leamington Spa Courier. (1896) ‘JAMES HINKS AND SON.’ 19 September. p.4c. The British newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  23. Leamington Spa Courier. (1898) ‘JAMES HINKS AND SON.’ 21 May. p.4d. British Newspaper Archive. www.Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  24. Leamington Spa Courier. (1876). ‘Mr James Hinks’. 14 October. p. 7f. The British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 22 May 2020.
  25. Marriages Index (CR) England & Wales. Birmingham, Warwickshire. Q4 1839. HINKS, James and BENTON, Elizabeth. Vol: 16; p. 479. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  26. Leamington Spa Courier. (1905) ‘Death of Mr James Hinks’. 22 December. p.4. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  27. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (1907) ‘Midland Captains of Industry: XIII. --- MR. JOSEPH HINKS.’ 28 May. p.4. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  28. Birmingham Mail. (1905). ‘Death of Mr. James Hinks. A well-known Birmingham Resident.’ 22 December 1905. p. 4. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2020.
  29. Deaths Index (CR) England & Wales. Kings Norton, Worcestershire. Q4 1905. HINKS, James. Vol: 6c; p. 241. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  30. Burials (PR) England. Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire. 1905. HINKS, James. Warwickshire Burials [Transcription] www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 May 2020.
  31. Leamington Spa Courier. (1906). ‘Mr James Hinks of The Cedars …’. 23 February. p. 7f. British Newspaper Archive. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 7 June 2020.
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