Flinn's Jewellers - Broadgate / Warwick Row

I recently saw a watch for sale, it was by makers Flynn of Earlsdon & London, could that have been the Flynn that had a shop in Coventry, it was dated 1906, any info please.

I can now see that it is Flinn & Son of Earlsdon & London

Flinn's shop was in Warwick Row. My 21st birthday present, a Rolex, came from there - and I well remember Mr Flinn, he looked just like the actor Richard Wattis, very quiet and retiring, and with round horn-rimmed specs just like Wattis's. I don't think they had a London shop. Flinn's of course, was a retailer, not a maker. It was customary for retailers to put their name on watches until recent times (e.g. Garrard used both Swiss and Smiths movements, but put their own name on the dial, in the 50s and 60s) If they put "Earlsdon and London" on it, there's a good chance that it has a London, rather than Coventry, movement. Coventry movements are often identified by having a stylised eight-pointed star in the middle of the regulator index scale. Do you know the date of the case (silver or gold date letter and assay stamp? Or else take a photograph of the silver marks and back of the movement, and post them on here, or e-mail to me, to identify?) The maker's mark is usually under the dial, on the front plate of the movement, only way to see that is to remove the hands and dial.

Hi K I have here a receipt for 1 Diamond Engagement Ring - Solitaire 18ct Gold & Platinum - £6.15.0 from Flinn & Co, Jewellers & Silversmiths, 14 & 15 Broadgate, Coventry, dated July 27th 1935. It has actually got a twopenny stamp affixed. It was my mother's of course but I wear it now as I promised I would, so too her very thin wedding band. It's a beauty !

I can imagine that Flinn's made some jewellery - though much was made in the Birmingham jewellery quarter (and that is NOT decrying it, believe me! And of course, in London's jewellery quarter, too.) I'm not surprised that Flinn's were in Broadgate before the war - but of course they would have been bombed out, and I guess the shop in Warwick Row was a sensible move for them - as it was for Thorn's too (who I guess were also in the city centre before the Blitz). £6.15.0 for an engagement ring before the war was a lot of money, when a good craftsman's pay was around half that per week, or perhaps just a little more than half. I've no doubt it is a very nice ring; Flinn's was a good firm, as evidenced by selling Rolex and Breitling watches. Only very good firms were allowed to. As I said, my Rolex came from Flinn's - £56 in 1966, also a lot of money then!

Thank you Keith for your reply regarding Flinn, it is signed J Flinn & Son, Earlsdon & London, the watch was assayed in Chester in 1885, it also has the no 28569 next to the signature.and the case makers name is T W (for, I believe, Thomas Woolley).

Thomas Wallen, King St, Coventry. Coventry case makers apparently used Chester Assay Office in the second half of the 19th century because it was less rigorous in its requirements then the Birmingham Assay Office. John Flinn was the first watch maker to set up in Earlsdon (presumably 1852) and built Earlsdon House. He died in 1886. Case making and watchmaking was in decline in Earlsdon after 1880, I would guess they were undercut by Chapelfields and Birmingham makers - especially the likes of Dennison in Birmingham. Hence your watch having a T.W maker's mark. John Flinn, incidentally, came from Prescot, Liverpool - as did more than a few "Coventry" watchmakers. The "Earlsdon and London" is probably reference to having a London agent. I recall Coventry Silvercraft.

Thank you Keith you are a wealth of good information, now I can see why they used Chester case makers.

They weren't the only ones! Liverpool makers were caught out once - they left the hinge pins out, so presumably could distribute hallmarked parts among cheaper non-hallmarked, inferior, parts! Even Chester Assay Office wouldn't let them get away with that!!! Watch and clock repairing and collecting is my hobby.

Hi does anybody remember Flinns Jewellers in Warwick Row, I heard about a robbery that happened there around 1953/54 I was just wondering if anybody had heard anything about this and also if they could give any details thank you Tricia

Hello to you too, tricianorton & welcome to our Coventry History Forum. I was attending the prep school in 1953 & at that time, jewellery was not high on my list of subjects then, but I hope that someone will come up with something on this. Best wishes to you Tricia.

Hi thank you for responding I'm doing a bit of family research and the subject about the robbery keeps popping up so would really like to clear it up. Also does anybody know where I would find old court records for Coventry.

Hi Tricia, It depends on whether it was heard at the Magistrates or Crown Court. Both have web-sites but not sure how far back searchable records go. Maybe someone else can help out?

I also have receipts, one for a single stone diamond engagement ring. 18ct gold & platinum, £22.15.0. Also a gentleman's gold signet ring, £5.15.0. Bought from Flinn & Co. We were given a gift set of six silver teaspoons in a blue cardboard box which we still have. This was on January 10th 1959. We were engaged on my 18th birthday, 20th January.

Speaking of silver spoons, wasn't there a shop in National Provincial Chambers, Hertford Street which had an impressive display of custom made spoons in their window?