Fig. 8. On the left an early forkstaff plane and, on the right, a much later version. (Author's collection.)
In 1872 the firm is named as Hannah Griffiths (late J.R.Griffiths) Manufacturers of planes, saws, braces and bits, squares, bevels, gauges, spokeshaves, benches and hand screws, saw frames etc., Lower Goat Lane, Norwich.
This shows both that the firm was thriving and that Hannah was still at the helm. In March 1881, she was still responsible for the Board of General Health Rate for her house and shop at Lower Goat Lane. However by this time John Robert(iii) had moved into the premises previously occupied by his grandfather in Pottergate Street and, following the death of Hannah on 14th September 1881, he became owner of the Lower Goat Lane premises.
John Robert(iii) married twice and by his second wife, Charlotte had at least eight children. Four were sons, namely Ernest, Alfred, Charles and Horace. It was this quartet, together with their Uncle Henry, who carried on the family business. Eventually only Horace was active and he remained with the firm until its demise.
In an interview in 1953, Horace Griffiths, the last of the Griffiths planemakers, stated that around 1880-90, the firm was selling about 6,000 planes a year, had 7 or 8 workmen and never had a slack time
. It is interesting to note that the number of employees had declined since the middle of the century. The reduction could have been the result of a decline in the sales of wood planes caused by increasing mechanisation in woodworking and the introduction of metal planes in larger numbers. Alternatively it could indicate that the firm's output had not declined, but that production efficiency had improved. Although the actual manufacture of wooden planes was, as far as is known, not mechanised, the roughing out of the stock had probably been more mechanised during the 19th century.
In 1896 the firm was re-named Henry Griffiths & Sons, Henry being John Robert(iii)'s younger brother. Until 1925, the firm was known by this name. It then became H. Griffiths & Co. As can be seen from the two invoices shown in Figs. 1 and 2, sometime between 1920 and 1930, the heading "Plane Manufacturers" had been dropped and the business in Goat Lane, the retail outlet, had been taken over by E.C. Ward. Kelly's Directory of 1937 shows that the Griffiths business was concentrating on saw repairs and had moved to 91 Pottergate Street. The final mention comes in the 1941 trade directory, which lists the business as H. Griffiths, plane and tool makers, grinding repairs, saw repairs, 91 Pottergate Street. This was Horace Griffiths trading from his home.
Fig. 8. On the left an early forkstaff plane and, on the right, a much later version. (Author's collection.)
Fig. 9. A bridle plough plane. (Author's collection.)