H J Davis (Old Brompton)
Little is known of the early career of Harry James Davis (1872-1894) who was born in Walworth in London, but subsequently moved to Old Brompton, Chatham, where he set up as a billiard table maker and general sporting goods outfitter.
1902 – H J Davis & Co
Although he claimed that his business had been established in 1896, the first reference to him trading independently comes in 1902, shortly after his arrival in the Kentish town of Old Brompton. Here he took over the premises of a local shoe & boot maker at 50a High Street, which served as retail shop, workshop, and personal residence for himself and his family.
He would briefly open a secondary shop at Gravesend, and subsequently Ramsgate, but neither venture lasted more than a few years, and Old Brompton always remained at the centre of his operations. His workshop during his earliest trading period was named the “Invicta” works, a brand name which he also used for some of his sporting goods and equipment.
c1918-1932 H J Davis & Co Ltd
Towards the end of the war the business was converted into a limited company and shortly afterwards the “Invictus Works” became the “Manor Works.” The table plate below references both of these changes and would have been used from about the mid-1920s into the early 1930s.
Photo by David Smith
c1932-1935
By 1932, the name of the works had changed again to “Kent Billiard Works” this reflecting another brand name used by Davis, which was “Kent Champion,” a name he applied to billiard cues in particular.
In 1935, Harry Davis died at the age of 62. His wife and two surviving children, both daughters, decided to liquidate the business at this date, and consequently the company was wound up.
Peter Ainsworth
