Kent & Co

Kent & Co (London)

Kent & Co was established in 1892 by Leonard Ramsey Kent (1856-1942) who left his job as a shipping clerk and set up as a supplier of ‘goods’ to billiard table makers, basing his operations at 18 Eldon Street, Finsbury, London. Many of the items he was supplying, especially cues, were manufactured on the premises, and he quickly expanded this work into the manufacture of billiard and bagatelle tables, including full-size versions. He was also involved, in a limited way, in the manufacture of other sporting goods, and additionally supplied a wide range of billiard and sporting items made by others.

The company operated as a wholesaler, so supplied bulk orders to other companies rather than selling individual items to the public directly. Although many of these products were sent to the retailer without any overt markings to identify Kent as the manufacturer, some of his tables and marking boards were fitted with plates carrying his name and address.

1908-1911

In 1908 the business relocated to 110 Middlesex Street, Bishopgate, London, where they stayed for three years.

1911-1913

In 1911 they moved again to larger premises at 28 Duke Street, where they expanded their cue making activities whilst continuing to manufacture billiard tables and other items.

Kent & Cleal Ltd

In 1913, Leonard Kent was joined in partnership by Edward Cleal who, having taken over the factory of the Bonzoline Ball Co in Queen Street, London, was involved with the manufacture and sale of composition billiard balls. This enabled the company to expand into the manufacture and supply of their own billiard/snooker balls which they branded ‘Cellite’ and ‘Durolite’.

Registering a private limited company in December 1913 they now began to trade as ‘Kent & Cleal Ltd’ moving from Duke Street in 1915 and taking premises at 38-40 Upper Clapton Rd., London N.E. where all their manufacturing operations were combined.

Edward Cleal died in unusual circumstances in 1918 when he fell from the platform of Clapton railway station in front of an approaching train. An inquest determined his death to have been ‘accidental.’ This left Leonard Kent in sole control of the business, which operated under the same company name and continued to supply billiard tables of all sizes through the inter-war years of the 1920s and 30s.

Kent & Cleal cues would usually have been identified by a small adhesive sticker, These stickers prior to 1914 would be styled “K&Co” but after establishing the partnership and converting to a limited company during this year, they would be marked “K&C Ltd” However, the stickers were not applied to every cue, and this can make identifying them difficult.

1913-1940

Leonard Kent died in 1942 and with no surviving family to continue his business ownership of the company became diversified. Billiard table making had ceased shortly before his death, due to the war, and did not resume at the end of hostilities. Their cue making activities were the longest-lasting billiard related activity, although this was eventually halted in the late 1950s, and at this time the company switched to making other types of indoor games, unrelated to billiards and snooker. Although they subsequently ceased to trade altogether, Kent & Co. Ltd. still exists as a dormant company.

Peter Ainsworth

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