engravers (general/bank-note)

[Miss Trees]

Just in case anyone knows anything about engraving....

I am researching my great great grandfather who followed in the steps of his father and became an engraver, in his apparent birth place of Dublin, Ireland. I have no idea if he would have had any kind of formal training but family lore says his uncle was John Henry Foley (Victorian sculptor of e.g. the Albert memorial). And apparently it was JHF who influenced my gg grandfather to go to school for the arts. Absolutely no idea as to the veracity of this rumour and will probably never know! We do know that in his early 20's he moved to England with his wife and children and continued the engraving trade. Apparently he was quite talented,  and in huge demand. We do know that he was acquainted with or friends of members of the Waterlow family (of Waterlow & Sons) and so I was quite excited when I found the 1911 census and his death certificate that indicated he was a bank-note engraver. Because of this and a few other things I believe that he may have actually worked for Waterlow & Sons (I don't know of any other firms who printed banknotes at the time. ) We actually have some samples from the firm which have been passed down through the family and could therefore be my gg grandfather's work (I may never know but would sure love to!)

I have tried locating any existing records or archive material the Waterlow firm may have left behind, without success. So I'm just putting this out there in case anybody has any information or pointers, or just general knowledge of engraving that might help me understand his work and background. For example would it have been normal for an engraver to have formal art training or would he more likely have been apprenticed? (Interestingly on his marriage cert in 1869 he lists his occupation as engraver, but a year later on his daughter's birth cert, he's an 'artist' - the only reference I have found where he refers to himself as an artist, thereafter he's simply 'engraver' or 'bank note engraver'.)

[Desert Girl]

I can only tell you a little, but it may help.   

At the age of 13, my father (a Londoner) won a scholarship to Bolt Court Technical School in Fleet Street, London, (which later became London School of Engraving & PhotoLithography, and later still became the London College of Printing).

My father went into the Photo-Lithography side, as he was keen on photography and printing, eventually he became a lecturer in photo-lithography.   
One of his friends at Bolt Court was in the engraving side and eventually worked in London, where he did engraving for bank notes, which is probably more the side you're interested in, but I'm afraid I know nothing more! 
Another boy at that school was the well known Kenneth Williams, who studied cartography, but was more interestd in clownig around, and  as we all know, he chose that over a career as a cartographer!

During WWII the juniors section of Bolt Court had to be re-located out of central London,  and so it moved to Bicester in Oxfordshire.  But in 1943 when my father was 15, and of school leaving age, he was no longer of evacuee status, and so had to continue attending Bolt Court in Fleet Street, London. But as the school grew, they had to find new premises, and it re-located away from Fleet Street. 

There was a Bolt Court old boy's organisation, and if it is still in existence they may be able to supply you with information about photo engraving as it was done in those years you are interested in.  Otherwise how about writing to the the London College of Printing?  If it still exists?!!
Sorry I can't be of more help.
DG

[t mo]

hi dg
if your ancestor had anything to do with engraving bank notes wouldn,t it be worthwhile getting in touch with the bank of england
trevor

[Miss Trees]

Hello all,
Thank you much for your replies to this.

I may try contacting the bank, though I'm guessing that he didn't directly work for the bank but you never know! At the very least perhaps they can provide background to the trade.

I'm fairly sure also that if he went to school, it was in Ireland as he did not actually move to England until probably age 23 or so, but it may be an idea to check with the college. I would love to know if there are still any 'old boys' club. Someone once told my dad that there was such an organisation still existing but he can't now remember what it was called. That's an idea you just reminded me of so I will have a poke around.