This is the place to come to learn about Avery style needle cases.

Licensee/Agent Data

The detailed data on this page was used to create the statistical information referenced on this website.  Only needle cases that contain the name of a company that is not a needle manufacturer are covered on this page.  Additional detailed data can be found on the following pages: Needle Manufacturer Data, Designer/Patentee Data and W. Avery & Son Data.

The data listed below is based on three main sources: 1) information received from collectors via the Avery Survey; 2) needle cases sold on eBay or mentioned on other internet websites; and 3) data included on the Master List in Horowitz and Mann’s book entitled Victorian Brass Needlecases.

Company names are listed below first by location then in alphabetic order based on the surname of the company.  For example, Edward Cox is listed under C and R. Holt is listed under H.  Occasionally a company name will be listed with several different name varieties due to changes in the business or the way in which they were recorded in historical directories.  For each company there is a total which indicates the number of designs found with that company’s name.  What follows is a list of individual needle case designs that make up that total including the year the item was designed or patented if known.

When a design is only found with one company name, the words “exclusive design” is placed next to the needle case name.  Items marked “signed per Horowitz and Mann” indicate the only source of the information is from Horowitz and Mann’s book.  In addition, items are marked to indicate the designer/patentee or contain a series of asterisks to indicate the most common designers/patentees as follows: *= W. Avery & Son, **=Buncher & Haseler and ***= James William Lewis.

In you have or know of any other Avery style needle cases that are not listed here, please contact us.

Totals

Total Licensees/Agents with signed needle cases = 48

Total Designs = 227 (19 are patent only, no sample needle case has been found; 19 unsigned/unknown if they are signed)

Total Signed Designs = 189

Total Signed Figural Designs = 104

Total Signed Accordion-Folding Designs = 6

Total Signed Demi-Quad Designs = 8

Total Signed Flat-Name Designs = 50

Total Signed Quadruple Designs = 21

Subtotals - W. Avery & Son

Total = 128 (74 exclusive designs)
Figural = 92 (54 exclusive designs)
Accordion-Folding = 0
Demi-Quads = 3 (0 exclusive designs)
Flat-Names = 27 (16 exclusive designs)
Quadruples = 6 (3 exclusive designs)
(See W. Avery & Son Data for details)

Subtotals - London Companies

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Alex Arkell, 29 Oxford Str. W., London.
(Wholesale & Retail Ironmonger & Cutler, Saw, File & Tool Dealer)

Total = 1
Picnic Basket**1875

Asser & Sherwin
(dressing case manufacturer)


Total = 4 (1 exclusive design)
Picnic Basket**-1875
Quad-Building*-1868 (exclusive design)
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-de-Lis*-1868
Wheelbarrow with Roses**-1874

Baggallays, Westall & Spence
(draper, clothier, warehouseman)













Total = 20
Alliance*-1870
Archery Society*-1876
Bee Case*-1872
Bombe*-1872 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Britannia*-1870 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Butterfly*-1871
Easel - Floral**-1875
Guitar 1878*
Hedgehog*1872
Horseshoe**-1874
Painted Scrolls (date unknown)
Picnic Basket**-1875
Pyramid Pin Case*-1872
Scallop Shell*-1871 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Stella Golden*-1869
Trolley and Box-1877 (design registered to Frank J. Kendrick)
Universal Pin Case*-1871 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Victoria with Windmill and Horse*-1870
Victorian Rowboat-1874
Wheelbarrow with Holly**-1874 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)

Carliles, Pittman & Co
(habedasher)

Total = 1
Royal with Vase*-1869

Charles, Reynolds & Co
(foreign and imported fancy goods, leather bags and leather goods manufacturer)

Total = 2
Drum*-1876
Postal Weight*-1876

Cook - Son & Co
(draper, clothier, warehouseman)







Total = 10 (2 exclusive designs)
Butterfly Box - Oval Tub*-1872
Demi-Quad - Helen - Maltese Cross*-1869 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Demi-Quad - Helen - Bent Arm with Wreath*-1869 (exclusive design)
Golden Cart**-1877
Golden Needle Case*-1868/1884
Louise - Square*-1870
Quad-Golden Casket - Bent Arm with Wreath*-1868 (exclusive design)
Quad-Nickel Silver - Plain with no decoration*-1868 (stamped C. S & Co London)
Royal with Vase*-1869
Silver Needle Case*-1868/1884

Copestake, Moore, Crampton & Co
(lace, muslin, embroidery manufacturer and warehouseman)








Total = 11 (4 exclusive designs)
Athena Golden*-1869
Butterfly*-1871
Butterfly Box - Oval Tub*-1872
Demi-Quad - Minerva*-1869 (exclusive design)
Horseshoe**-1874
Minerva Lever*-1868 (exclusive design)
Minerva Pincer*-1870 (exclusive design)
Pyramid Pin Case*-1872
Quad-Minerva Lever Casket*-1868 (exclusive design)
Scallop Shell*-1871
Walnut on Leaf*-1873

Cormack BROs
(dressing case manufacturer)




Total = 7
Cleopatra's Needle*-1877
Drum*-1876
Easel-Floral**-1875
Horseshoe**-1874
Kindling Box*-1878
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-de-Lis*-1868
Temple Bar*-1878

Edward Cox
(silk mercer and draper)

Total = 2
Louise - Square*-1870
Universal Pin Case*-1871

Ellis, Howell & Co
(aka John Howell & Co)
(warehouseman)

Total = 4 (1 exclusive design)
Demi-Quad - Nilsson*-1869 (exclusive design)
Drum*-1876
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-de-Lis*-1868
Royal with Vase*-1869

D. H. Evans & Co
(draper)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

Fisher - 188 Strand
(dressing case maker and cutler)

Total = 1
Horseshoe**-1874

Gay & Son
(aka William Gay & Son)
(dressing case manufacturer)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Quad - Gay & Son version*-1868 (exclusive design)

R. Holt French Court
(jeweler and dealer of fancy goods)

Total = 1
Louise - Folding

Hutton & Co
(warehouseman)





Total = 12
Bee Case*-1872
Butterfly Box - Oval Tub*-1872
Demi-Quad - Christmas*-1869
Demi-Quad - Helen - Oval Decoration*-1869
Duplex*-1870
Florence*1870
Hedgehog Needle and Pin Case*-1872
Louise - Square*-1870
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-de-Lis*-1868
Royal with Vase*-1869
Stella Golden*-1869
Scallop Shell*-1871

Johnson Hatchman & Co
(haberdasher, warehouseman, lace maker)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Hermetical Needle Slide (exclusive design)

Letts, Son & Co
(stationer)

Total = 2
Cradle**-1875
Queen’s Footstool*-1875

Edwin Luke
(drapers warehouseman)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Quad-Sterling Silver-Christmas Gift*-1868 (exclusive design)

Mappin Bros.
(aka Mappin & Webb)
(cutler)

Total = 7 (1 exclusive design)
Butterfly*-1871
Ladies Companion*-1869
Leaning Town of Pisa*-1879 (exclusive design)
Postal Weight*-1876
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis*-1868
Temple Bar*-1878

Melliship & Harris
(fancy goods merchant)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

G. & J. Morton
(aka J. & G. Morton)
(table cutlery)

Total = 3
Quad-Eclectic - Bent Arm in Oval*-1868 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis*-1868

G. Nazer - Royal Exchange
(cutler and fancy jeweller)

Total = 1
Penny Stamp*-1874

D. Nicholson & Co.
(warehouseman)

Total = 1
Stella Golden*-1869

T. Pellett
(aka Thomas Pellett)
(cutler)

Total = 2
Postal Weight*-1876
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

Perry & Co
(steel pen manufacturer, stationary sundries, catalogue sales of fancy goods)



Total = 6 (2 exclusive designs)
Alexandra***-1870
Beatrice - 6 Sections***-1867 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Gem - 4 Sections***–1867 (exclusive design)
Gem - 6 Sections***-1867 (exclusive design)
Postal Weight*-1876
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis*-1868

Sydney J. Saunders
(wholesale stationers and fancy goods importer)

Total = 3
Easel - Floral**-1875
Shakespeare's Birthplace - Small*-1873
Trolley and Box-1877 (design registered to Frank J. Kendrick)

Thomas Savage
(dealer in stationary and fancy articles)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

Seaman, Little & Co - Kensington
(drapper)

Total = 1
Postal Weight*-1876

Albert Sharpe
(dressing case manufacturer)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Beatrice - Sharpe version***-1867 (exclusive design)

Stacy
(cutler)

Total = 2
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868
Quad-Nickel Silver - Plain with no decoration*-1868

J. W. Shutter
(cutler)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

Vyse, Sons & Co
(straw hat manufacturer)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-lis*-1868

H. Walker
(needle maker)

Total = 1
Bower-1877 (design registered to J. M. Farnol) (signed per Horowitz and Mann)

B .B. Wells (aka Benjamin B. Wells)
(cutler)

Total = 1
Quad-Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf*-1868

W. Whiteley
(draper and department store)







Total = 14
Bee Case*-1872
Easel - Floral**-1875
Hedgehog Needle and Pin Case*-1872
Horseshoe**-1874
Louise - Square*-1870 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Picnic Basket**-1875 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Postal Weight*-1876
Pyramid Needle Case*-1872
Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis*-1868
Queen’s Footstool*-1875
Royal with Vase*-1869
Scallop Shell*-1871 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Wishing Well*-1876
Work and Game Table*-1876

Subtotals - New York Companies

Cochran, McLean & Co
(dry goods and general merchandise)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Quad-Eclectic - Lion on Shield*-1868 (exclusive design)

R. Moffat & Co
(aka Robert Moffat)
(needles)

Total = 1
American Eagle

Pratt & Farmer
(aka George P. Farmer or John H. Pratt or Erasmus C. Pratt, Bro & Co)
(importer, wholesale dealer of needles, pins, small wares, notions)






Total = 8 (2 exclusive designs)
Athena Golden*-1869
Butterfly Box - Oval Tub*-1872
Christmas Pincer-*1870 (exclusive design)
Demi-Quad - Cleopatra*-1868 (exclusive design)
Florence*-1870 (signed per Horowitz and Mann)
Hedgehog Needle and Pin Case*-1872
Stella Golden*-1869
Universal Pin Case*-1871

R. J. Roberts
(aka Robert J. Roberts)
(needles and cutlery)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Unique-Roberts version***-1869 (exclusive design)

Subtotals Other/Unknown Location Companies

D. & M. - Birmingham
(jeweler and silversmith)

Total = 1 (1 exclusive design)
Quad-Sterling Silver - Crest with Flower*-1868 (exclusive design)

Evans & Owen - Bath
(draper)

Total = 1
Quad - Nickel Silver - Plain with no decoration*-1868

J. & T. Forgie - Glasgow
(desk and dressing case manufacturer and jeweler)

Total = 1
Easel-Floral**-1875

G. C. H & Co - Birmingham
(aka G. C. Haseler & Co or Geogre Haseler & Co)
(manufacturing jewelers)


Total = 3 (3 exclusive designs)
Quad-Sterling Silver - Geometric Pattern*-1868 - engraved with geometric patterns, person's initials and from W. A. and hallmarked 1869 (exclusive design)
Quad-Sterling Silver - Plain with no decoration*-1868 - engraved pattern around edges and hallmarked 1869 (exclsive design)
Quad-Sterling Silver - Floral Pattern*-1868 - engraved with flowers, person's initials and hallmarked 1881 exclusive design)

G. R. & Co
(business type unknown)

Total = 1
Temple Bar*-1878

Grand Magasins du Louvre - Paris
(shopping center)

Total = 1
Butterfly*-1871

Hirsch & Stern - Birmingham
(jeweler merchant)

Total = 1
Butterfly Box - Diamond*-1872

G. H. Johnstone & Co - Birmingham
(jeweler)

Total = 2 (2 exclusive design)
Quad-Lady Mayoress of London*-1868 (exclusive designs)
Quad-Sterling Silver-Scroll Pattern*-1868 (exclusive design)

Waters & Woodhouse - Scarborough
(ironmonger)

Total = 1
Penny Stamp**-1874

 

*= designs registered/patented to W. Avery & Son, Redditch (51)
**= designs registered to Buncher & Haseler, Birmingham (8)
***= designs registered/patented to James William Lewis, Birmingham (5)

Master List

To date 227 Avery style needle cases have been discovered.  Visit these pages to see photographs of each design as well as the original design registration or patent and gain knowledge about variations within each design.

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Avery Survey

In 2013 an Avery Survey was created in order to gather as much information as possible about Avery style needle cases from collectors and interested parties around the world.  The Avery Survey is easy to complete and gives you a chance to contribute to this important research.  Be sure and stop here to see the survey results.

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About Us

Learn how the author turned a hobby cross stitching antique sampler reproductions into a passion for collecting Avery needle cases resulting in a published book, a Wikipedia article, a TCI Bulletin article and conference presentation and this website.

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