ry, was once a very
prominent industry in Willenhall. In 1815 James Carpenter, whose name is
now so prominent in the lock trade, took out a patent, which was
registered as follows:--

No. 3956--23rd August, 1815.--James Carpenter, of Willenhall, curry
comb maker. "Improvements to a curry comb, by inverting the handle
over the back of the comb, and thus rendering the pressure, when in
use, more equal."

Another typical industry was the making of door-bolts, now represented by
the firms of Joseph Tipper, and Jonah Banks and Sons. It is interesting
to note that among the last of the old trade tokens circulating in this
locality, were the Willenhall farthings issued by Austin, a miller,
baker, and grocer, who carried on business at the corner of Stafford
Street (the same now conducted by Joshua Rushbrooke); the obverse of this
coin bore as a design characteristic of the town a padlock, a currycomb,
and a door-bolt, with the legend, "Let Willenhall flourish," and the date
1844.

[Picture: Willenhall coin]

The Currycomb manufacture is now represented by D. Ferguson, and by W. H.
Tildesley, the latter adding to it the making of steel traps.

But whatever loss has been incurred by the shrinkage of this industry has
been more than made up by the enormous growth of the trade in
stampings--keys are stamped--and in malleable castings.

The earliest Willenhall patent was taken out in this branch of trade, and
thus specified: "No. 3,800. 7th April, 1814. Isaac Mason, Willenhall,
tea tray maker. Making stamped front for register stoves and other
stoves, fenders, tea trays, and other trays, mouldings, and other
articles, in brass and other metals."

In the stamping trades at the present time are Messrs. Armstrong, Stevens
and Co., Vaughan Brothers, Alexander Lloyd and Sons, Baxter, Vaughan, and
Co., and J. B. Brooks and Co. At the works of Messrs. John Harper and
Co., by far the largest in the town, a variety of hardware articles are
produced, besides locks, but the bulk of their trade is in the production
of castings, especially in the form of gas and oil stoves and lamps. New
developments continue to bring in fresh industries.

[Picture: Decorative design]

XXVIII.--Willenhall in Fiction.

A vivid picture of the social and industrial conditions which formerly
prevailed in this locality has been drawn by the masterly pen of
Disraeli, who eviden