HISTORY OF
THE FAMILY ROBINSON
ROBINSON & McKEWAN
Manufacturing Jewellers
45 FREDERICK STREET
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
EST. 1870 to 1890
​
William Joseph Robinson
&
Arthur George McKewan
"Because I am crazy, I decided to see what jewelery I could find of theirs, out there on the world wide web. Here's what I found:" JRN
A superb
'Queen Victoria 1887
Golden Jubilee large
hollow silver and enamel commemorative brooch',
the reverse bearing Birmingham hallmarks
for 1886 and
with maker's details
"R & M"
(Robinson & McKewan, Birmingham.).
Very good condition,
retaining original pin fittings.
Height 36mm.
Queen Victoria 1887 Golden Jubilee Hallmarked Silver & Enamel Royalty Brooch by Robinson & McKewan, Birmingham.
Man's frock coat. Chas. Baker & Co. 1880
925 Sterling silver brooch
with 9ct finish to flowers.
Hallmark Birmingham assay office 1889.
Sponsor mark M&R.
Made by Robinson & McKewan
(William Robinson & Arthur George McKewan.
34mm x 22mm. total weight = 3.27 grams
ROBINSON & McKEWAN 1884
FIGURED STERLING BROOCH 1 1/2"
HOCKLEY STREET
ROBINSON & McKEWAN 1883
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ROBINSON AND McKEWAN 1884
Silver snuff box and cheroot cutter.
4.5 cm, w 3cm , d 1cm
ROBINSON & McKEWAN 1884
SILVER COMBINATION SNUFF BOX WITH SIGAR CUTTER with engraved "WBBC to HW Jan 15th 1910".
2 oz.
​
Learn about hallmarks in the National Archives, click here.
The lion =purity, the anchor on its side=gold assayed in Birmingham.
A standing anchor-silver assayed in Birmingham.
The Anchor is the mark of Birmingham.
ROBINSON & McKEWAN 1876
SILVER VESTA CASE
VICTORIAN MATCH SAFE with engraved Kate Greenway scene and initials in a floral cartouche.
4cm x 3.3 cm x 1.4. .75 troy oz.
​
1820 - Built as a house with large ground. (45 Frederick)
​
​​1874- Earliest patent. (136 Hockley Hill)
​
1880 Patent. (136 Hockley Hill)
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1880 - Grounds sold and built on. (45 Frederick)
​
1881 - Leased to R&M (45 Frederick)
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1884- Earliest Patent at National Archives (45 Frederick)
​
ROBINSON & McKEWAN1893
9K Gold Etruscan RevealStyle Bar Pin,
3/8 x 1 5/8. 2.8 grams.
​
​
ROBINSON AND McKEWAN 1892/3
Silver Bar Brooch
1893
9Ct Gold and Amethyst Pin​ with three bery bright stones.
43mm. 3.45 weight.
​
ROBINSON AND McKEWAN 1886
SILVER ENAMEL BROOCH PIN​
"Large Victorian Silver Locket with full hallmark for Birmingham 1892.
Maker's mark is 'R & M', William Robinson and Arthur George McKewan who traded between 1880 and 1892 in Hockley Street Birmingham.
Locket weighs 11g on my kitchen scales.
Length including bale is 60mm and width is 35 mm approx."
​
(found on ebay)
ROBINSON AND McKEWAN 1880
Silver and 9ct Gold Locket
4.74 X 3.75X X.6 cm.
​
1887
1879
Burges Washstand
at the V&A.
William Joseph Robinson's daughter-in-law, Maud Amelia Sherwood Robinson Robinson. Wearing what I have to assume is one of their pieces. JRN
1885
Silver Novelty Perfume Scent Bottle
Modeled as a miniature champagne bottle with hinged cover.
6cm high; 25gram weight.
​
​
136 HOCKLEY HILL
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
1880 AND EARLIER
Before 1880, R&M were located at 136 Hockley Hill. JRN
