Coombes, Boynton & Finlay

Coombs, Boynton & Finlay were manufacturers of 'instantaneous lights and portable inkstands, and turners' of 26 Denmark Street, Soho, London. Their name was also sometimes given as simply Coombs & Co. The exact date of their establishment is not known but given that James Boynton (born 1803 or 1806) went his own way on the 16th of June 1838, and the ages of the partners, we can guess that it was sometime in the 1820s or 30s.

The instantaneous lights referred to above would have been matches as they are also listed under the section of Lucifer Match Makers in an 1841 trade directory. They were also listed as Glass Cutters and Inkstand Makers. It is likely that each partner brought a different skill to their joint venture. Boynton's profession is given as a turner in the 1841 census and Alexander Coombs (born 1806) as an Inkstand maker. We do not know William Finlay's profession but perhaps he took care of the glass cutting.

James Boynton is listed in his own name under both Lucifer Match Makers and Inkstand Makers at 31 Hyde St. Bloomsbury in the 1841 directory suggesting he carried on in business after his partnership with Coombs and Finlay ended. Coombs & Finlay remained in business and later directories both list them together and under their own names but always at 26 Denmark Street. By 1852 Coombs name is given as Combs and this error seems to have stuck as it is also given in an 1865 directory. ... show more

Coombs, Boynton & Finlay were manufacturers of 'instantaneous lights and portable inkstands, and turners' of 26 Denmark Street, Soho, London. Their name was also sometimes given as simply Coombs & Co. The exact date of their establishment is not known but given that James Boynton (born 1803 or 1806) went his own way on the 16th of June 1838, and the ages of the partners, we can guess that it was sometime in the 1820s or 30s.

The instantaneous lights referred to above would have been matches as they are also listed under the section of Lucifer Match Makers in an 1841 trade directory. They were also listed as Glass Cutters and Inkstand Makers. It is likely that each partner brought a different skill to their joint venture. Boynton's profession is given as a turner in the 1841 census and Alexander Coombs (born 1806) as an Inkstand maker. We do not know William Finlay's profession but perhaps he took care of the glass cutting.

James Boynton is listed in his own name under both Lucifer Match Makers and Inkstand Makers at 31 Hyde St. Bloomsbury in the 1841 directory suggesting he carried on in business after his partnership with Coombs and Finlay ended. Coombs & Finlay remained in business and later directories both list them together and under their own names but always at 26 Denmark Street. By 1852 Coombs name is given as Combs and this error seems to have stuck as it is also given in an 1865 directory.

By 1880, 26 Denmark Street is occupied by George Bridge, a cork merchants and William Meyers a cabinet maker.

James Boynton had at least two sons who followed his profession as a turner according to the census. By 1865 he had moved address again with 'Boynton Jas. & Son, inkstand mas.' Listed at 27 Hunter St. Brunswick Square, WC. By 1880 he is no longer listed at the address.

The company of Coombs, Boynton & Finlay are of interest to us as they are described in the earlier directories as portable inkstand makers and also later as patent inkstand makers. Although they also offered other services such as turning, lucifer matches and smelling bottles, portable ink wells seem to have been a major part of their business. In 1845, after Boynton had left, Coombs and Finlay were involved in a court case with Kennedy and Asprey (later to become Aspreys). The charge was for copying a registered design of August 27th, 1844 for an improved portable ink and light box. The design allowed the inkwell or match box to be opened and used without removing it from its writing desk or travelling case. This was done by raising the hinge so that the lid did not project beyond the back of the box.

Coombs, Boynton, & Finlay were not an important or particularly well-known company. However, the fact that they were one of a number of businesses manufacturing and looking to improve the design of the portable inkwell shows the importance of the small, everyday item for military officers and travellers in the 19th century.