Bidspirit auction | Parnall & Sons Ltd scales

Parnall & Sons Ltd scales - Parnall & Sons Ltd of Bristol began in 1820 as a maker of weights and measures, expanding into shop fitting and eventually aircraft production. The company, founded by William Parnall, became a large shopfitting business by the 1880s. Later, under George Parnall, it transitioned to aircraft manufacturing, particularly during World War I, producing over 600 aircraft. After the war, the company continued aircraft design and production, and also moved into domestic appliances.  They stopped making scales in the 1880s, making these mid Victorian and rare.  Interestingly the company went on to make the fuselage to the de Havilland Venom, a jet single-seat fighter-bomber. Work continued with interior finishings for 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament. Most famous of all was the production and installation of the internal fittings for public rooms on board the Cunard Ocean Liner Queen Elizabeth 2 in the 1960s.