Stokes & Son

BiographyThomas Stokes was born in England in 1831 and migrated to Australia in the goldrush of the 1850s. When gold proved elusive Stokes returned to his trade as a diesinker and button maker. In 1856 he established a successful business in Melbourne. In 1873 Stokes took a partner and the business became Stokes & Martin. Silverware was added to a productline that already included tradesmen's tokens and medalets. A large fire in 1893 destroyed and damaged a large portion of the business. As Martin had allegedly neglected to renew the company's fire insurance policy, the partnership dissolved at this point.

Stokes rebuilt the business as Stokes & Son and in 1911 it became a proprietary concern under the title Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. In 1962 Stokes (Australiasia) became a public company. The company still exists, producing electrical elements, appliance spare parts and badges, medallions and associated products.

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