Vickers, Sons & Co. were Steel Makers and Armaments & Engineering Manufacturers.

They operated from:

    34 Old Broad Street,
    Sheffield

and

    London

The firm of Naylor Hutchinson Vickers & Company was established in Sheffield in 1828.  This was around the time Edward Vickers married the daughter of George Naylor senior partner in Naylor and Sanderson.  Edward eventually gained control of the business and they continued operating under the name Naylor Vickers at Millsands, Sheffield.  The firm thrived as a manufacturer of rails for the various railway businesses.

Tom Vickers (Edwards eldest son) was born on 9th July 1833 and before he was 21 was in charge of the hammers and rolling mills.  Albert Vickers (the younger son) was born on 16th September 1838 and did not join the firm until 1854 (on the managerial and commercial side of the business).

In 1867 the company adopted the name of Vickers Sons & Co.  It was around this time that they started in heavy engineering making such things as marine shaftings and screw propellers.  It was during the 1880’s that they diversified again into the armaments business; in 1888 producing armour plate and in 1890 their first artillery piece.

In 1884 Albert became the chairman of the newly formed Maxim Gun Co., (the Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Co. Ltd. to give it its full title) set up to produce the machine gun of that name.  In 1897 they acquired the company outright. It was at this point that the firm acquired their first London address.

Over the years Vickers bought many other firms until in 1927 they bought the Armstrong Whitworth warship and armaments businesses (after Armstrong Whitworth went bust shortly after the end of World War I), which were merged with those of Vickers to form Vickers-Armstrong.

In 1955 Vickers-Armstrong split itself into three businesses - engineering, aircraft and shipbuilding.

In 1960 Vickers and English Electric merged their aircraft interests to form the British Aircraft Corporation.

In September 2002 Alvis plc bought out Vickers Defence Systems.

1868. Unofficial underprint type 60 (over the gum) in black.

PP198 1d lake-red (SG 43 or G1)
Plates 105, 120, 122, 123, 124, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 139, 140, 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 163, 165, 166, 168, 170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 181, 182, 184, 185, 191, 192, 193, 196, 198 and 199

PP199 1 1/2d lake-red (SG 51 or G6)
Plate 3

PP200 2d blue (SG 46 or G3)
Plates 14 and 15

PP201 3d rose (SG 103 or J32, J34)
Plate 7 and 9

Although this underprint is currently unlisted on the 3d rose plate 7,  I have been lucky enough to obtain a pair on cover.

PP202 4d vermilion (SG 43 or J60)
Plate 13

Unofficial underprint type 61 (over the gum) in black.

PP203 1d lake-red (SG 43 or G1)
Plates 134, 183, 198 and 202

Note.  Plate 183 with the type 61 underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

PP204 1 1/2d lake-red (SG 51 or G6)
Plate 3

PP205 2d blue (SG 46 or G3)
Plate 15

PP206 6d grey (SG 147 or J85)
Plate 15

Unofficial underprint type 62 (over the gum) in black.

PP207 1d lake-red (SG 43 or G1)
Plates 130, 150, 182 and 192

PP207A 1 1/2d lake-red (SG 51 or G6)
Plate 3