JJ Smith mark 100 years – a history of innovation

from Furniture & Joinery Production #350

ON THE EDGE

The Smith family originated from Crosby, near Maryport in Cumbria. Mr Jack Smith was manager of a farm, and later moved the family to Blacon, near Chester, to manage a stud farm breeding the famous Clydesdale horses. Three of his four sons William, Percy and Tom remained in Cumbria and served their apprenticeships at the locomotive works in Maryport. The other son John James went off to America.

When John James returned from America after the Great War, he had an idea of setting up an engineering business in Liverpool. In 1923, he and William established JJ Smith & Co (Engineers) Ltd. The factory was in Marlborough Street in Liverpool city centre, and Tom and Percy eventually joined them. In the 1930’s the company began specialising in woodworking machinery after taking over two small engineering companies who manufactured saw benches and sanders. When the factory was destroyed by the bombing blitz of Liverpool in 1940, John James and his brothers secured a six acre plot of land for a factory in Melling, which was then open countryside, but later became a mix of industry and housing. During the war years the company turned over production to aircraft parts which called for precision engineering. Propeller nuts for the famous Mosquito, one of Britain’s fastest wartime planes were manufactured by Smith’s who also produced merchant ship radar huts for the Admiralty.

After the war the company reverted to normal business and began to produce the famous Smith range of planers, mortisers, saws, sanders and spindle moulders, with the machine bases manufactured in their own iron foundry. This range was sold extensively in the UK and throughout the world. During this period the second generation of family joined the business - John Bruce [son of John James] and Colin and John [sons of William]. In the late 50s the company began to renovate and sell second-hand woodworking machinery and employed a workforce of more than 100. With such huge demand, JJ Smith decided to devote full time operation to this side of the business and eventually phased out the Smith range which had been so successful. Second-hand machine sales increased exponentially in the 60s and were exported worldwide. During the same period, a decision was taken to embark on selling new machinery manufactured by Wadkin, Robinson and Cooksley resulting in a new showroom being built to house and demonstrate this important range. In the early 70s JJ Smith became one of the pioneers of importing woodworking machinery manufactured in Germany, Italy, USA and Japan. During the late 60s and early 70s, two further second generation family members joined [Joan Jones and Kathleen Stanley –daughters of Tom].

Between 1976 and 1983 the third generation of family arrived in the business John and

Guy Stanley [grandsons of Tom], Cathy Bell [granddaughter of Tom], Martin Smith [grandson of John James] and Jane Reid [granddaughter of William]. Shirley Armstrong [second generation and daughter of William] also joined to look after sales of tools and spare parts.

The 80s also saw the opening of another new warehouse in Melling, and a new showroom and office near to Heathrow airport. During the 90s Smith’s consolidated their position as one of the leading importers of machinery and supplied the first CNC controlled copy lathe into the UK market, and introduced the first fully automatic crosscut saw to the UK – which still remains one of the top selling machines some 30 years later. The new millennium saw the sale of the Melling site for housing development, and a move to its new and still current 3750 sq m factory, showroom and offices in Knowsley, North Liverpool.

In 2003 Ian Stanley [the first of the fourth generation] started his career in the business. The next decade saw the company enter into an Anglo/Dutch joint venture to manufacture and distribute worldwide a range of equipment for Timber Frame house production. Importation of more specialised CNC machines for furniture parts, sofas and joinery was added and is still an important part of the sales portfolio today. Fourth generation family members are Rachael Baker, Michael Stanley and Adrian Smith joined between 2013-2015.

In 2022, JJ Smith were awarded the prestigious Knowsley Small Business Of The Year Award which recognised the company’s on-going commitment of hiring apprentices from the local community, and also the pioneering design of machinery for the ever growing off-site construction industry.

To reach this 100 year anniversary is a true milestone for the company, and one which both the directors and shareholders are justifiably very proud of. It has only been made possible by the dedication and hard work of every single employee over the last century, and also the support of the continental manufacturing partners, many of whom have been working with JJ Smith for over 30 years.