Budding Patent Retailer - James Nelson & Sons of Leeds

The firm of James Nelson was established in Leeds in at least 1822. By 1845 it was listed in local directories as a brass and iron founders, ironmongers, silversmiths, and whitesmiths (ie tinsmith).

It was listed as a retailer of the Budding Patent Lawnmower in one of John Ferrabee's advertisement in the Gardeners Chronicle, March 1848.

The business was located for many years 47 Briggate, Leeds. Nearby at 49a was The Leeds Times newspaper and to the south at 46 was The Bull & Bell public house and hotel. 47 is now the site of Marks & Spencer. Thomas Green's early wireworks site at North Passage, Lower Head Row was a mere quarter of a mile, five-minute walk away.

The business became a highly successful ironmonger and expanded to own a foundry in Wakefield and a shop at 10 Royal Arcade, Old Bond Street, London, listed in 1886.