& spencer type private foundation 1685 industry jewellery clothing freemasonry rotary headquarters birmingham london bedworth england uk key people brian toye chairman fiona toye ceo num employees approximately 200 2008 revenue 4.23 million 2008 operating income 131 007 2008 net income 195 082 2008 website www.thetoyeshop.com www.toye.com toye kenning & spencer on 19 21 great queen street covent garden in london 2011 toye kenning & spencer plc is a british jewellery and clothing manufacturer based in the jewellery quarter birmingham ; covent garden london and bedworth warwickshire england . founded in 1685 the company remains family run by members of the toye family . the firm holds a royal warrant 2 to queen elizabeth ii for supply of gold and silver laces insignia and embroidery . it supplies honours badges and ribbons presented at investitures and is sole supplier of the buttonhole honours emblem . the company has also been commissioned to produce semi official commemorative coins for politically important events aimed at improving diplomatic relations with the uk . 3 contents 1 history 1.1 early history 1.2 1900 to present 2 manufacturing facilities 2.1 birmingham 2.2 bedworth 3 references 4 external links history edit early history edit the toy family arrived in england in 1685 as huguenot refugees after the revocation of the edict of nantes by louis xiv . the toy family sailed into the thames in 1685 disguised as cattle dealers . they settled in hope town now known as bethnal green close to spitalfields . here they resumed the traditional family business of weaving lace making embroidery and gold and silver wire making . in 1784 guillaume henry toy was engaged in this industry and living with his family in hope town . he had four sons and three daughters . in 1835 william toy grandson of guillaume acquired larger premises at george street bethnal green . at first he applied himself to broad weaving but other forms of weaving soon appealed to him particularly the making of ribbons as there was then a far larger demand for this commodity . it was found necessary to open retail establishments further west in london in addition to the factories . a shop was opened in 1888 at 18 little britain and a short time later a further establishment was opened up at 17 clerkenwell road . by 1890 the weaving of heavy double twilled silks nine feet wide for trade union and friendly societies became an important part of the business . the banner department used painting and embroidery to illuminate the designs . with increased and varied activities it became apparent that the factory at 186 old ford road was inadequate . the masonic section was rapidly becoming more important therefore it was essential to move the factory nearer to the headquarters of freemasonry in great queen street . premises were acquired in 1898 at 57 theobalds road where showrooms were opened the factory being placed at the rear and continuing right through the block into red lion square . 1900 to present edit in 1903 herbert toye joined the business a step made necessary by the considerable expansions that had taken place . in 1909 it became necessary in accordance with the companies act 1908 to register the firm as a company . from then on all business was transacted as toye & co. in 1910 william toye senior died and in the terms of his will his sons william frederick and herbert and timothy j mister all became partners in the business . in 1930 it was necessary to rebuild and enlarge the main factory in red lion square london . then came a fresh crisis . britain was hit by the depression and three million people were thrown out of work . during these dismal days of dole queues and empty larders toye maintained full employment an accolade for the management . in 1937 the coronation of king george vi and queen elizabeth gave the company another great trade boost and provided an outlet for the skilled crafts of their staff . they worked day and night for six months producing banners emblems robes and insignia for that historic occasion . the velvet cushions on which the royal crowns were carried into westminster abbey were made by women at toye in conjunction with the royal school of needlework . in 1949 miss h e toye who had completed thirty years service on the sales side was elected to the board . few firms at that time had elected women to the board level . in 2010 toye lost a multi million pound contract with the ministry of defence due to pricing concerns . 4 manufacturing facilities edit birmingham edit toye s factory in birmingham s jewellery quarter is home to the group s metal manufacturing . every stage in the manufacture of a metal product takes place there . products include medals badges and buttons chains of office and insignia for heads of state and dignitaries jewellery and cufflinks presentation cups for sporting organisations and commemorative plaques . the fa cup was made by toye . 4 bedworth edit the group s textile production is in bedworth near coventry . there toye specialises in narrow fabric weaving manufacturing coloured ribbons braids and laces for military homeland security club association school and fashion markets worldwide . bedworth also specialises in hand and machine embroidery and making crafted hats and caps for the military homeland security corporate sports and show business markets . customers range from the mod and overseas defence forces to international fashion houses sporting organisations and local schools . honours caps for the rugby football union buttons for henley royal regatta and grand national ties were produced there . references edit lse toye accessed on 22 december 2008 toye royal warrant page accessed on 2 october 2012 cct2514 1973 silver exhibition of archaeological finds of the people s republic of china was minted with parts of the design coming from high level chinese government officials . the coin has the phrase in chinese characters chinese british friendship . a b wallop harry 8 april 2012 . a trip back in time to our industrial heritage at toye kenning & spencer . the daily telegraph . london uk tmg . issn 0307 1235 . oclc 49632006 . retrieved 7 may 2013 . external links edit media related to toye kenning & spencer at wikimedia commons homepage of toye kenning & spencer authority control worldcat identities viaf 174369646 retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title toye kenning % 26 spencer & oldid 738188832 categories british brandscompanies established in 1685retail companies of the united kingdombritish royal warrant holdersbritish jewellers1685 establishments in englandhidden categories use british english from september 2013pages using infobox company with unsupported parametersuse dmy dates from september 2010commons category template with no category setcommons category without a link on wikidatawikipedia articles with viaf identifiers navigation menu personal tools not logged intalkcontributionscreate 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