Harris & Sheldon were established in 1880 by Sydney Harris. A few years later John Eccleston Sheldon joined the company. They were base at Stafford Street in Birmingham from 1908, and they were shop fitters and manufacturers of shop fittings. The company was registered on 17th May 1900, to acquire the business of shop-front builders, etc of a firm of the same name. Several patents including one in 1904 on "Improvements in, or relating to Certain Kinds of Window and Shop Fittings for Displaying and Supporting Goods and for other Analogous Uses" by the company and J E Sheldon.
1908 Directors: J. E. Sheldon (Chairman and Managing Director), H. J. Fisher, J. E. Hoskins, and R. G. Richards. Secretary: W. G. Hartridge.
At some point, formed Sankey-Sheldon Ltd, of Cannon Street, London, EC4, as joint venture with Joseph Sankey & Sons, of Hadley Castle Works, Wellington, Salop, which was operated by Harris and Sheldon. In 1923 Sankey-Sheldon fire-proof cabinets and other steel furniture were advertised jointly by Harris & Sheldon of 46 Cannon St, London, and Joseph Sankey & Sons of Hadley Castle Works of Wellington, Salop.
1929 Advert for Sankey-Sheldon British Steel Furniture. Manufacturers of Metal Office Furniture, viz., Filing Cabinets and Supplies, Cupboards, Clothes Lockers, Adjustable Shelving, Storage Bins, Desks and Tables, Plan Cabinets, Card Index Cabinets, Strong-room Equipment, Stools, Waste Baskets, etc. World War II Made major components for most of the operational aircraft, contributed to major development work on radar, as well as making ammunition boxes and stirrup pumps.