In the early 20th century, Watford’s industries were thriving and its population was consistently on the increase. The town’s reputation as a first-rate location in which to live and set up business was reflected in the numbers arriving from the smoky metropolis.

Road and rail access, housing, leisure facilities and the proximity to London, as well as the countryside, were all in the town’s favour.

One such firm that looked to Watford for business solutions was the Van Kannel Revolving Door Company Ltd, established in the United States by the tenacious Theophilus Van Kannel. The Philadelphia resident never forgot his youthful experience of working in a cold, draughty lobby with doors that slammed with every passer-by. He determined to design an alternative form of entry and exit, with public buildings uppermost in his mind.

His invention of a revolutionary type of door, patented in the U.S. in 1888, reportedly cost him $10,000 to develop. Referred to as a ‘revolving storm door’, it was noiseless, self-closing, minimised the loss of heat, reduced exterior noise and fumes and didn’t slam, even in windy weather. When required, it could be designed to automatically collapse in locations where there was ‘any chance of panic’, for example in the event of a fire. The first installation that year was in Rector’s Lobster Palace Restaurant in Times Square, New York, and proved an instant success. The Waldorf Astoria in New York and the Hotel Regina in Paris soon followed suit. In 1889, Theophilus Van Kannel was awarded the John Scott Medal of the City of Philadelphia in recognition of the value of his invention to society.

Watford Observer: St Albans Road c1905. Image: Frederick DownerSt Albans Road c1905. Image: Frederick Downer

When The Van Kannel Revolving Door Company Ltd was established in England, its base was in keeping with its well-earned reputation and motto: Always open, always closed. The imposing offices at Capel House, 62 New Broad Street, London, EC2 were located near the joinery works in Scrutton Street.

At the works, the largest stocks of seasoned timber ‘possibly in the country’ were stored, enabling the company to accept orders ‘of any magnitude without delay’, not only for revolving doors, but also for shop and office fittings and cabinet work.

In 1900 Henley-on-Thames born-carpenter and joiner Oliver Beck was brought on as London manager by the two brothers in charge: G.H. Johnson and I.L. Johnson, respectively Chairman and Secretary. By 1910, a branch office was set up in St Albans Road and Oliver Beck was relocated to Watford in the position of Manager of Joinery Works. By that time, Van Kannel revolving doors were in use in many leading hotels in London and the suburbs, as well as government offices, clubs, shops and mansions. The large stocks of seasoned hardwoods came from Cassiobury Mills.

Watford Observer: Oliver Beck. Image: Watford & Bushey Pictorial Record, 1915Oliver Beck. Image: Watford & Bushey Pictorial Record, 1915

Van Kannel revolving doors were fitted onto large liners, including the ill-fated White Star Line’s RMS Titanic. The design and manufacture of a large revolving door for the Titanic was undertaken by the Watford company in 1911. The mechanism was manufactured by Beeson & Sons, the well-known Rickmansworth ironmongers. The door was located on A deck, between the Palm Court Restaurant and the Smoke Room, both first class areas, and would likely have protected the still air in the Smoke Room from the double sliding doors at the stern end of the Palm Court which opened to the weather. As we all know, the liner tragically struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912 - 112 years ago tomorrow.

Watford Observer: RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage, 1912RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage, 1912

By 1915, The Van Kannel Revolving Door Company Ltd was advertised as ‘high class cabinet makers and French polishers’ and prided itself in manufacturing furniture ‘to match existing work of any period’. In fact, customers received estimates with an accompanying sketch of the intended design without charge.

Watford Observer: Detail of the Titanic deck plans showing the location of the Watford-manufactured revolving door. Image courtesy of Tim MaltinDetail of the Titanic deck plans showing the location of the Watford-manufactured revolving door. Image courtesy of Tim Maltin

In 1915, smart, moustached Oliver Beck was credited by the London management as ‘a gentleman who has been with the company for 15 years and to whose unfailing courtesy and whole-hearted devotion to the interests of the business, combined with mastery of detail, much of the success of the VK is due.’ Joinery works foreman, James Whitefield, had held his position since 1910 and by 1915 was reported to be ‘one of the ablest pickers and controllers of skilled labour that any company could wish to secure’. The Watford company’s products and reputation were second to none but, by 1920, the business appears to have closed. The U.S. operation had been bought by International Steel in 1907, when the transition to steel revolving doors began.

One of Charlie Chaplin’s early films, The Cure (1917), featured a revolving door – inspired by Theophilus Van Kannel’s invention.

With thanks to Tim Maltin, author, historian and a leading world expert on RMS Titanic

  • Lesley Dunlop is the daughter of the late Ted Parrish, a well-known local historian and documentary filmmaker. He wrote 96 nostalgic articles for the ‘Evening Post-Echo’ in 1982-83 which have since been published in ‘Echoes of Old Watford, Bushey & Oxhey’, available at www.pastdayspublishing.com and Bushey Museum.Lesley is currently working on ‘Two Lives, Two World Wars’, a companion volume that explores her father’s and grandfather’s lives and war experiences, in which Watford, Bushey and Oxhey’s history will take to the stage once again.