Bob Takai at Ayrton Metals - 1983
Bob Takai visiting Ayrton Metals in 1983.
Image provided by Bob Takai
When Bob (Hiroyuki) Takai of Sumitomo Corporation first arrived in London on business in early 1983, he made a point of visiting the offices of many of the bullion traders* with whom Sumitomo did (or hoped to do) precious metal business.
This image shows Bob playing the role of a busy dealer at Ayrton Metals, the first company he visited.
He took photos of the people, the desks and sometimes the street entrance of these companies, which together form a unique record of the bullion market at that time.
Most of the photographs taken during Bob’s tour of the London market will be included in the next edition of this Online Exhibition.
It is interesting to note that none of the companies still exist in their original form as precious metals dealers and, not surprisingly, most of the individuals in the photos have retired from full-time activity in the market, as has Bob himself.
* London traders visited by Bob Takai in early 1983:
Ayrton Metals
Johnson Matthey Bankers
NM Rothschild & Sons
Samuel Montagu
Sharps Pixley
Trade Development Bank
Charterhouse Jaffet
Drexel Burnham Lambert
Derby & Co. (No photos)
Mocatta & Goldsmid (No photos)
