following on from above, a couple of comments to add to this point
'Page 151 - further on in that caption from above,
'The brand name 'Royal Brierley Crystal' was adopted by Stevens and Williams in the 1920s who saw their glass as a royal product.'
1) There is a vase in CH British Glass page 109 Plate 214 that is an Abbey Glass crackle vase. Abbey Glass was introduced in March 1928 and followed quickly in April 1928 with the crackled version. The piece in plate 214 is marked with ...
'a fleur-de-lys and S&W/Abbey/H.Nicholl'
So either they were not actually using the brand name at that late point in the 1920s or they did not use it for this particular range.
2) In the book The Crystal Years by R.S.Williams-Thomas dated 1983 he says on page 9
'
Stevens & Williams was used as the product name until the 1930s. S. & W. astride a fleur-de lys was used as the trade-mark. When brand names became a simple method for customer recognition, Stevens & Williams adopted the word Brierley - it's own location name to be used with "Royal" to significy it's possession of the appointment as the Royal British Glassmakers.'The earliest piece I've found that is apparently (not seen the marking myself but think it's probably rightly stated) marked Royal Brierley Crystal, is a commemorative piece for the coronation of George VI to the throne (1937).
This part now is supposition - it seems to me from all my reading that this is probably one of the earliest dates the 'brand name' Royal Brierley Crystal was used for Stevens & Williams made products. This seems a likely supposition to me supported by the advert found re the Naval commemorative products that dates to 1942. This also appears to be supported by the fact that the Keith Murray pieces were produced in the 1930s (I have a date that goes up to 1939 - page 149 CH British Glass caption for plate 303) and as far as I can see did not carry the words Royal Brierley Crystal (open to correction). I have come across one that is signed Keith Murray, then has S& W then BRIERLEY on the base. I will try and find it and attach a link.
I have attached a link here to the commemorative piece that is signed Royal Brierley Crystal according to the seller.
http://www.belowstairs.co.uk/acatalog/Antique%20Commemorative%20Three%20Dates%20Decanter%20CC75.jpgI have attached a photograph of the S&W astride a fleur-de-lys that R.S. Williams-Thomas references as the trade-mark for Stevens & William.
If anyone finds an advert or piece dated earlier than 1937 and carrying the Royal Brierley Crystal strapline or mark please do add
If anyone finds a piece marked Royal Brierley Crystal and can attach a photo of the mark and the piece, that would be great.
All open to correction in due course if further information comes to light.
m