J & F Pool or ‘Pools’ was founded by brothers James and Frederick in 1862 and was known in these early days for producing decorative copperware, which rivalled the famous Newlyn Copper. Later, as well as operating as a munitions factory throughout both world wars, the company came to specialise in perforated metal.
James Pool invented the ‘Cornish Gauge’ to define the perforating sizes used in the production of mining screens that were shipped globally. These perforated sheets became available in a wide choice of materials: stainless steel, copper, plastic, even paper. The second image is taken from company marketing material showcasing perforated sheet metal samples.