John Smith of Derby set up in business in 1856, following an apprenticeship with the celebrated Whitehurst family, the descendants of John Whitehurst (1713-88) of "Lunar Society" fame. John Smith's business prospered as northern industrial towns flourished and many consequential buildings were fitted with Smith's clocks. The most celebrated example of their work  is the great chiming clock in St. Paul's Cathedral (illustrated above), which stands only some 250 metres from the Newgate Tower.

By 1893, Lord Grimthorpe, designer of the Great Westminster Clock (often erroneously called "Big Ben") was able to say of Smith's and the long lasting nature of their work " Smith of Derby will clock you in the best way, and as near eternity as possible."

In 1933, Smith of Derby took over the clockmakers William Potts of Leeds and in 1967, J.B. Joyce of Whitchurch. Joyce's were founded in 1690, making it perhaps the oldest clockmaking company in existence.