The company was established in 1844 by William Gillett at Hadlow in Kent and was devoted entirely to making small clocks. They moved to Clerkenwell and then to Una Road, Croydon.
In the mid 1850s Mr Bland joined the company which then started making turret clocks.The name of the company was changed to Gillett, Bland & Co until the death of Bland in 1884.
In 1877 Arthur Johnston became a partner and a bell foundry was developed. In the late 1800s Johnston took full charge of the foundry and Gillett was reported to have emigrated to America.
Cyril Johnston joined the firm in 1902 and suceeded upon his fathers death in 1916.
Up to 1923 the firm had produced a good range of domestic clocks but in that year FW Elloitt took over the domestic clock production.
The firm became a limited company, "The Croydon Bell Foundry Ltd" in 1925, but this was changed in 1930 to "Gillett and Johnston Ltd"
In 1957 the company was purchased by the Bath Portland Group and moved to the Wembley area.
Cryil Coombes later purchased the turret clock side of the business and took premises in Croydon. He died in 1972 but the business was continued by his son.