At one side of the office was the entrance to Helmet Court, a narrow dingy alleyway which led from the Strand into a maze of Dickensian type houses and narrow streets. A lease on a warehouse at 6 Helmet Court had been obtained in February 1897

Patterson brought with him an American, who had previously been in charge of the Brooklyn Agency, Mr C.E.Hall. He was made the London manager and two years later European Manager. Mr G.H.Carr succeeded him as London Manager.

Number 337 was a four storey building with a basement which was used for the storage of machines, the ground floor was taken up with showroom and counting house. On the first floor was a mailing room and a room for the office staff. The whole of the second floor was taken up by the mechanics who were eight in number. On the top floor were the workrooms where machines were repaired or re-polished should the wood cabinets have been scratched on their journey from America. Here too was a small room used by the Chief mechanic, Mr. J.H.Best who had the grand title of Mechanical Inspector. He also lived on the premises acting as caretaker.