The Smith's company can be traced to 1770 when Mr Smith set up a small engineering company on the back of his invention for a door closing device at 69 Princes St, London.
This door spring was continually improved upon, coming in many guises, eventually branded as the Janus Patent Door Closer. In 1878 production of the 'JANUS' moved to a new factory in Battersea known as the Janus works.

1892 Advertisement for the Patent Adjustable 'Janus' Door Springs (Ad also shows the Patent Battersea Door Spring & Patent Hydraulic Spring and Check.
Archibald Smith had numerous inventions to his name and numerous business partners to market and produce his inventions, including involvement with The Express Lift Company (OTIS at this time) for which he invented the V pulley and the forerunner to the car lift (Smith, Major & Stevens).