About Us

Since 1816

O’Keeffe’s engraving is an independent engraving company, which was established in 2019 and we are proud to have continued in the tradition of John O’Keeffe & Sons (Est 1816).

I knew the firm as far back as the early 1950s when I was taken as a child to the old premises on the first floor of 62 Duke Street. I remember the bare, worn, wooden floorboards, their grain and joints filled with brass shavings like gold dust. It was cosy and warm with a constant coal fire smouldering in the grate, and dimly-lit apart from the angle-poise lamps lighting each dark green engraving machine.

  There was a constant humming, buzzing, occasionally rising to a piercing – but never alarming – whine as shining metal sheets were cut and ploughed into incised lettering  for brass name plates, Hebrew funerary plaques and ships’ bells.

At that time it was John O’Keeffe & Son, Die Sinkers and Engravers. John, I think, would have been my own father’s grandfather but no one was quite sure when the firm was established. Dad was Stephen O’Keeffe and he ran it in partnership with Tony, my stepbrother. For some years my elder brother – also Stephen O’Keeffe – worked there also before leaving to become a teacher of craft. In addiction there was a succession of apprentices, the last of whom – the wonderful Billy Wilson – eventually became the firm’s proprietor following my father’s, and then Tony’s death. Billy’s own sadly premature death in 2016 would have spelled the firm’s oblivion had it not been for the timely intervention of the current directors.

O’Keeffe’s Engraving is based at Wirral Waters. Overlooking the beautiful Liverpool waterfront .

We supply to a variety of customers across the UK.

Our customers are from a range of sectors from Manufacturing, Education, Government & Leisure to name a few.
Our specialist engraving team have the experience to assist you getting the right product to meet your individual requirements, whether standard lines or Bespoke engraving, we can do the lot.

We work closely with our customers to ensure they get a great product at a competitive price. A great product is only part of what we aim for, providing excellent customer service and taking delight in exceeding expectations & building lasting relationships is what we do at O’Keeffe’s Engraving Ltd.

Our aim is to & Make the right impression for your business’
Across our range we offer items such as; Locker plates, numbered key fobs, Identification labels and valve tags.

Warning / Hazard signs & labels in traffolyte.

These can be made to your size requirements and in a range of colours.

We supply custom made control panels for use in various industries such as Marine, Automotive, Agricultural industries to name a few.
Your drawings once received in a format such as Corel draw/Adobe illustrator are worked from, to produce your order. If you do not have the required software it’s not a problem as long as you provide a
drawing and accurate measurements we can draw it up for you ( a set up fee will apply).

We will forward the drawing to you for confirmation before we commence work.

Name and door plates can be made in brass, aluminium and a range of other materials to suit your individual preference.

We also engrave electrical switch plates infilled in any colour for domestic, commercial and industrial use.

Trophies, and awards
We can supply engraved trophies and medals for:
Schools/sports clubs/associations.