McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
R. & J. Beck (Firm)
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1843-1851
History
R. & J. Beck was an optical instruments manufacturing firm based in London, England. In 1837, James Smith established an optical instruments workshop. In 1843, Richard Beck (1827-1866) entered the partnership, and the company became Smith & Beck. In 1851, Joseph Beck (1828-1891) joined the company and, it was renamed Smith, Beck & Beck in 1854. In 1865, Smith retired, and the company’s name became R. & J. Beck. They manufactured a wide range of optical instruments - microscopes, telescopes, trench periscopes for military purposes, optometer lenses (eye test glasses) for opticians, camera lenses, and stereographs. In 1894, the company was incorporated as R. & J. Beck Ltd.