R and J Beck- company history
editRichard Beck (1828-1891)[1] and Joseph Beck (1827-1866)[2] (nephews of J. J. Lister) formed R and J Beck in 1843, based at 69 Mortimer Street, London, [3]. James Smith worked with the company under the name of Smith and Beck, renamed Smith, Beck and Beck in 1854 but reverting to R and J Beck when Smith retired in 1865.[4] Smith is credited with helping to raise the status of the use of microscopes within scientific research.
Exhibitions and trades shows
edit- 1851 Great Exhibition [5]
Notable equipment
editCamera lenses of R and J Beck are known as Beck Ensign, and the Frena camera was developed in the 1890's, using celluloid films. [6]
Collections holding R and J Beck equipment
edit- Coats Observatory, Paisley, Scotland contains a large collection of scientific and astronomical materials, including equipment by R and J Beck.
- The National Museums of Scotland holds microscopes by R and J Beck[7]
- National Media Museum, Bradford, England holds Beck field cameras [8]
Images of R and J Beck equipment from the Coats Observatory collection:
- ^ "Richard Beck". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "Joseph Beck". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "R. and J. Beck". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "R. and J. Beck". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class X.: James Smith and Richard Beck". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ White, Robert (2001-01-01). Discovering Old Cameras 1839-1939. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9780747802662.
- ^ "National Museums of Scotland - Microscope, made by R. & J. Beck". nms.scran.ac.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "Beck Field camera - National Media Museum - Photographic Technology - National Photography Collection - Collections - National Media Museum". www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-03.