From 1890 the firm became Adams & Co. at the 81 Aldersgate address. Robert Abraham died in July 1887.

The firm of Robert Abraham was renamed Adams & Co. in 1890. Adams became a limited company on 30th May 1922 with a capitalisation of £9000, the directors were Benjamin Foulkes Winks and Charles John Bannister. The firm was previously owned by Foulkes Winks. Adams later became part of Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited (AGI). Advertisements claim that Adams was founded in 1860, what, if anything, that refers to is not clear.

The manufacturing side of the firm - Adams Manufacturing Co. - is, at one time, shown as a partnership between Foulkes Winks and Herbert Irving Bell. Bell left the partnership in December 1920.

The BJA of 1894 shows the Aldersgate Buildings and Aldersgate St. buildings. The BJA of 1899 shows a drawing of the Charing Cross and Bunhill buildings. 24 and 26 Charing Cross Road were the same building, Kelly lists it as next to Cecil Court (north side), it still exists.

A visit to the factory by the BJP in 1896 remarks on the use of machinery to automate the production of regular parts. At that time the factory occupied two floors at Bunhill Row. In 1893 the firms annual outing included 48 people, presumably mostly employees.

Arthur Lewis Adams (b.1862 or 61, d.1918) was the son of Robert Abraham and started life as Arthur Abraham. He later styled himself Arthur Samuel Lewis Abraham, its not clear if these forenames were original or adopted. Around 1890 he changed his name to A.L. Adams. An article in the BJP in 1918 notes his death which was on 8/11/1918 (he left the considerable sum of £9125), he was living at the time in West Hampstead.

Benjamin Foulkes Winks (b.1861, d.1929) was a patentee along with A.L. Adams of a twin lens reflex. In 1900 he was elected a member of the RPS. In the mid 1900s he was living at Spencer Rd, Wealdstone and later in Ealing. His name is sometimes written with a hyphen between Foulkes Winks, at other times not. Foulkes was originally a forename.

Henry Hill, co-patentee with Adams on four patents, was briefly in partnership with Adams.

Adams often included an emblem on their cameras, before around 1914 the emblem was a stylised A surmounted by a crown or a crown alone, later a lion's head was placed above the A, in advertisements this change corresponds with 'Trade Mark' being added to the emblem.

Part of Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited.

Retailer. Established in 1916.

Aldis Brothers was established in 1901 when Hugh Lancelot Aldis left Dallmeyer. H.L. Aldis was elected a member of the RPS in 1894.

The addresses given are for Walter O'Reilly patentee of the Demon camera. The company was wound up in 1893.

A.P.M. was formed in 1921 by the merger of Rotary Photographic Co. (1917) Ltd, Paget Prize Plates Co. Ltd, Rajar Ltd, Marion & Co. Ltd, Marion & Foulger Ltd, A. Kershaw & Son Ltd and Kershaw Optical Co. Ltd. Later in 1921 they became leading shareholders in Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Co.

On the 1st February 1929 the sensitive materials side of the company was re-formed as APEM Ltd, this was formed by the Marion, Paget and Rajar divisions. Shortly afterwards APEM was incorporated into the Ilford group.

A.P.M. was renamed Soho Ltd, as the sales division for the manufacturing company of A. Kershaw & Son.

By 1942 Soho Ltd. was listed as a branch of A Kershaw & Son. Following the war the Soho name re-emerged as Kershaw-Soho (Sales) Ltd. Around 1947 Kershaw-Soho was part of J. Arthur Rank Organisation (through British Optical and Precision Engineers Ltd. a subsidiary of Rank).

The Rajar factory was built in 1903, it is illustrated in the BJA of 1907 and 1910. Rotary Photographic Co. was put up for auction as an enemy firm in July 1917 but was not then sold.

In the 1922 BJA the directors are shown as: A.E. Parke (Rajar, Rotary and Wiggins Teape, chairman); Abraham Kershaw (Kershaw and Son, Kershaw Optical); Cecil Kershaw (Kershaw and Son, Kershaw Optical); T.L. Parke (Rajar, Rotary and Wiggins Teape); A.G. Pickard (T-P); H.C. Rich (Marion and Foulger); F.G. Thomas (Marion); George Sydney Whitfield (Paget); L.D. Whitfield (Paget); C.F.S. Rothwell (b.1871 d.1935) (Rajar and Rotary, joint MD); Gerald M. Bishop (Marion, joint MD). An earlier list does not include A.G. Pickard.

Established in 1848.

Founded in 1845.

Richard Beck (b.1827 d.1866) was the first brother to join the firm followed by Joseph Beck (b.1829 d.1891). James Smith (d.1870) retired from the business in 1865. There was also another James Smith microscope maker working at the Royal Exchange in the 1820s. In 1882 the partners running the firm are shown as Joseph Beck, Robert Kemp and Charles Coppock, in that year Coppock retired from the business. By 1900 Conrad Beck and William Beck Jr. were associated with the firm.

Beck specialised in the manufacture of microscopes, their works in north London was named 'Lister Works' after J.J. Lister the famous microscopist who helped establish the company. From the 1850s they sold stereo viewers of their own design and later manufactured photographic lenses. Camera production seems to have started in the late 1880s and continued until the first world war. Lens production was resumed after the war.

Photographic dealer established in 1860. His early career was as an artist then as a photographer and picture frame maker. The period as a photographic dealer probably dates from the mid 1880s. He was as the Medlock St address from before 1881 until after 1901. In 1863 a John Biddle, photographer, was at 58 Peel Terrace, Bury New Road. John Biddle b. Birmingham 1829.

Billcliff was established in 1860, in 1881 he employed 7 men and 2 boys, describing himself in the census of that year as a cabinet maker. He made cameras for Thornton-Pickard and others in the Manchester area. An 1886 advertisement states that he was making McKellan's camera [sic], presumably the S.D. McKellen Patent camera. An advertisement in 1914 is by the executors of J. Billcliff. The firm was still listed in the 1943 BJA. Joshua Billcliff (b.1821). The 1891 census shows him living at 98 Coupland St.

John Boultbee Brooks was connected with the firm.

The partnership between Bland and Charles Albert Long was dissolved in Sep. 1858. William Russell Bland died on 23 Sep 1863, the premises were then occupied by Negretti & Zambra.

Listed as chemists. The partnership between Bolton and Barnitt was dissolved in January 1864. Francis Barnitt was probably linked with Perrins & Barnitt of 22 Conduit St.

Manufacturer of stereoscopes, cards, slides and albumen paper. Robert Boning was later a photographer at 162 Regent St.

British Photographic Industries Ltd was a holding company formed in 1915 holding the majority shares in Houghtons, Butcher & Sons, Butchers Film Services, Houghton-Butcher Mfg. Co, Austin Edwards and Fordham & Co. In 1920 shares were offered to the public.

The net 'surplus' for BPI for the year ending April 1923 was £293, for 1924 £110 and 1925 £155. For 1925 the subsidiary companies made a trading profit of £11,813 as against a loss of £11,977 for the previous year.

J.E. Brown advertised in the 1888 BJA as manufacturer of the 'Combination', the 'Ariel' and other cameras and accessories. He was situated at 26 Bowling Green Lane, with a factory at 13a Ann Street. These two premises are in the same area of Clerkenwell.

At the same time as being at his Strand premises, John Browning was connected with 'Spencer, Browning & Co' at the Minories and 6 Vine St. (factory). 'Spencer, Browning' were the successors to 'Spencer, Browning & Rust'. Browning claims establishment around 1760, he produced optical, mathematical and general scientific instruments. Bankruptcy proceedings were started in 1881. Patented an improvement to stereoscopes in 1856. Supplied equipment to Talbot.

Established in 1858, as opticians. In the 1860s they were advertising as lens and camera makers, from the 1900s they are advertising lenses. Charles Burr (b.1839 d.1902) was living at the Devon St. address in 1881.

Established in 1880 by Sir Henry Wellcome and S.M. Burroughs. From 1948 photo products were distributed by Johnsons.

Merged with Houghtons Ltd in 1926 to form Houghton-Butcher (Great Britain) Ltd.

The St Bride and Farringdon Avenue addresses are possibly for the same building. These two streets faced each other as they join Shoe Lane and Stonecutter street. Farringdon Avenue was built in the early 1890s through what was Farringdon market, it remained until the second world war when that area was heavily bombed, Fleet Buildings now stands on the site. The BJA of 1913 shows a drawing of Camera House.

In 1907 Butchers took over the photographic mount firm of 'Chas. Tyler and England Bros' (79 Copenhagen St. Caledonian Rd. London). Following the take over the Copenhagen St. works were retained.

William Butcher died in 1904. William F. Butcher (b.1866 d.1936).

The company was founded in August 1892. In 1903 it was bought by Eastman, after the move to Wealdstone it was merged with Kodak though the company name remained. Walter Neal was the brother in law of James Cadett.

William Isaac Chadwick (d.1913).

The company was founded in 1874 after the partnership with J.B. Payne (trading as Payne & Chapman) was dissolved. Two cameras sold at auction carried the label "Made by J.L. Lane & Sons for J.T. Chapman" and "The Artists Tailboard made for J.T. Chapman 168 Deansgate". Another had "Lejeune & Perken made for J.T. Chapman".

Josiah Thomas Chapman (b. 1843/44 Stavelow Wiltshire d.1907).

Patentee and maker of stereoscopes, publisher of stereo slides and views. Photographic dealer. Bankruptcy proceedings were started in 1859, which he seems to have survived. Later he was in partnership with Charles Granvill (as Chappuis & Granvill), this was dissolved in 1869. From around 1862 he is also listed as a photographic artist. Patented an improved stereoscope in 1857 that used a reflector to cast light on the card and folding stereoscopes in 1858.

Tyler and England were makers of TEB photo mounts and also sold cameras under the TEB brand. The first reference to them is in the Kelly directory for 1898, they were probably founded just before that time. England Brothers can be traced to the early 1890s. A report on a visit to the factory reprinted in the 1904 BJA shows mount manufacturing but no camera production but they were issued patents for falling plate cameras. In 1907 the company was taken over by Butchers.

C. S. & E. was founded in 1881, in the early 1900s the owner is given as R. Green. It became a part of Wallace Heaton in 1929 but continued to trade under its own name. The BJA of 1938 gives drawings of the premises.

C. S. & E marketed cameras under their brand name of Salex.

Clifford's catalogue of c.1863 shows several high quality cameras including items from Ottewill. Clifford is also listed as a photographer at the same address. From the mid 1860s the business concentrated on artist's supplies and the sale of prints.

Charles Edward Clifford (b.1822 London d. 1903 Portsmouth).

Shown as optician, lens maker, dealer and importer. Later listed as manager of other optical companies.

Chas. G. Collins was established in 1858 and listed as a camera manufacturer. They probably made cameras for the trade but around the mid 1880s started advertising under their own name. In 1887 T.J. Collins patented a method of locking the front standard of a camera, an advertisement from the same year from Chas. G. Collins shows a drawing of the patent. For one year (1889) T.J. Collins is also listed as a manufacturer at 29 High St. St John's Wood, but the following year the address is occupied by his widow Mrs. H.F. Collins. Charles George Collins (b.1833). Tom John Collins (b.1854 d.1890) married Harriett Fanny Smith in June 1877. They were granted a licence to use McKellen's patents. Bankruptcy proceedings are recorded in 1874.

K.G. Corfield (Sales) Ltd. (Charlotte St. and Newman St. addresses) was a sales office after the manufacturing branch moved from Wolverhampton to Northern Ireland.

In an 1858 catalogue Cox claims the firm has been established for 130 years. Cox sold general scientific and optical equipment. From 1882 the business of F.J. Cox was continued by H & E.J. Dale at 26 Ludgate Hill. The Skinner street address is sometimes styled "City of London Photographic Establishment" and with the area of Snow Hill.

In 1882 Frederick James Cox (b. Shorditch 1835) was living at The Laurels, High St. Dulwich, sometime before 1891 he moved to Eastbourne where he is shown as an optician (probably at 56 Terminus Rd).

Books by F.J. Cox: Photographic Tourist; Compendium of Photography.

Listed as camera maker and cabinet maker for scientific apparatus. Croughton died on 19/3/1865.

H & E.J. Dale carried on the business of F.J. Cox at the old address of 26 Ludgate Hill, the BJA advertisement for 1884 says the business is managed by C.D. Smith and that they have their own works, probably Kirby Street.

The 26 Ludgate Hill address was occupied by Price, Talbot & Co. in 1890 and then Price & Co. from 1891, both described as camera manufacturers.

J.H. Dallmeyer (b.1832 d.1883) was described as an optician living at West Heath Rd in the 1881 census. Prior to establishing his own company in 1860 he was working for Andrew Ross. In 1854 he married Hannah Ross daughter of Andrew Ross. His sons were Thomas Ross Dallmeyer (b.1860 d.1906) and Richard Dallmeyer (b.1870). A portrait of T.R. Dallmeyer is shown on the frontispiece of the 1909 BJA.

The move to Newman St. took place on the 1st Feb 1888, the move to Mortimer St. took place on 30 Sep 1925. The Denzil Rd and Church End addresses are possibly the same location or Denzil Rd may nave been temporary offices used until the main site was complete; Denzil Road and Willesden High Road are in the same area and linked by Dallmeyer Road.

Cyril Frederick Lan-Davis (b.1887 d.1915), was a director of the company and author of 'Telephotography'.

Until around 1910 Dockree was working with Houghtons (patents were issued in their joint names). From c.1910 he was trading under the name of Walter Dockree & Co. In 1915 he joined Staley, Shew & Co. who continued to sell the Britisher Reflex that was made by Dockree. Staley, Shew traded for only a few years. Dockree then worked for, or collaborated with, Houghton-Butcher on their reflex cameras. Staley's 1916 BJA advertisement states that Dockree has joined the new company and that he was the manufacturer of the Britisher Reflex.

Spicer-Dufay Ltd was formed around 1932, Ilford were share holders. A year later Ilford's stake increased and the company name changed to Spicer-Dufay (British) Ltd. From this time Ilford were handling the manufacture and distribution of Dufay Colour film. In 1936 Dufay-Chromex was formed to handle the distribution, Ilford's involvement decreased from around 1938 though they were still involved in the manufacturing process.