The original business was run by Alexander Clarkson as sole proprietor; in 1898 his general manager Robert Broadhurst and Broadhurst's brother-in-law William Towns joined as additional partners. Broadhurst left the partnership in 1909, though the telescope portion of the business continued to trade as Broadhurst, Clarkson & Co.
The business expanded in the mid-1900s and had several branches: the 1910 London phone directory shows 338 High Holborn as the main address, for 'surveying and optical instruments'; 63 Farringdon Road as 'Opticians'; and 109 Victoria Street for 'spectacles, drawing instruments'. From 1918 onwards the Farringdon Road address is shown as 'Telescope Makers'.
The business was still trading in surveying and optical instruments in 1984.
business taken over by Broadhurst, Clarkson & Co.
BROADHURST, Robert (1866-1924) – employee, 1890s-1898
BROADHURST, Robert (1866-1924) – partner, 1898-1909
CLARKSON, Alexander (1847-1918) – owner, 1880s-1898
CLARKSON, Alexander (1847-1918) – partner, 1898-1918
TOWNS, W.H. (1861-1953) – partner, 1898-1915
Record created by Richard Crangle. Last updated 30 June 2023
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