[W&B] Morrison et al & Small NYC optical houses

[Rob McElroy]

Milan,

Here are the two photos you asked for.

W.T. Gregg advertisement in 1887 American Annual of Photography, page 
xxxv of the advertising section:
<http://www.pce.net/idag/W.%20T.%20Gregg%201887%20ad.JPG>

George Murphy 1906-1907 catalog, page 8.  Note the different company 
name spellings and the use of the dash (-) in New York.  "New-York Lens 
Co." is seen engraved on the lens in the Portrait Group illustration, 
while "New York Lense Co." and "N.Y.L." were (in theory) engraved on the 
Rectilinear Portrait lenses. Who knows if any of these engravings were 
truly accurate to the way the lenses were actually sold. The Rectilinear 
Portrait lenses were said to have been made by B&L, but the Portrait 
Group series are not credited.
<http://www.pce.net/idag/George%20Murphy%201907%20lenses.JPG>

Optical Cheers,
Rob


Milan Zahorcak wrote:
> Rob,
>
> Yes, Gregg was a large supply house and a number of items were rebranded
> with the Gregg name, including a couple of very cool shutters.  As always, I
> have no idea who made their lenses.
>
> Do you have one of their catalogs?  I'd love to have scans of their lens
> pages.
>
> I didn't mean to minimize Richard Morrison.  I was being familiar - Morrison
> goes back a long way and had a great career.  Far above the other names on
> my list of "small" NYC optic makers.  And to get back in your good graces, a
> short bio of Richard Morrison that you might enjoy and which also answers
> your question about Wale Universal Lenses as well:
>
> Morrison started his career working for Benjamin Pike, a microscope and
> telescope maker.  Eventually goes to work for CC Harrison and becomes
> foreman and plant manager at CCH.
>
> Nelson Wright acquired CCH around 1862.  Harrison died in 1864.  Morrison
> and George Wale (!), who was also a close friend of Morrison's, continued to
> run the CCH plant under Nelson Wright.  But then Wright sells CCH to
> American Optical - all in 1864.
>  
> Morrison then leaves CCH and goes back to work for Benjamin Pike.  I don't
> know what Wale does at this moment.
>  
> Then AOC is acquired by Scovill in 1866, and the CCH operation stops -
> although there is lots of inventory and AOL takes over the lens making
> operation, still using the CCH trade name . . . but . . .
>  
> Then Joseph Schnitzer (remember? of Harrison & Schnitzer fame) leaves
> CCH/AOC in 1866-67 (?) and starts the New York Optical Works.
>  
> Schnitzer then asks Morrison to come to work for NYOW which Morrison does,
> maybe 1867-68 or so..
>  
> But Schnitzer dies around 1870 or so, and Morrison starts his own company
> AND asks old friend George Wale to join him, which Wale does. 
>  
> Scovill is doing OK ante bellum, but needs more lenses and more variety.
>  
> Morrison is making Morrison lenses, Scovill approaches him and offers to be
> his agent.  Scovill sells Morrison lenses under the Morrison name, and
> Morrison makes Peerless line for (and under) the Scovill name. 
>
> George Wale - somehow, I don't know the details - gets credit for a couple
> of shutters and lenses.  Maybe just a Morrison product line?  I don't think
> he ever goes off by himself.
>  
> Morrison dies in 1888 and I don't know what happens after that . . . Whew!
> Maybe succeeded by one of those other houses?
>
> Now back to George Murphy, another huge dealer.  I had a Murphy catalog at
> one time, but I think Geary managed to "dot" it and made it off - although
> now he'll probably disavow any knowledge.  Anyhow . . . 
>
> Again, I'd love to have scans of the Murphy lens pages.
>
> BUT . . . I have not heard of a "New York Lens Co."   Schnitzer's company
> was the New York Optical Works - "NY Optical Works" was actually engraved on
> the lenses.
>
> Dazzit.  Long day in the Columbia River Gorge (have house guests) and am
> beat.
>
> Nite,
>
> mz
>