Reynolds and Branson

Reynolds & Branson Ltd, Leeds logo

Reynolds and Branson was a firm in business at Leeds, England from 1898 to 1954, according to records held by The National Archives. Records include day book, sales ledger, prescription books. The records were created by Reynolds & Branson Ltd, at Leeds in Yorkshire, manufacturing chemists and optical instrument makers. The functions, occupations and activities were listed as: pharmaceuticals chemicals; and the engineering of scientific instruments and optical instruments. The founders of the firm were Richard Reynolds and Frederick Woodward Branson.[1][2]

Harvey (& Reynolds)

The company began in 1839 when a chemist from Leeds, Thomas Harvey started in business.[3]

In 1854, Reynolds returned to Leeds as partner with Harvey in the chemist business and the firm became Harvey & Reynolds. In 1861, the firm was joined by a Mr. Fowler and became Harvey, Reynolds & Fowler. By 1864, Thomas Harvey had retired, Mr. Haw joined the business and the company became Haw & Reynolds. In 1867, the business was listed as Haw, Reynolds, & Co.

Reynolds & Branson Ltd.

Reynolds & Branson Ltd. Leeds. Tailboard studio camera, half plate, Catalogue No. 0184.

The year 1883 saw Frederick Branson join the business and in 1886 the firm became Reynolds & Branson. In June 1898, a notice in Chemist and Druggist announced the firm of Reynolds & Branson, Limited was formed as a limited corporation.[4][5][3] The listing in Chemist and Druggist, that announced the formation of the limited partnership read as follows:[6]

“Reynolds & Branson (Limited) – Capital £34,000, in £10 shares (3,000 preference and 400 founders). Objects: To acquire the business of Reynolds & Branson, of 14 Commercial Street, and 13 Briggate, Leeds, and to carry on the business of wholesale and retail pharmaceutical chemists, druggists, analytical chemists, opticians, surgical-instrument makers, aerated-water manufacturers, &c. The first subscribers (each with one share) are: – Richard Reynolds, pharmaceutical chemist, and Miss Maria Reynolds, Cliff Lodge, Leeds; Frederick W. Branson, pharmaceutical chemist, and Mrs. F. W. Branson, Wynmsholme, Headingley; Richard F. Reynolds, pharmaceutical chemist, and Mrs. R. F. Reynolds, Fern Mount, Ilkley; Thomas Wilson, 9 Richmond Road, Headingley, chemist and druggist. The first directors are: -- Richard Reynolds (with no remuneration), Frederick W. Branson (£700 per annum), and Richard F. Reynolds (£700 per annum). Qualification, 100 preference and 100 founders’ shares. Registered office, 14 Commercial Street, Leeds.”

In 1898, the company was incorporated as a limited company, Reynolds and Branson Ltd, chemist and opticians of Leeds. In the 1890s, the company initiated the practice of sales calls. The company’s salesmen transported cases to potential customers. The sales cases contained product samples from their product lines and this included pharmaceutical products and surgical instruments, sales brochures, leaflets and catalogues. This practice proved to enhance the sales pitch for the firm’s salesmen.[7]

In 1910, Reynolds and Branson exhibited at the Physical Society's Exhibition. The company displayed a “device for testing the colour vision of locomotive drivers and others”.[8] The firm of Reynolds and Branson Ltd. was in business from 1898 to 1954, according to records held by The National Archives. Records include day book, sales ledger, prescription books. The records were created by Reynolds & Branson Ltd, at Leeds in Yorkshire, manufacturing chemists and optical instrument makers. The functions, occupations and activities were listed as: pharmaceuticals chemicals; and the engineering of scientific instruments and optical instruments.[1][9][10]

X-ray pioneers

On 24 July 1896, Reynolds and Branson attended the Photographic Convention of the United Kingdom at Leeds. The firm was represented in various sessions. During the session on Orthochromatic Photography, Branson gave a presentation on X-ray apparatus that included a well received demonstration and repeated as follows:[11]

“... Mr. Branson, of Messrs. Reynolds and Branson, who had made a special study of X ray work, gave a demonstration which for lucidity and completeness has rarely been equalled. In the course of his remarks he fully explained the construction and exhaustion of the tubes, and showed various forms and explained his method of making calcium tungstate, which was to mix solutions of sodium tungstate and calcium chloride, collect, wash, and dry the precipitate of calcium tungstate which was formed, and then to fuse this in a small muffle furnace at the temperature of the melting point of cast-iron, and reduce to small crystals in a mortar, mix with varnish, and coat a screen. With such a screen in contact with the plate he had been able to show osseous structure of the hand, measuring only one-hundredth of an inch, with an exposure of one minute. A comparison of the fluorescent appearance of the three salts, calcium tungstate, platinocyanide of barium, and platinocyanide of potassium, was shown, the first and last being the best for photographic work, as the fluorescence was blue, and the barium salt was most satisfactory for visual work, as the fluorescence was yellow.”

At the same convention, during the session on Photography at the Seaside the firm displayed some of their product line that included X-ray apparatus, as follows:[12]

“Reynolds & Branson, of Commercial Street, Leeds, had a very high-class show, special prominence being given to apparatus for X ray work. A case of lenses of all the leading makers, together with a very well-made photo-micrographic outfit, a cabinet of chemicals, another of cameras, and all the little odds and ends of apparatus, made up a very fine show.”

Trade catalogues

Reynolds and Branson trade catalogues listed:[7]

Patents

Patents include: #1120 in 1885, #16373 in 1893, #14102 in 1899.

References

  1. 1 2 Editor. (2016). Reynolds & Branson Ltd. West Yorkshire Archive Service. Leeds. ACC 2144. NRA 34514.
  2. ↑ Editor. (2015). Reynolds and Branson. History Librarium. Historic Camera.
  3. 1 2 Bennion, Elisabeth. (1979). Antique Medical Instruments. University of California Press. Page 319.
  4. ↑ Miall, L.C. (1900). Richard Reynolds, F.C.S. In Memoriam. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic Society. (14): 97-98.
  5. ↑ American Pharmaceutical Association. (1901). Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association at the Annual Meeting. (49): 44-45.
  6. ↑ Benn Brothers. (18 June 1898). Chemist and Druggist: The Newsweekly for Pharmacy, Volume 52. Page 977.
  7. 1 2 Jones, Claire L. (2015) The Medical Trade Catalogue in Britain, 1870–1914. Routledge.
  8. ↑ Editor. (12 December 1910). Reynolds and Branson. Physical Society Exhibition. The Times. London.
  9. ↑ Editor. (1914). Whitaker's Red Book of Commerce or Who's Who in Business. Published in 1914.
  10. ↑ Tweedie, Andrew. Editor (2016). Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History.
  11. ↑ Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. (24 July 1896). Photographic Convention of the United Kingdom, Leeds, 1896. The Photographic News for Amateur Photographers. Volume 40. Page 471.
  12. ↑ Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. (24 July 1896). Photographic Convention of the United Kingdom, Leeds, 1896. The Photographic News for Amateur Photographers. Volume 40. Page 473.
  13. ↑ Richard Reynolds and Frederick Woodward Branson of Reynolds and Bronson, Leeds. (5 October 1883). Improvements in photographic ‘shutters’ for instantaneous photography. #1650. Dated: 2 April 1883. Patents Sealed. Patent Intelligence. The Photographic News. Journal for Amateur Photographers. Volume 27. Page 633. Cassell, Petter, and Galpin.
  14. ↑ Frederick Woodward Branson of Reynolds and Bronson, Leeds. (24 December 1904). Means or apparatus for measuring quantities of highly volatile liquids. No. 3490 of 1904. Application Published in Great Britain. Patents. The Petroleum Review. Petroleum. Volume 11. Page 520.
  15. ↑ Churchill, J. (24 December 1904). Pharmaceutical Journal, Volume 19. Page 939.

External links

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