Beck

R & J Beck was a renowned British optical company based in London. It was founded in 1843 by the nephews of J.J. Lister, Richard Beck (1827-1866) and Joseph Beck (1828-1891) who were in partnership with a famous instrument maker, James Smith (d. 1870). It started as Smith and Beck. In 1854 the company was renamed to Smith, Beck and Beck. After Smith's retirement in 1865 the company became R & J Beck. It produced a wide range of optical products: microscopes, telescopes, eye test glasses for opticians (opodemeter lenses), other optical equipment, and last not least camera lenses and even some cameras. Best known in the camera area are some cameras of the brand Ensign which bear lenses branded as "Beck Ensign". Another highlight in the company's camera engagement is the fact that T. E. Lawrence, better known as 'Lawrence of Arabia', used a plate camera made by Beck.

cameras

• Frena (1894)
• Dai Cornex (1905)

links

• The cameras of "Lawrence of Arabia" at Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford [1]
• Beck's Autograph wide angle lens of 1888 at antiquewoodcameras.com [2]
• Dai Cornex Box camera at www.boxcameras.com [3]
• Ad for Frena cameras at www.boxcameras.com [4]