Research on Davis Derby
Family Business which manufactured optical, surveying and mathematical instruments was established in Leeds in 1779
Pantograph made in Leeds by Davis Derby
1779 firm founded in reign of King George 111
George Pitt was the Prime Minister of England
Gabriel Davis nephew john was born in the Oxfordshire town of Thame 1810
Apprenticed to J Abrahams, mathematical instrument maker to the Duke of Wellington
At the end of apprenticeship in late teens, he moved to Leeds to join his uncle’s business
Travelled for the next decade selling his products in 1830’s between Liverpool, Cheltenham and derby
1843 possibly attracted by railways settles with his family in Derby
Took possession of Meynell house now oldest surviving premises in Irongate Derby
Built workshop to back of premises in recent times property has been art gallery and restaurant
United Kingdom Coal production had risen to 55million tons and employed 250,000 men, women and children working underground with 1000 deaths per year
John Davis started to manufacture mine safety lamps to designs Invented by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1815.
Lived there for 20 years making his goods and started to manufacture safety lamps for the mining Industry across the country John Davis died in 1873 at the age of 63 when his son took over the business
The earliest catalogue surviving for the company dates from 1877which show products such as turret clocks, weather vanes, surveying Instruments and items for the mining Industry
Research on Davis Derby
Family Business which manufactured optical, surveying and mathematical instruments was established in Leeds in 1779
Pantograph made in Leeds by Davis Derby
1779 firm founded in reign of King George 111
George Pitt was the Prime Minister of England
Gabriel Davis nephew john was born in the Oxfordshire town of Thame 1810
Apprenticed to J Abrahams, mathematical instrument maker to the Duke of Wellington
At the end of apprenticeship in late teens, he moved to Leeds to join his uncle’s business
Travelled for the next decade selling his products in 1830’s between Liverpool, Cheltenham and derby
1843 possibly attracted by railways settles with his family in Derby
Took possession of Meynell house now oldest surviving premises in Irongate Derby
Built workshop to back of premises in recent times property has been art gallery and restaurant
United Kingdom Coal production had risen to 55million tons and employed 250,000 men, women and children working underground with 1000 deaths per year
John Davis started to manufacture mine safety lamps to designs Invented by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1815.
Lived there for 20 years making his goods and started to manufacture safety lamps for the mining Industry across the country John Davis died in 1873 at the age of 63 when his son took over the business
The earliest catalogue surviving for the company dates from 1877which show products such as turret clocks, weather vanes, surveying Instruments and items for the mining Industry
