Henry Birks & Sons of Canada

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A 1959 advertisement from Birks announcing the visit of their chief designer, Herman Gutknecht, to their Ottawa store in November of that year:




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Henry Birks, of Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, was present at the banquet given by the Montreal Board to Sir Edmund Barton, premier of the Australasian Common wealth, and other visiting Australians, on Monday, Sept. 8. While in Toronto the party attended the annual fair and were piloted through the exhibition by W. K. McNaught, of the American Watch Case Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 17th September 1902

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Henry Birks, of Henry Birks & Son, Montreal, Mrs. Birks and Gerald Birks, have been spending the Winter in the Channel Islands for the benefit of Gerald Birk's health. They have arrived home from their trip.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 5th May 1897

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Considerable excitement was caused on the busiest part of St. Catherine St. recently, owing to the discovery that the chimney of the building of Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons was on fire. Some of the storekeepers in the vicinity were greatly alarmed, two alarms of fire were sent in, and a general scurrying of the fire apparatus of the locality and the police patrol was the result. The soot had practically burned itself out however, by the time the firemen had arrived, and their services were not required.

Source: The Trader & Canadian Jeweller - January 1900

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The Montreal Gazette recently devoted a full column of space to Henry Birks upon his 82nd birthday, which almost coincides with the anniversary of his 56 years of business life. The business of Henry Birks & Sons is one of the largest and most prosperous in the Dominion. The article reviews the career of Mr. Birks and tells of the business which he founded.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th December 1922

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WILLIAM MASSEY BIRKS




BIRKS, William Massey.–Vice-President, Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa; Vice-President, Ryrie Bros., Ltd., Toronto; Director, Molsons Bank; Director, National Trust Co.; Director, Sun Life Assurance Co. Born Montreal, Oct. 25, 1868, son of Henry and Harriet Phillips (Walker) Birks. Educated: High School, Montreal. With Henry Birks & Co., since 1885; elected Vice President, when firm was incorporated, 1904. Governor, McGill University; Governor, Montreal General Hospital; Governor, Verdun Asylum; Governor, Protestant House of Industry and Refuge. Married Miriam Childs Gifford, June 16, 1891; has four sons and three daughters. Clubs: St.James; Royal; St. Lawrence Yacht. Recreation: Yachting. Presbyterian. Address: 294, Stanley Street, Montreal, Que.

Source: Who's Who and Why - 1914

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HENRY BIRKS

BIRKS, Henry.–President, Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., Montreal, Winnipeg, Man., Vancouver, B.C., Ottawa, Ont. Born Montreal, Nov. 30, 1840, son of John and Anne (Massey) Birks. Educated: High School, Montreal. With Savage & Lyman, Notre Dame St., Montreal, 1857; became Junior Partner, 1868; established present business, March 1, 1879; company incorporated, 1904. Governor, Montreal General Hospital; Governor Notre Dame Hospital; Governor, Western Hospital; Governor, Verdun Asylum; Governor, House of Refuge and Old Folks' Home. Served in Victoria Rifles during Fenian Raids, 1866. Married Harriet Phillips Walker, daughter of William Walker, Brantford. Ont.. Jan. 16. 1868; has three sons. Presbyterian. Address: The Linton, Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Que.

Source: Who's Who and Why - 1914

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On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 1, an informal banquet was given by W. M. Birks, vice president of Henry Birks & Sons Ltd., jewelers, of Montreal, to the executive and departmental managers of the firm. W. M. Carson and H. S. Porter, managers of the branches in Vancouver and Ottawa, were the guests of the evening. An illustrated lecture showing the growth and development of the house was given by W. M. Birks, including a view of the first headquarters of the firm on St. James St., when commencing business in 1879.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th February 1919

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R. J. Merritt, who for the last seven years has been in the service of Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., at Ottawa, died on Oct. 17, after a week's illness, at the age of 29. He was widely known in the trade.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th October 1918

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The Hon. Senator J. R. Gowan, of Barrie, Ont., has recently had manufactured by Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons, of Montreal, a very magnificent solid silver challenge cup standing eighteen inches high and of massive and graceful style. This cup is to be competed for annually by the regiments of Military Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4, during the annual training, on conditions of competition approved by Major-General Hutton, C.B., lately commanding the Canadian militia. The name of the ex-commander of the forces appears on the cup owing to its having been arranged for during his term of office. The cup was ordered last December, but owing to Senator Gowan being ill, was not completed until recently.

Source: The Trader and Canadian Jeweller - July 1900

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Robbery in Montreal.–A daring robbery was committed in the store of Henry Birks & Co , of Montreal, just after The Trader went to press last month. A fashionably dressed man and woman asked to see some diamond rings. A tray was produced, two rings were selected and a $1,000 bill was tendered in payment of them. The clerk, being unable to change the bill, went out for that purpose. During his absence a number of gold chains and two diamond rings were stolen, the rings being replaced by paste imitations. After they had left the store the suspicion of the clerk was aroused and the paste imitations were discovered. The police were at once notified and detectives set to work on the case. The thieves were arrested on a train going from Montreal to Toronto and the stolen goods recovered. The culprits gave their names as T. Hayes and Mrs. Hayes and were held for trial. Advices from the United States confirm the suspicions of the Montreal detectives that they are notorious crooks from that country, and are " wanted " in more than one city in their native country on account of similar transactions. This being the case they will be removed out of temptation's way for a considerable time to come.

Source: The Trader and Canadian Jeweller - December 1890

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CHARGED WITH GEM THEFT

Man Arrested in Montreal on Charge of Robbing Halifax Jewelry Store

Montreal, June 23.–D. C. Coughdon, who is wanted in Halifax, N. S., on the charge of stealing $8,000 worth of diamonds from Henry Birks & Sons, was arrested here on June 18. He had registered at a hotel under the name of Gerard Birks.

When arrested, the police say, he had between $6,000 and $7,000 worth of diamonds in his possession and was found to have pawned two valuable diamond rings. The diamonds were identified by a member of the Birks firm as belonging to the Halifax branch of the company. Coughdon left Montreal in custody for Halifax yesterday.

When in Halifax before the robbery, Coughdon was prominent in social circles, claiming to be an Australian "ace" traveling to recuperate his health after service overseas.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th June 1920

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At the recent Shoppers' Exposition at the Board of Trade building, Winnipeg, a very fine display was made by Henry Birks & Sons. The most noteworthy feature which attracted much attention was a Dominion Coat of arms made up of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and pearls, showing remarkable artistry and effective color arrangement. The shield materials of which represented a value of $25,000, is about four inches by three and a half inches and is perfect in finish and the fidelity with which the design is reproduced.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th October 1921

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Henry Birks & Sons, Limited - Montreal - 1914

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DEATH OF HENRY RYRIE

Prominent Business Man and Philanthropic Worker of Canada Dies Suddenly

Toronto, Can., Sept. 19.–The death of Harry Ryrie, of Ryrie Bros., Ltd., one of the most prominent business men and philanthropic workers of the city, occurred suddenly on Sunday last at the General Hospital from an intestinal ailment. He was apparently in perfect health on the previous Friday when he spent the afternoon playing golf, and was taken suddenly ill in the evening when the most expert medical attention was secured without avail.

Mr. Ryrie was in his 56th year, though he looked much younger. He was born in Toronto, and for the last 40 years had been associated with his brother, James Ryrie, in the retail jewelry trade, their business being considerably the largest in Ontario. He was probably, however, more widely known in connection with religious and humanitarian work, especially that of the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he was for some time president. He was the leading promoter of the whirlwind campaign of a few years ago by which $1,000,000 was raised for the erection of Y. M. C. A. buildings, and made a tour of the world in the interests of the association.

Mr. Ryrie was also an active worker in connection with the Jarvis St. Baptist Church, and a member of the Foreign Mission Board, and since the outbreak of the war has devoted much of his time and means to patriotic objects. At the time of his death he was secretary-treasurer of Ryrie Bros., Ltd., and a director of Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal.

Mr. Ryrie was an enthusiastic golfer and president of the Lambton Golf and Country Club. He was also a member of the National and Royal Canadian Yacht Clubs. He was a Royal Arch Mason, Knights Templar and Mystic Shriner.

He married a daughter of the late Robert Whitte, of Richmond, Va., who with two daughters and two sons, survive him. His eldest son, Lieut. Evan Ryrie, was killed in action at Vimy Ridge.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 26th September 1917

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S. C. Mulhall, who for four years has been manager of the silver department of Henry Birks & Sons, Winnipeg, has accepted a position as department manager with Ellis Bros., Ltd., Toronto.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th September 1918

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The Bank of British North America building, in Hamilton, Ont., owned by the Bank of Montreal, has been purchased by Ryrie Bros., Ltd., of Toronto, and W. M. Birks & Co., Montreal, for an amount stated to run between $150,000 and $200,000. The building will be renovated and a large jewelry establishment opened soon.

Source:The Jewelers' Circular - 30th November 1921

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The Birks Manufacturing Company has purchased ground at the southeast corner of St. Monique and Cathcart streets and the architects are working on plans for a ten-story factory building. It is intended that this ten-story Birks Craft Building shall be a fitting home for the choice production of this firm.

Source: The Metal Industry - January 1920

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H. Birks & Sons, Montreal, have issued an execution against Ida J. Ward for $3.311.

Source:The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd May 1899

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An increase of from 10 to 15 per cent, is provided for in new prices issued on silver-plated flatware. The Henry Birks Company, St. Catherine and Philips Square, the largest manufacturing jewelers in Canada report their factory very busy at this time.

Source: The Metal Industry - November 1918

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