Henry Birks & Sons of Canada

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W. M. Birks, of the firm of Henry Birks & Sons, jewelers, Montreal, is making a tour through western Canada and will visit Japan before returning east.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 28th August 1918

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Wm. M. Birks. of the firm of Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, widely known Canadian jewelers, who have branches in Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg and other cities, left New York Saturday on his return to Montreal after a visit to Europe, having been away some time. Mr. Birks has been visiting a daughter in the metropolis. He was not optimistic in speaking of conditions in England or Europe at the present time, but felt that Great Britain's conditions commercially and financially would increase in strength materially as time goes on. Mr. Birks was among the visitors to the office of the 'Jewelers' Circular' just prior to his return to Montreal.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 1st December 1920

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This Timely and Spectacular Display Required a Special Police Guard

Here is a most remarkable window display made recently by Henry Birks & Sons at their store in Winnipeg, Manitoba.



The display which was shown in the diamond window caused a great deal of favourable comment. A special guard was detailed from the Central Police Station to stay constantly on hand to protect the window and control the crowds that were constantly gathering around. Santa Claus was made of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and emeralds. His cap was made of rubies lined with sapphires and trimmed with emeralds and pearls. Of course, this Santa was somewhat of a Lilliputian, being only eight inches high, but he was big enough when we consider that his valuation is placed at $30,000. He remained in the window several days and did his job well.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th January 1921

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The Montreal 'Witness' silver trophy, won by the M. A. A. A. team in the field sports on Sept 17, was made by Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal. It is one of the finest of its kind ever manufactured in Canada.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th October 1898

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Henry Birks and family have returned to their Montreal residence from their Summer cottage at Westmount.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th October 1898

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The Montreal Tourists' Association, of which Henry Birks, of Henry Birks & Sons, is one of the vice-presidents, have been granted a charter.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 29th March 1899

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On the occasion of the retirement of the Duke of Devonshire from the office of Governor General of Canada, the Duchess of Devonshire was presented with a very handsome jewel case by Lady Borden, Mrs. Arthur Meighen and the wives of other Canadian cabinet ministers. The case, designed and manufactured by Henry Birks & Sons, of Montreal, has been on view for some time in their window, where it attracted considerable attention. It is elliptical in shape, of heavy silver, dull finished, and gold mounted, and is four inches high. 16 inches long and 12 inches broad, and displays the new arms of Canada worked in embossed gold and silver and colored enamels. Surrounding the coat of arms is a band of interwoven maple leaves in gold. There are four settings of Canadian tourmaline stones, each setting containing nine jewels. The case is surrounded by a scroll of maple leaves, and in front underneath the scroll is engraved in inscription, "Presented to Her Excellency the Duchess of Devonshire by Mrs. Arthur Meighen, the wives of the Cabinet Ministers, and Lady Borden, Ottawa, Canada, June, 1921." Starting to the right of this inscription the names of the donors are engraved. The case has four maple leaf feet, each made of embossed gold.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th July 1921

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THIEVES AT WORK

Organized Gang of Window Smashers Operating in Montreal, Can.

Montreal, Can., Nov. 8.—Jewelry robberies have been numerous recently, indicating that a well organized gang of thieves are operating systematically, using the familiar process of breaking the windows and making away with such valuables as can be secured through the aperture.

Yesterday the store of Henry Birks & Sons was robbed of small French clocks valued at between $500 and $600 by the same method. The first intimation that the establishment had been visited by thieves was the discovery of a small round hole in one of the large plate glass windows, just big enough to admit a man's arm, which had been roughly smashed with a stone or some heavy object. The police regard it as the work of novices, as the job was clumsily done. Detectives are working on the case.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 14th November 1917

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J. E. Houghton, who has charge of the watch department of Henry Birks & Sons, was in Toronto this week.

Source: The Jewelers Review - 31st May 1899

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New York

Mr. Eadie, buyer for Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., Montreal, Can., spent a few days in the market here prior to his sailing for Europe last Saturday.

Source: Crockery and Glass Journal - 19th February 1914

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Harry Ryrie, of Ryrie Bros., left Toronto, Monday, for a trip to New York and the Southern States. He will be absent for about a month.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 10th February 1897

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Among the goods lost on the steamer 'Scotsman' were three cases of jewelry for Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 4th October 1899

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W. M. Birks of Henry Birks & Sons has been elected president of the Montreal Canadian Club.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd May 1917

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The principal jewelry stores of Montreal have now their front windows set out tor the holiday trade, and as this has been accomplished with much taste, they all look very beautiful. The advantages of advertising, too, are fully recognized, and the daily papers have been full of choice ads., those particularly noticeable being by Henry Birks & Sons, R. Hemsley, R. Sharpley & Sons, R. A. Dickson & Co., M. Cochenthalcr. D. Beatty, J. B. Williamson. Over three columns of write-up are given to Henry Birks & Sons store in last Saturday's Herald.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 13th December 1899

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Mr. and Mrs. Henry Birks, Montreal, have left for Atlantic City, N. J., where they will spend a 10 days' holiday. They are accompanied by their youngest son, Gerald, and their two little grandsons, children of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Birks.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 15th November 1899

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Arthur Gordon, of Toronto, was arrested by the Winnipeg police on Oct. 28, charged with the theft of a diamond ring valued at $600 from the jewelry store of Henry Birks & Sons, on Portage Ave. Gordon is alleged to have entered the store and asked to look at some diamond rings, of which he made a close examination, taking the opportunity to substitute an imitation ring in the place of one of the most valuable. He was detected by the salesman, W. J. Markle, and ran out. As he disappeared he threw down another imitation ring, which was picked up and handed to the police. Gordon was captured after a short chase.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th November 1921

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By a misfortune Birks' annual clearance sale, which was held from January 16th to 20th, fell during the period when there were no Winnipeg newspapers, owing to a temporary cessation of the newsprint supply from Fort Francis, Ont. In this they were the victims along with many other Winnipeg establishments which had sales scheduled about that time. The window displays and the alluring markings of the different lines which were reduced were a compensatory feature, however.

Source: The Trader - March 1920

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The Montreal firm of Henry Birks & Sons, have arranged to take over in April next the business of the old jewelry firm of M. S. Brown & Co., of Halifax, N. S., the leading jewelry house of the Maritime Provinces, founded in 1840. They have bought a handsome block on Barrington St., for a new store. This will give Birks & Sons a chain of fine stores in the principal Canadian cities from Halifax to Vancouver.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 26th November 1919

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MONTREAL

Mr. J. H. Birks, of Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons, has returned with his family from a summer sojourn at Prout's Neck, Maine.

Mr. J. Ramsay, Mr. A. Ferguson, and Mr. E. H. Evans, all reputable members of the jewelry trade and employees of the firm of Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons, took their holiday at Arundal, Que., where Mr. Evans has a farm. The holiday included fishing and hunting and was most enjoyable.

Mr. S. Rosenthal, of Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons, took a little jaunt to Ste. Agathe des Monts, and also put in a very pleasant time.

Source: The Trader - October 1900

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On Nov. 24 and 25 the firm of Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, celebrated the 65th anniversary of Henry Birks' entrance into business. At the age of 17, in 1857 he began as a junior clerk with the firm of Savage & Lyman, of which he subsequently became a partner. In 1879 he started business on his own account, his trade expanding until the firm now occupies what is claimed to be the largest ground-floor jewelry store in the world, with branches in the leading Canadian cities.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th November 1922

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