In speaking of the benefits he expects to see conferred on the pupils from the institution of a technical school in Montreal, J. H. Birks, of Henry Birks & Sons, referred to the training the young man got in their establishment, where, he said, the least skilful of their chasers and engravers was paid $15 and the best men $30 a week, while one of their men was the most skilful on the Continent. Mr. Birks himself is a graduate of the Boston Institute of Technology.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 25th March 1903
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Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
The Minto Cup started from Montreal on its long journey to the coast on Wednesday, July 29, both the losing Shamrocks of Montreal and the victorious Westminsters cheering each other as the train pulled out. It had been arranged to have a little gathering at the Windsor Hotel for the formal transfer, and the proceedings were marked by the best of good fellowship. The coveted cup was placed on a table and was filled with champagne and healths were drunk. The president of the Shamrock Lacrosse Club presided, and in the course of a few remarks wished success to the new cup holders. The cup, which was made in England, has been in the principal show window in the store of Henry Birks & Sons for many days, and has attracted universal attention. It is quite plain, except for the many records of history inscribed upon it, but is heavy and of solid silver.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th August 1908
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Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th August 1908
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Bowen Island never had a merrier crowd than that which took possession of the picnic grounds when the employees of Henry Birks & Sons, Limited, with their sweethearts, wives and families, held their annual picnic. Two hundred and thirty-four persons were in the gathering; every one of them wore a Birks badge, a winning smile and a healthy appetite. The hard-'working committee provided a programme Which occupied every minute of the time ; there were races for every one, from infant to veteran; there were pick-a-back and wheelbarrow races, the popular mixed three-legged race for which the Birks staff is famous, and a most exciting tug-ofwar. A feature of the day's sports was the sweeping victory of the factory employees over those who are accustomed to putting over the sales.
In the evening, a most enjoyable dance was held in the pavilion, in the course of which Mrs. W. M. Carson, the life-partner of the popular manager, presented the prizes to those fortunate in the various contests. P. Powell, with the help of a pianist, provided the most delectable music. Under the spreading shade trees of the picnic ground proper, supper was served to a hungry horde, who did ample justice to the good things provided in abundance, from ice cream to cigars. Geo. E. Trorey, managing-director, and Mr. Carson were most active in seeing to the welfare of their guests, and the outing was a distinct success, another proof of the splendid good-fellowship which exists among the members of the staff themselves and those who control the destinies of this firm which spreads across the continent. The hour's sail to and from the Island was spent in song and frolic, Leonard Hambly and other willing workers taking turns at the piano, while a good hundred voices rent the air with melody.
Source: The Trader - October 1920
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In the evening, a most enjoyable dance was held in the pavilion, in the course of which Mrs. W. M. Carson, the life-partner of the popular manager, presented the prizes to those fortunate in the various contests. P. Powell, with the help of a pianist, provided the most delectable music. Under the spreading shade trees of the picnic ground proper, supper was served to a hungry horde, who did ample justice to the good things provided in abundance, from ice cream to cigars. Geo. E. Trorey, managing-director, and Mr. Carson were most active in seeing to the welfare of their guests, and the outing was a distinct success, another proof of the splendid good-fellowship which exists among the members of the staff themselves and those who control the destinies of this firm which spreads across the continent. The hour's sail to and from the Island was spent in song and frolic, Leonard Hambly and other willing workers taking turns at the piano, while a good hundred voices rent the air with melody.
Source: The Trader - October 1920
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Sadness was cast over the local Birks staff by the rather sudden death of Wilson Platten, who has been with the firm for many years. Mr. Platten
acted as coach no the winning tug-of-war team at the firm's annual picnic and was actively at work up to within two days of hrs demise. An original member of the 62nd Battalion, leaving with that bunch of men in 1915, he was later transferred to the 28th Battalion. Trench life proved too hard for him, and he was afflicted a great deal with stomach trouble. This necessitated his transfer to the base, where he served up to the close of hostilities as a sergeant. Since coming back to his old place in the Birks Factory, he has been occasionally bothered with a recurrence of the trouble, but has made no complaint and has been of the most cheerful disposition. He was at work as usual on Thursday, leaving for home in the evening without word of anything unusual, and the news of his death on Sunday, following an operation, came as a distinct shock to his friends. The late Mr. Platten, who was about forty-five years of age, leaves a widow and three young daughters to mourn his early death. The funeral was largely attended and many floral tributes testified to the esteem in which the late Mr. Platten was held. The remains were interred in the returned soldiers' plot at Mountain View Cemetery.
Source: The Trader - October 1920
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acted as coach no the winning tug-of-war team at the firm's annual picnic and was actively at work up to within two days of hrs demise. An original member of the 62nd Battalion, leaving with that bunch of men in 1915, he was later transferred to the 28th Battalion. Trench life proved too hard for him, and he was afflicted a great deal with stomach trouble. This necessitated his transfer to the base, where he served up to the close of hostilities as a sergeant. Since coming back to his old place in the Birks Factory, he has been occasionally bothered with a recurrence of the trouble, but has made no complaint and has been of the most cheerful disposition. He was at work as usual on Thursday, leaving for home in the evening without word of anything unusual, and the news of his death on Sunday, following an operation, came as a distinct shock to his friends. The late Mr. Platten, who was about forty-five years of age, leaves a widow and three young daughters to mourn his early death. The funeral was largely attended and many floral tributes testified to the esteem in which the late Mr. Platten was held. The remains were interred in the returned soldiers' plot at Mountain View Cemetery.
Source: The Trader - October 1920
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks & Sons Limited - Montreal - 1932
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks & Co. - Montreal - 1885
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
George Markle, one of the joint managers of Henry Birks & Sons' Winnipeg stores, is numbered among the directors of the Winnipeg Productions, Ltd., a local company formed to reproduce Ralph Connor's '"The Foreigner," in a feature film. The subscribers to the stock are to number 20 at $5,000 each.
Source: The Trader - September 1920
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Source: The Trader - September 1920
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks and Mrs. Birks, Montreal, have returned from a trip to Bermuda. Richard Birks, who has been confined to the house for some weeks through serious illness, is once more able to be out.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd April 1901
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Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd April 1901
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Ryrie-Birks Limited - Toronto - 1930
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks & Sons Ltd. - Montreal - 1913
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
William M. Birks, 81, Dies; Prominent Canadian Jeweler
William Massey Birks, chairman of the board of directors of Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., jewelry and silversmith chain in Canada, died on July 4 at his summer home in Mount Bruno, Quebec. He was 81 years old.
In the fall of 1948, Mr. Birks, although he was then over 80 years of age, undertook a 15,000-mile flying trip to Europe at the request of the Canadian Government to make a survey of what had been accomplished with the aid that had been sent to war-torn countries through the Canadian United Allied Relief Organization, of which he was chairman. In recognition of his work in this capacity he was made a commander of the Order of the British Empire and received decorations from Denmark, Greece, Norway, Poland, Yugoslavia and the Netherlands.
Born in Montreal on October 25, 1868, he was the eldest son of Henry Birks, founder of the jewelry firm that bears his name. After completing his education at McGill University he entered his father's business in 1885.
In 1894 Mr. Birks became a partner with his father and two brothers. In 1905 the present company was incorporated and he was made a vice president. Having a strong faith in the future development of Canada, Mr. Birks was particularly active in seeking expansion of the business of the company by the creation of branches, following those that had been established at Ottawa in 1901 and Winnipeg in 1903. The Toronto branch was opened in 1905, and others followed until today the 18th branch is now being organized, while there are buying offices in London and Antwerp. Mr. Birks was largely responsible for this expansion and when his father died in 1928 he became president of the firm. He held that position until 1938 when he became chairman of the board of directors of the company. A great traveler, he crossed the Atlantic no less than 120 times, the last two occasions being by air in 1948.
Mr. Birks was elected a director of the Sun Life Assurance Co. in 1911, and was also a director of the National Trust Co. and of the Bank of Nova Scotia.
He was also a senior governor of McGill University, a freeman of the City of London, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers of the City of London. Vice president of the Royal Empire Society and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, he served as chairman of the Commission of Monetary Policy of the thirteenth congress of the latter organization in 1933.
Mr. Birks was married in June, 1891, to Miriam Childs Gifford, and it was disclosed by him at a presentation made to him and Mrs. Birks on his 80th birthday in 1948, that he and his wife were born on the same day of the same year, and that actually there was only three hours seniority on his side.
Source: Jewelers' Circular Keystone - August 1950
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William Massey Birks, chairman of the board of directors of Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., jewelry and silversmith chain in Canada, died on July 4 at his summer home in Mount Bruno, Quebec. He was 81 years old.
In the fall of 1948, Mr. Birks, although he was then over 80 years of age, undertook a 15,000-mile flying trip to Europe at the request of the Canadian Government to make a survey of what had been accomplished with the aid that had been sent to war-torn countries through the Canadian United Allied Relief Organization, of which he was chairman. In recognition of his work in this capacity he was made a commander of the Order of the British Empire and received decorations from Denmark, Greece, Norway, Poland, Yugoslavia and the Netherlands.
Born in Montreal on October 25, 1868, he was the eldest son of Henry Birks, founder of the jewelry firm that bears his name. After completing his education at McGill University he entered his father's business in 1885.
In 1894 Mr. Birks became a partner with his father and two brothers. In 1905 the present company was incorporated and he was made a vice president. Having a strong faith in the future development of Canada, Mr. Birks was particularly active in seeking expansion of the business of the company by the creation of branches, following those that had been established at Ottawa in 1901 and Winnipeg in 1903. The Toronto branch was opened in 1905, and others followed until today the 18th branch is now being organized, while there are buying offices in London and Antwerp. Mr. Birks was largely responsible for this expansion and when his father died in 1928 he became president of the firm. He held that position until 1938 when he became chairman of the board of directors of the company. A great traveler, he crossed the Atlantic no less than 120 times, the last two occasions being by air in 1948.
Mr. Birks was elected a director of the Sun Life Assurance Co. in 1911, and was also a director of the National Trust Co. and of the Bank of Nova Scotia.
He was also a senior governor of McGill University, a freeman of the City of London, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers of the City of London. Vice president of the Royal Empire Society and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, he served as chairman of the Commission of Monetary Policy of the thirteenth congress of the latter organization in 1933.
Mr. Birks was married in June, 1891, to Miriam Childs Gifford, and it was disclosed by him at a presentation made to him and Mrs. Birks on his 80th birthday in 1948, that he and his wife were born on the same day of the same year, and that actually there was only three hours seniority on his side.
Source: Jewelers' Circular Keystone - August 1950
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
A strainer by Birks with a date letter of 1940:
BIRKS - Canadian National Mark - 'E' = 1940 - STERLING - 10/55
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BIRKS - Canadian National Mark - 'E' = 1940 - STERLING - 10/55
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks and Sons Limited - Ottawa - 1907
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
A silver-rimmed salt by Birks:
BIRKS - STERLING
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BIRKS - STERLING
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Table knives in the Louis XV pattern by Birks:
BIRKS - STERLING
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BIRKS - STERLING
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Butter knives in the Louis XV pattern by Birks:
BIRKS - STERLING - e ( = 1960)
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BIRKS - STERLING - e ( = 1960)
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
Henry Birks & Co. - Montreal - 1890
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
HENRY BIRKS BUYS U.S. JEWELRY FIRM
BOSTON - (AP) - Shreve, Crump and Low Co., Boston jewellers since 1800, will be merged into a U.S. subsidiary of Henry Birks and Sons Ltd. of Montreal, the president of the Boston company announced yesterday.
No financial details were disclosed in the announcement by Richard Shreve.
The deal is subject to the approval of Shreve stockholders.
It is the first U.S. acquisition for Birks, which was founded in 1879 and now runs a chain of retail jewelry stores across Canada.
Shreve said the two firms shared a "similar outlook and philosophy." both being "old, well established family firms."
Source: The Montreal Gazette - 25th September 1979
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BOSTON - (AP) - Shreve, Crump and Low Co., Boston jewellers since 1800, will be merged into a U.S. subsidiary of Henry Birks and Sons Ltd. of Montreal, the president of the Boston company announced yesterday.
No financial details were disclosed in the announcement by Richard Shreve.
The deal is subject to the approval of Shreve stockholders.
It is the first U.S. acquisition for Birks, which was founded in 1879 and now runs a chain of retail jewelry stores across Canada.
Shreve said the two firms shared a "similar outlook and philosophy." both being "old, well established family firms."
Source: The Montreal Gazette - 25th September 1979
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
An 1876 advertisement from Savage, Lyman & Co., where Henry Birks started his career:
Savage, Lyman & Co. - Montreal - 1876
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Savage, Lyman & Co. - Montreal - 1876
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Re: Henry Birks & Sons of Canada
NEW YORK
Harry F. Smith, buyer for Ryrie Bros, Ltd., Toronto, was a visitor to the Lenox exhibit on Wednesday. He represents one of the most up-to-date jewelry firms in Canada, handling fine china and cut glass.
Source: The Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman - 27th April 1911
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Harry F. Smith, buyer for Ryrie Bros, Ltd., Toronto, was a visitor to the Lenox exhibit on Wednesday. He represents one of the most up-to-date jewelry firms in Canada, handling fine china and cut glass.
Source: The Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman - 27th April 1911
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