Henry Birks & Sons of Canada

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Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., Montreal, will not have their new business premises in Winnipeg completed before the Autumn of the present year. No expense will be spared in making the building, which is at present occupied by the Winnipeg Young Men’s Christian Association, one of the finest jewelry houses in the Dominion, and on a scale equal only to the magnificent premises of the Birks company in Montreal.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 2nd February 1910

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Henry Birks & Sons - Ottawa - 1911

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Birks - Montreal - 1945

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Henry Birks & Sons’ Magnificent Jewelry Emporium

Montreal, Que., May 21.—Montreal can now with some reason claim to have one of the finest stores in the world. Henry Birks & Sons have moved into their new quarters, at the corner of Phillips Square and St. Catherine St., and have put in a complete new stock from the leading establishments of the old world.

The store is practically in two parts. The main division, with frontage on both St. Catherine St. and Phillips Square, is finished in solid mahogany. At the back of the store, forming alcoves, are wall cases of rich mahogany, highly polished and elaborately carved and inlaid. The doors, which are so balanced that they slide upwards at the least touch, are of the heaviest plate glass. The interior of the cabinets is finished in royal blue plush, and lighted from within by incandescent lamps. To the left of the St. Catherine St. entrance, within walls of carved mahogany and wrought iron grill work, is the diamond office. Then there is a room from which the daylight is excluded, the artificial light showing the effect of jewels, as in a brilliantly lighted ball-room.

The electric light fixtures twining up the massive pillars are of wrought iron, and were especially designed and manufactured in London. Through the arch, the western portion of the building, devoted to choice cabinets, porcelains, clocks, bronzes and statuary, is entirely distinct from the main store. Here is solid elegance in design and lavishness in display. There is not a bit of cheap, tawdry work throughout. The building itself is four stories high.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 23rd May 1894

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Birks - Montreal - 1949

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Spoons by Henry Birks & Sons in the Georgian pattern:
















HBS - BIRKS - STERLING


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Birks - Montreal - 1956

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A business amalgamation has just been announced in Calgary involving the merger of the well-known Calgarv firm of D. E. Black & Co. with Henry Birks. Ltd., of Montreal. D. E. Black has confirmed the report that he is joining the board of directors of this well-known firm, and that early next year his Calgary jewelry business will form one of the string of stores belonging to the latter corporation in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Halifax and their affiliated house of Ryrie Bros, in Toronto. Mr. Black will be the managing director for Calgary, and this incorporation, with Henry Birks, Ltd., with their manufacturing facilities and foreign connections, will be interesting to Calgary citizens. The Birk's staff include 1,800, controlling many lines of skilled manufacture. Mr. Black is just back from a buying trip in Europe, and it should be noted that the amalgamation of the two houses will not take place until next February or March. All the present staff will be retained and the business will be carried on as heretofore.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 14th July 1920

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Ryrie-Birks - Toronto - 1927

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Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg, have given $1,000 to the Montreal General Hospital fund, which is being raised as a memorial fund to the late Charles Alexander, the Montreal philanthropist. The business of this firm has been merged into a joint stock company, consisting of Henry Birks, William Massey Birks, John Henry Birks, Gerald Walter Birks and William H. Lavers, all of Montreal. The capital stock is fixed at $2,000,000 and the head office will be in Montreal.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd January 1906

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A very dainty little folder, entitled "About a New Bracelet,” is being sent out by Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, Can. The folder consists essentially of a cover page of a brownish hue inside of which is pasted on—on one side only—a straw-colored circular embellished by watermarks of a brownish hue, and printed in black. A reproduction of the bracelet advertised is pasted on the front cover.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th September 1909

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It is announced that Mr. J. Earl Birks, managing director of Ryrie-Birks Ltd., Toronto, for the past nine years having previously been with Henry Birks & Sons Ltd., Montreal, has been appointed Western supervisor of the firm with headquarters in Winnipeg. Mr. Birks will be greatly missed in Toronto business and club circles. He is popular member of the Toronto Golf Club and has been president of the Toronto Convention and Tourist Association for two years, president of the Ontario Motor League for 1931, and director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His many activities have won him a host of friends in Montreal and Toronto and Winnipeg and the West is to be congratulated in now securing his invaluable executive services. Mr. Earle L. Gallagher, lately of Montreal, but formerly of Toronto, is returning to Toronto to take Mr. Birks’ place there.

Source: Canadian Golfer - July 1932

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Ryrie-Birks Limited - Toronto - 1932

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Birks - Montreal - 1913

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Arthur Birks, of Henry Birks & Sons, Montreal, and Mrs. and Miss Henry Birks, who have been spending the Summer at Hudson Heights, have returned to Montreal.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 1st September 1897

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Birks - Montreal - 1983

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Henry Birks and Sons, Limited - Montreal - 1908

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BIRKS STERLING

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Birks - Montreal - 1931

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Messrs. Henry Birks & Sons' advertising campaign, by means of handsome posters and in the columns of the daily press, is atracting much attention and cannot fail to be productive of much real business. Their slogan, "Always on Time," backed by ''Guaranteed, of course," means whole volumes and is very aptly chosen. The firm have opened a most modern and fully-equipped electroplating department in Vancouver. The plant is one of the best that money could secure, and gold, silver, nickel, copper and brass plating is being done by a staff who thoroughly understand their work. This new addition to the local Birks factory is already being well patronized.

Source: The Trader - January 1920

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