Instruments Ltd.
Alternative Names
E.R. Watts & Co., Ottawa
Instruments (1951) Ltd.
Type
Company
Begin Date
1907-01-01
Active Until
1964-01-01
Location
31 Richmond St. West, Toronto , ON (1930)
240 Sparks St. Ottawa, ON (1930, c.1944)
300 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON (c.1944, 1964)
14 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, ON (1944)
Product Areas
Scientific
Drawing & Drafting
Activities
Supplying
Importing
Manufacturing
Repairing
Timeline
- 1907 – Founded as E.R. Watts & Son, Canada, a subsidiary of British company E.R. Watts & Son (“E.R. Watts and Son”)
- 1909 – E.R. Watts & Son, Canada becomes E.R. Watts and Son Ltd. of Ottawa, a separate company. (“E.R. Watts and Son”)
- 1921 – Name of Ottawa company changed to Instruments Limited. (Attic Books)
- 1923 – Described as the successors to E.R. Watts & Son, representing E.R. Watts & Son (London), Cambridge & Paul, Negretti & Zambria and Ross Ltd., also representing Gallenkamp. (Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, January 27, 1923)
- 1928 – Representing Cambridge Instruments Ltd., Negretti & Zambra.
- Aug 1930 – Active with office (not manufacturing) at 31 Richmond St. West, Toronto, ON run by Frank Fulligram. Head Office 240 Sparks St. Ottawa, ON; “Canadian distributors for Cambridge Instrument Co. Ltd., Negretti & Zambra, Ross Ltd., E.R. Watts & Son Ltd.” (Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, August 23, 1930; Brooks, 84)
- 1944–1951 – Active with manufacturing facilities at 300 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON and retail outlets at 240 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON, and 14 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, ON, plus other branches at Montreal and Quebec, with agents “including Winnipeg to B.C.” Preamble of catalogue highlights manufacturing capabilities: “Whilst prior to the War, we maintained workshop facilities at both our Ottawa and Toronto establishments, due to War demands we were compelled to extend our activities and built our present modern factory at Parkdale Avenue in Ottawa. It is equipped with the latest modern machinery for accurate work of any kind and is under the close supervision of expert mechanics in charge of Mr. W. Wilson Low our Superintendent. We have manufactured Sensitive Altimeters, Tachometers and Aircraft Compasses, Surveying Aneroids, Aircraft and Ophthalmic Cameras, lens mounts and other kindred instruments calling for the highest prevision.” (“Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47”)
- 1951 – Possible company restructure, resulting in name “Instruments (1951) Ltd.” (Fraser's Canadian Trade Dictionary (1964))
- 1957 – Active, conducting repairs/overhauling watches, employing watchmaker Steve King. (“I never take it for granted”)
- 1964 – Active under “Instruments (1951) Ltd” at 300 Parkdale Ave., Ottawa, ON. (Fraser's Canadian Trade Dictionary (1964))
- 1909 – E.R. Watts & Son, Canada becomes E.R. Watts and Son Ltd. of Ottawa, a separate company. (“E.R. Watts and Son”)
- 1921 – Name of Ottawa company changed to Instruments Limited. (Attic Books)
- 1923 – Described as the successors to E.R. Watts & Son, representing E.R. Watts & Son (London), Cambridge & Paul, Negretti & Zambria and Ross Ltd., also representing Gallenkamp. (Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, January 27, 1923)
- 1928 – Representing Cambridge Instruments Ltd., Negretti & Zambra.
- Aug 1930 – Active with office (not manufacturing) at 31 Richmond St. West, Toronto, ON run by Frank Fulligram. Head Office 240 Sparks St. Ottawa, ON; “Canadian distributors for Cambridge Instrument Co. Ltd., Negretti & Zambra, Ross Ltd., E.R. Watts & Son Ltd.” (Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, August 23, 1930; Brooks, 84)
- 1944–1951 – Active with manufacturing facilities at 300 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON and retail outlets at 240 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON, and 14 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, ON, plus other branches at Montreal and Quebec, with agents “including Winnipeg to B.C.” Preamble of catalogue highlights manufacturing capabilities: “Whilst prior to the War, we maintained workshop facilities at both our Ottawa and Toronto establishments, due to War demands we were compelled to extend our activities and built our present modern factory at Parkdale Avenue in Ottawa. It is equipped with the latest modern machinery for accurate work of any kind and is under the close supervision of expert mechanics in charge of Mr. W. Wilson Low our Superintendent. We have manufactured Sensitive Altimeters, Tachometers and Aircraft Compasses, Surveying Aneroids, Aircraft and Ophthalmic Cameras, lens mounts and other kindred instruments calling for the highest prevision.” (“Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47”)
- 1951 – Possible company restructure, resulting in name “Instruments (1951) Ltd.” (Fraser's Canadian Trade Dictionary (1964))
- 1957 – Active, conducting repairs/overhauling watches, employing watchmaker Steve King. (“I never take it for granted”)
- 1964 – Active under “Instruments (1951) Ltd” at 300 Parkdale Ave., Ottawa, ON. (Fraser's Canadian Trade Dictionary (1964))
Sources
Brooks, R. “A Conversation with an Instrument Maker” Rittenhouse 20, 65–126 (2006): 84
Attic Books, “Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47: Surveyors', Engineers', Architects' & Draughtsmens' Instruments & Supplies” Attic Books, Inventory #121832 (https://atticbooks.ca/products/121832) [22-07-24]
“E.R. Watts and Son” Grace’s Guide To British Industrial History (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/E._R._Watts_and_Son) [22-07-24]
“Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47” Ingenium Library & Archives Trade Literature Collection, EXPL I5998 3001 1940-1949
King, Steve, “I never take it for granted” Ottawa Citizen, June 29, 2013
Fraser’s Canadian Trade Directory (1964): 764.
Attic Books, “Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47: Surveyors', Engineers', Architects' & Draughtsmens' Instruments & Supplies” Attic Books, Inventory #121832 (https://atticbooks.ca/products/121832) [22-07-24]
“E.R. Watts and Son” Grace’s Guide To British Industrial History (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/E._R._Watts_and_Son) [22-07-24]
“Instruments Limited Catalogue No. 47” Ingenium Library & Archives Trade Literature Collection, EXPL I5998 3001 1940-1949
King, Steve, “I never take it for granted” Ottawa Citizen, June 29, 2013
Fraser’s Canadian Trade Directory (1964): 764.
Letters:
- Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, January 27, 1923. Western University Archives A19-019-001 (Dearle Correspondence), Correspondence General I-J 1925-1935
- Letter from Instruments Ltd. to R.C. Dearle, August 23, 1930. Western University Archives A19-019-001 (Dearle Correspondence), Correspondence General I-J 1925-1935
