Charles Potter & Co.
Title
Charles Potter & Co.
Active From
1851-01-01
Active Until
1951-01-01
Location
54 King Street East, Toronto, ON (1853, 1856)
121 (possibly 131) King Street West, Rossin House, Toronto, ON (1861)
9 King Street East, Toronto, ON (1873)
201-211 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON (1890)
47 Charles Street, 201-211 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON (1890)
31 and 29 King Street East, Toronto, ON (1890)
16 Adelaide Street, Toronto, ON (1910)
102 King Street W., Toronto, ON (1951)
Product Areas
Jewellery
Surveying
Scientific
School Supplies
Watches
Activities
Manufacturing
Supplying
Timeline
- 1831 – Charles Potter born. (Smith, 15)
- 1851 – Charles Potter, aged 19, is working as an Optical Instrument Maker in London, possibly at Dollands. (Smith, 15)
- 1853 – Charles Potter moves to Canada and begins collaborating with William Hearn, watchmaker and jeweller, to form Hearn & Potter. (Brooks & Daniels, 1040; Smith, 15)
- 1853 - “Hearn & Potter” at 54 King Street East, advertising as “Watchmakers & Jewellers”, and watches imported from London, UK (“London Made Gold & Silver Lever Watches”)
- 1856 – Hearn & Potter expand selection to include “theodolites, levels, staffs, surevyeing and ship compasses, sextants…” and drawing instruments, as well as gold and silver watches and jewellery (Smith, 17)
- 1856 – Hearn & Potter active at 54 King Street East. (Toronto City Directory 1856, 297)
- 1857, Oct. – The Hearn & Potter partnership has dissolved. Charles Potter, Augustus F. Potter, arrives in Toronto and Charles Potter appears to start work with A.F. Potter.
- 1858 – A.F. Potter, likely also representing Charles Potter, wins first prize (of possibly just two people) for “Best collection of Mathematical, Philosophical and Surveyor’s Instruments.” Came second to Wm Hearn. (Globe and Mail, October 1, 1858: 2)
- 1860 – Charles Potter is married to Elizabeth Potter. (Smith, 19)
- 1861 – Charles Potter active at 121 (possibly 131) King Street West, Rossin House, living at 115 Adelaide Stret West. A.F. Potter has a shop nearby. Both listed as opticians. (Brown’s Toronto General Directory 1861, 245 & 325)
- 1862 – Charles Potter’s and A.F. Potters shops are in the Rossin House hotel when it burns down on November 14, 1862. Charles Potter and A.F. are described separately, but only Charles Potter is described as having a storefront (on King Street). Charles Potter had no insurance; A.F. Potter had considerable insurance. (“Burning of the Rossin House”)
- 1864 – Charles Potter struggling a bit with some competitors, have shop at 20 King Street East, variety of instruments, repairs etc. (Smith, 20)
- 1869, Jan. – Charles Potter hosts the second meeting of the Toronto Astronomical Club. (Smith, 20)
- 1872 – Charles Potter applies to put a steam engine on the premises to help power his machinery. (Smith, 21)
- 1873 or before – Charles Potter at 9 King Street East, Toronto. Advertising, “Established 1853, C. Potter, Optician, Manufacturer to the Crown Lands Department, Excise and Board of Public Works, Ottawa. Education Department, Public Works, Crown Lands, Ontario, Importer and Manufacturer of All Kinds of Optical, philosophical and Mathematical Instruments, Miscroscopes [sic]…” especially spectacles.
- 1873 – Charles Potter active at 9 King Street East, Toronto. (Cherrier, Kirwin & McGown's Toronto Directory for 1873)
- 1879 – Charles Potter showing “philosophical and surgical instruments” at The Great Fair, Toronto. “They comprise optical, philosophical, mathematical and engineering instruments, besides chemical and electrical apparatus, all finished in first-class style. On Mr. Potter’s stand Dr. Rosebrugh, of this city, exhibits a telephone with applicates to show the capabilities of the instrument.” (“The Great Fair – Immense Success)
- 1880s – Charles Potter selling to Toronto’s School of Practical Science with a shop at 31 King Street East; Founded the Map and School Supply Company: “educational maps, globes and other school requisites; philosophical and chemical apparatus and glassware; map mounting and colouring a specialty.” (Smith, 25)
- 1890s – 31 and 29 King Street East, 47 Charles Street, 201-211 Bathurst St., comprising six houses. (Toronto City Directory 1890, 1461)
- 1899 – Charles Potter dies. He leaves his shares in the Map and School Supply Company to C.H. Bishop, the superintendent of Toronto public schools. (Smith, 28)
- 1901 – Optician Charles B. Petry acquired the firm from Toronto General Trust, still under Potter name. (Smith, 28–29)
- 1910 – Still running, Petry joined by his son Allan M. Petry, now at 16 Adelaide Street. (Smith, 29)
- 1951 – Business taken over by W. Harry Landon, now at 102 King Street W. (Smith, 29)
- 1851 – Charles Potter, aged 19, is working as an Optical Instrument Maker in London, possibly at Dollands. (Smith, 15)
- 1853 – Charles Potter moves to Canada and begins collaborating with William Hearn, watchmaker and jeweller, to form Hearn & Potter. (Brooks & Daniels, 1040; Smith, 15)
- 1853 - “Hearn & Potter” at 54 King Street East, advertising as “Watchmakers & Jewellers”, and watches imported from London, UK (“London Made Gold & Silver Lever Watches”)
- 1856 – Hearn & Potter expand selection to include “theodolites, levels, staffs, surevyeing and ship compasses, sextants…” and drawing instruments, as well as gold and silver watches and jewellery (Smith, 17)
- 1856 – Hearn & Potter active at 54 King Street East. (Toronto City Directory 1856, 297)
- 1857, Oct. – The Hearn & Potter partnership has dissolved. Charles Potter, Augustus F. Potter, arrives in Toronto and Charles Potter appears to start work with A.F. Potter.
- 1858 – A.F. Potter, likely also representing Charles Potter, wins first prize (of possibly just two people) for “Best collection of Mathematical, Philosophical and Surveyor’s Instruments.” Came second to Wm Hearn. (Globe and Mail, October 1, 1858: 2)
- 1860 – Charles Potter is married to Elizabeth Potter. (Smith, 19)
- 1861 – Charles Potter active at 121 (possibly 131) King Street West, Rossin House, living at 115 Adelaide Stret West. A.F. Potter has a shop nearby. Both listed as opticians. (Brown’s Toronto General Directory 1861, 245 & 325)
- 1862 – Charles Potter’s and A.F. Potters shops are in the Rossin House hotel when it burns down on November 14, 1862. Charles Potter and A.F. are described separately, but only Charles Potter is described as having a storefront (on King Street). Charles Potter had no insurance; A.F. Potter had considerable insurance. (“Burning of the Rossin House”)
- 1864 – Charles Potter struggling a bit with some competitors, have shop at 20 King Street East, variety of instruments, repairs etc. (Smith, 20)
- 1869, Jan. – Charles Potter hosts the second meeting of the Toronto Astronomical Club. (Smith, 20)
- 1872 – Charles Potter applies to put a steam engine on the premises to help power his machinery. (Smith, 21)
- 1873 or before – Charles Potter at 9 King Street East, Toronto. Advertising, “Established 1853, C. Potter, Optician, Manufacturer to the Crown Lands Department, Excise and Board of Public Works, Ottawa. Education Department, Public Works, Crown Lands, Ontario, Importer and Manufacturer of All Kinds of Optical, philosophical and Mathematical Instruments, Miscroscopes [sic]…” especially spectacles.
- 1873 – Charles Potter active at 9 King Street East, Toronto. (Cherrier, Kirwin & McGown's Toronto Directory for 1873)
- 1879 – Charles Potter showing “philosophical and surgical instruments” at The Great Fair, Toronto. “They comprise optical, philosophical, mathematical and engineering instruments, besides chemical and electrical apparatus, all finished in first-class style. On Mr. Potter’s stand Dr. Rosebrugh, of this city, exhibits a telephone with applicates to show the capabilities of the instrument.” (“The Great Fair – Immense Success)
- 1880s – Charles Potter selling to Toronto’s School of Practical Science with a shop at 31 King Street East; Founded the Map and School Supply Company: “educational maps, globes and other school requisites; philosophical and chemical apparatus and glassware; map mounting and colouring a specialty.” (Smith, 25)
- 1890s – 31 and 29 King Street East, 47 Charles Street, 201-211 Bathurst St., comprising six houses. (Toronto City Directory 1890, 1461)
- 1899 – Charles Potter dies. He leaves his shares in the Map and School Supply Company to C.H. Bishop, the superintendent of Toronto public schools. (Smith, 28)
- 1901 – Optician Charles B. Petry acquired the firm from Toronto General Trust, still under Potter name. (Smith, 28–29)
- 1910 – Still running, Petry joined by his son Allan M. Petry, now at 16 Adelaide Street. (Smith, 29)
- 1951 – Business taken over by W. Harry Landon, now at 102 King Street W. (Smith, 29)
Sources
Brooks, R., Daniels, W. “Surveying Instrument Makers of Central Canada” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering 20, (1993): 1037-1046
“Burning of the Rossin House” The Globe (Toronto), November 15th 1862: 2
Cherrier, Kirwin & McGown's Toronto Directory for 1873 (1873): 235
“London Made Gold & Silver Lever Watches” The Globe (Toronto), 19 November 1853: 1)
Smith, J.A. “Charles Potter, Optician and Instrument Maker” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 87, No. 1 (1993) http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1993JRASC..87...14S
“The Great Fair – Immense Success” The Globe (Toronto), September 6, 1879: 2
Toronto City Directory 1890 (1890): 1461
“Burning of the Rossin House” The Globe (Toronto), November 15th 1862: 2
Cherrier, Kirwin & McGown's Toronto Directory for 1873 (1873): 235
“London Made Gold & Silver Lever Watches” The Globe (Toronto), 19 November 1853: 1)
Smith, J.A. “Charles Potter, Optician and Instrument Maker” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 87, No. 1 (1993) http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1993JRASC..87...14S
“The Great Fair – Immense Success” The Globe (Toronto), September 6, 1879: 2
Toronto City Directory 1890 (1890): 1461
Citation
“Charles Potter & Co.,” Precision Instrument Culture in Canada, accessed October 16, 2024, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/instrument-precision/items/show/2437.