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  Evans, Sons and Company History

The firm of Evans, Sons, Lescher and Webb began as a small business in 1828 by Mr. John Evans, who was joined by Mr. Joseph Sydney Lescher at 60 Bartholomew Close, London. The firm was established as a manufacturing and wholesale chemists and druggists. The business prospered and in 1833 the firm opened a branch in Liverpool on 56 Hanover street and John Evans left London to lead it. The Liverpool firm grow so rapidly that it was decided to disassociate the London and Liverpool branches. In 1835 J.R. Lescher retired from the business. As time went on Evan's three boys, Thomas Bickerton, John Jr. Evans and Edward Evans were included into the partnership and the name of Evans, Sons and Co. conducted business for many years. In the late 1860's the founder of the firm Mr. John Evans and two of his sons, Thomas and John Jr. died, leaving Edward as the senior partner. However Edward did not actively participate in the business after 1872. His sons J. James, William Paterson, Edward and Alfred Dicerton Evans continued the operations.

In 1894 the firm established a photographic department under a practical photographer, however he shortly left the company to establish a business on his own. In 1896 the department came under direction from John W. Evans, son of Edward Evans, with practical management by Mr. W. Harper a professional photographer, who has been with the company since the beginning of the photographic department. Due to the size of the pharmaceutical business the photographic department was relatively quite small with two dedicated representatives devoting their full time to the department. The company was strictly a wholesale business and sole marketing was directed to their existing clientele of pharmaceutical businesses. Several advertisements suggest the peak was at the turn of the century 1900 to 1906. Due to demand a second photographic department was established in Canada in 1899. A few cameras were named after the companies "Hanover" street address. The firm manufactured and sold a full range of cameras like the Bart, Pembroke and Hanover field cameras, the Pool and Bart folding cameras and the Hanover and Mersey box cameras.


In 1902 the business was incorporated with the London company being absorbed with the business adopting the name Evans, Sons. Lescher and Webb, Limited. At this time there were branches of the business in Liverpool, London, Toronto and Montreal Canada. The firm was also very active in the wholesale market. A large trade was conducted with the West Indian Island of Montserrat for the manufacture of Lime juice, in quantities of 100,000 gallons per year. Edward Evans then lead the company until his death on january 7, 1905 at age 88.

The firm continued to manufacture a variety of chemicals, drugs, sundries, oils, etc. through the early 1900's.

In 1945 the companies name was changed from Evans, Sons, Lescher and Webb to Evans Medical Supplies.

In 1961 the pharmaceutical firm of Glaxo acquired the company.


CLICK HERE for a listing of Evans, Sons and Company Cameras



Ref:

1904, May. The photographic dealer and D & P trade review, page 123

1904, April 1. The British Journal of Photography, page 276

1905, January 14. The Pharmaceutical Journal, page 59

1905, February 25. The Pharmaceutical Journal, page 292

1945, December 22. The Chemist and Druggist page 672

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2014-12-20 12:00:04

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