Benjamin Pike Junior
1808–1864

Benjamin Pike Sr. (1777–1863) was born in London, moved to New York in 1798, and set up shop as an optician. By mid-century, Pike and his sons were the leading dealers of mathematical, optical, and philosophical instruments in New York City, with customers all across the country.

Benjamin Jr. (1808–1864) joined his father in business in 1831, trading as Benjamin Pike & Son. Benjamin Pike Jr. left his dad's firm around 1843, when Benjamin Jr. started his own business in New York - a business that competed against his dad and other brothers.

Benjamin Pike Junior was by some accounts more creative than his dad and other brothers. At the 1837 fair sponsored by the Mechanics’ Institute of New York, Benjamin Pike & Son (Junior) won a silver medal for their "very superior mountain barometer & theodolyte compass." At the 1854 New York State Agricultural Society exhibition, Benjamin Pike Jr. won a silver medal for the "best set of surveyors’ instruments" and a diploma for his theodolite.

Benjamin Jr. was a marketing genius - he distributed a wonderful catalogue of all sorts of scientific instruments on a nationwide basis. See Benjamin Pike Jr., Pike’s Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, and Philosophical Instruments (New York, 1856) (first printed in 1848).

Benjamin Pike Jr obviously sold a vast array of scientific instruments, only some of which related to surveying. It is widely believed that Benjamin Jr imported a great deal of his instruments offered for sale. He also manufactured some of his instruments - likely some of his surveying instruments like compasses and transits.

Benjamin Jr. was also extremely successful, and left behind a historically important house. Take a look at this online article here about Benjamin Jr. and his house.

The following New York City directories list:   1843-44 Pike, Benjamin Jr., optician at 294 Broadway;  1845-46 Pike, Benjamin Jr., Manufacturer of Philosophical and Optical Instruments, microscopes, telescopes, magnets and electrical machines of every variety for medical use, 294 Broadway;  1846-47 Pike, Benjamin Jr., optician 294 Broadway;  May 1, 1858 Pike, Benjamin Jr., optician 294 Broadway, h. Astoria;  May 1, 1864 Pike, Benjamin Jr., optician, 294 Broadway, h. Astoria.

National Museum of American History:
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