Burt and Watson
(1857-1858)

In 1857 John and William Burt, almost certainly with their father's help, were able to entice Thomas N. Watson, William Young's foreman at the time and an excellent instrument maker, to move to Detroit and become a partner in the firm of Burt & Watson.  The earliest evidence of this move is an invoice dated June 20, 1857:  "Rec'd from W. A. Burt two Hundred dollars for one solar compass to be finished in one year. T. Watson."  This was probably money advanced by William A. Burt to Thomas Watson to help with moving expenses.  The firm is only listed in the 1857 directory.  On the death of William A. Burt the family lost interest in the business and on October 23, 1858 the Detroit Advertiser announced:  "GRANT AND CROSMAN have purchased the establishment of Burt & Watson, next door to the Advertiser's office, for manufacturing Burt's Solar Compass and Mathematical Instruments generally."  Thomas Watson is listed in the 1859 Detroit directory and does not reappear in the Philadelphia directories until 1861 suggesting that he left Detroit in 1860.