W. Gardam & Sons
1877-1903

The firm of W. Gardam & Son was established by William Gardam in 1878. Born in Leeds, England in 1825 and trained as an engraver, Gardam’s name first appeared in the Brooklyn, New York directories in 1877. In the following year he formed a partnership with his son, Joseph Gardam, with a shop at 96 John Street in New York City. The son was also born in Leeds in 1849 and had appeared in the Brooklyn city directories as an artist. While operating a shop on John Street, both appear to have maintained business addresses at 607 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. Another member of the family who joined the firm was Frederick W. Gardam, born in Leeds in 1859, and probably a second son of William and Mary A. Gardam. He also had been trained as an engraver.


In 1881 Joseph Gardam was granted a patent for a solar attachment to transits. In August 1901 the firm was incorporated as W. Gardam and Son, Inc. with Joseph as one of the incorporators. He continued with the firm until at least 1902 and was no longer listed after 1903; he died in 1918. William Gardam died in June 1905 in Brooklyn. Frederick Gardam remained with the firm until 1886 and then worked independently as a maker of mathematical instruments for the next 2 years. From 1889 to 1891 he worked as an engraver at various addresses in New York; he died in 1922.