Benjamin Pike
1777-1863

Benjamin Pike (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. In 1841, when Daniel joined the firm, the name changed to Benjamin Pike & Sons. It reverted to Benjamin Pike & Son around 1843, when Benjamin Jr. went into business on his own. In 1850, when Gardner came of age, the firm was again known as Benjamin Pike & Sons. It became Benjamin Pike’s Son in 1867, and remained in business until 1916.

Some instruments with a Pike signature may have been made by craftsmen working for the Pikes, and under their direction. Others were made in workshops and factories elsewhere in the United States, and some were made abroad. Those marked "Warranted" were probably made for the Pikes, but not by them. But the Pikes probably made the several instruments that they displayed at local exhibitions. At the 1837 fair sponsored by the Mechanics’ Institute of New York, Benjamin Pike & Son 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.

Ref: Benjamin Pike Jr., Pike’s Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, and Philosophical Instruments (New York, 1856); facsimile with historical introduction by Deborah J. Warner (Dracut, Mass. and San Francisco. 1984).

The partnership of Benjamin Pike & Sons operated in New York City from 1841 to 1867.  The partnership from 1841 to 1843 consisted of Benjamin Pike, Sr., Benjamin Pike, Jr. and Daniel Pike.   In 1843 Benjamin Pike, Jr. established his own business.  From 1844 to 1849 Benjamin, Sr. and son Daniel were in partnership as Benjamin Pike & Son.   From 1850 to 1863 the partnership of Benjamin Pike & Sons consisted of Benjamin Sr., Daniel and Gardiner Pike.  After the death of Benjamin Pike, Sr. in 1863, his sons Daniel and Gardiner continued the business under the name of Benjamin Pike & Sons until 1867.

A website dedicated to microscopes provides a good history for scientific instruments made by the Pike family and a chronology of shop addresses. This is a very good resource - Here is the Website.

National Museum of American History:
Plain Compass
Transit