William Bond and Son
fl. 1793 - 1977
William Bond & Son was founded by an English silversmith and watchmaker who settled in Boston. His son, the astronomer William Cranch Bond, joined him in the business. He built the first American-made marine chronometer, and the business was a major supplier and regulator of chronometers.
William Cranch Bond was an avid astronomer. He discovered a comet in 1811 and was named the first director of the Harvard College Observatory in 1839. His son, George Phillips Bond, not only joined him in the family business, but was also enthusiastic about astronomy. George P. Bond discovered a satellite and an additional ring of Saturn. He was a pioneeer in celestial and stellar photography. He succeeded his father as observatory director.
W. C. Bond and G. P. Bond also devised a break circuit device that attached to the escapement of a clock, which became the foundation of the new "American method" of determining longitude. It earned a Council Medal at the London Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851.
The firm had many addresses in Boston. Documents and publications in the Bond Papers in the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments give these locations:
1859 - 17 Congress Street (advertisement, 1859)
1874 - 17 Congress Street crossed out and 134 State Street inked in (break circuit attachment brochure, 1874)
1876 - 97 Water Street (auction catalogue of stock of firm "Formerly of No. 17 Congress Street" with store now at 97 Water St)
After 1877 - 97 Water Street crossed out and 112 State Street stamped above (Barometer correction table, first published 1877)
1882 - 97 Water Street (ad for watches)
1889 - 134 State Street (ad)
1889 - 134 State Street and 94 Boylston Street (chronometer ad)
1893, 1895 - 134 State Street and 94 Boylston Street both crossed out and 152 State Street inked in (pamphlet on break circuit chronometers with prices)
1897, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903 - 152 State Street (testimonials on break circuit chronometers, assorted ads)
1904 - 148 State Street (testimonials)
1905 and 1906 - 148 State Street (optician's ad, testimonials)
In 1914, they absorbed the silverware business of George H. Elson on Beacon Hill and opened shop at 9 Park Street and 22 Beacon Street.
William Cranch Bond was an avid astronomer. He discovered a comet in 1811 and was named the first director of the Harvard College Observatory in 1839. His son, George Phillips Bond, not only joined him in the family business, but was also enthusiastic about astronomy. George P. Bond discovered a satellite and an additional ring of Saturn. He was a pioneeer in celestial and stellar photography. He succeeded his father as observatory director.
W. C. Bond and G. P. Bond also devised a break circuit device that attached to the escapement of a clock, which became the foundation of the new "American method" of determining longitude. It earned a Council Medal at the London Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851.
The firm had many addresses in Boston. Documents and publications in the Bond Papers in the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments give these locations:
1859 - 17 Congress Street (advertisement, 1859)
1874 - 17 Congress Street crossed out and 134 State Street inked in (break circuit attachment brochure, 1874)
1876 - 97 Water Street (auction catalogue of stock of firm "Formerly of No. 17 Congress Street" with store now at 97 Water St)
After 1877 - 97 Water Street crossed out and 112 State Street stamped above (Barometer correction table, first published 1877)
1882 - 97 Water Street (ad for watches)
1889 - 134 State Street (ad)
1889 - 134 State Street and 94 Boylston Street (chronometer ad)
1893, 1895 - 134 State Street and 94 Boylston Street both crossed out and 152 State Street inked in (pamphlet on break circuit chronometers with prices)
1897, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903 - 152 State Street (testimonials on break circuit chronometers, assorted ads)
1904 - 148 State Street (testimonials)
1905 and 1906 - 148 State Street (optician's ad, testimonials)
In 1914, they absorbed the silverware business of George H. Elson on Beacon Hill and opened shop at 9 Park Street and 22 Beacon Street.
Terms
Carlene Stephens, "Partners in Time: William Bond & Son of Boston and the Harvard College Observatory," <i>Harvard Library Bulletin</i> 35 (1987): 351-384.
Carlene Stephens, "William Cranch Bond," <i>American National Biography</i>, 3: 167-168.