T. Cooke and Sons Archive

Corporate records of the company 1882-1924; Cooke family papers 1860-20th century; accounting records 1879-1929; manufacturing records 1882-1921; sales records 1856-1923; publications 1871-1923

The scientific instrument manufacturing business of T. Cooke and Sons was founded by Thomas Cooke in York in 1837. He was a self-taught optical engineer who from 1855 built his own factory on Bishophill, York, producing a great range of goods from spectacles, telescopes and surveying equipment to sundials, clocks and lathes.
On his death in 1868 his sons took over the firm which continued to expand and export goods worldwide, particularly astronomical and surveying equipment. By the turn of the century defence products for the home market had also become an important field and in 1914 a new factory was built on Bishophill, York, to cope with war work.
In 1915 the control of Cooke's was acquired by Vickers Ltd who had long had an interest in the military side of Cooke products such as rangefinders and gunsights. Cooke's continued to expand in York and in 1922 they took over the instrument-making business of Troughton & Simms of London.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 1989. A further addition was made to the archive in 2010.

The scientific instrument manufacturing business of T. Cooke and Sons was founded by Thomas Cooke in York in 1837. He was a self-taught optical engineer who from 1855 built his own factory on Bishophill, York, producing a great range of goods from spectacles, telescopes and surveying equipment to sundials, clocks and lathes.
On his death in 1868 his sons took over the firm which continued to expand and export goods worldwide, particularly astronomical and surveying equipment. By the turn of the century defence products for the home market had also become an important field and in 1914 a new factory was built on Bishophill, York, to cope with war work.
In 1915 the control of Cooke's was acquired by Vickers Ltd who had long had an interest in the military side of Cooke products such as rangefinders and gunsights. Cooke's continued to expand in York and in 1922 they took over the instrument-making business of Troughton & Simms of London.

A typescript catalogue, to file level, is available for consultation in the Borthwick Institute's searchrooms and at the National Register of Archives, London.

Selected images from the archive have been digitised and can be viewed through the University of York's Digital Library: https://dlib.york.ac.uk/yodl/app/collection/detail?id=york%3a796232&ref=browse

Created 28.02.17.

Description compiled by Alison Brech in 2003.

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute, University of York, terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

The archives of Troughton & Simms; Cooke, Troughton & Simms; and Vickers Instruments are also deposited at the Borthwick Institute.
Books from the Vickers Instruments library, including 17th, 18th and 19th century works on surveying, astronomy and microscopy, form part of the University of York's Special Collections. A catalogue can be viewed online: https://www.york.ac.uk/media/library/documents/collections/vickers.pdf
Instruments manufactured by Troughton & Simms; T. Cooke & Sons; Cooke, Troughton & Simms; and Vickers Instruments are on display at the Department of Physics at the University of York.
The archive of T. Cooke & Son's parent company Vickers Ltd, 1850-1970, is deposited at Cambridge University Library (Reference: GBR/0012/MS Vickers).

Published

GB193