"James W. Queen was born in Philadelphia in 1815.  He is first listed in 1839 Philadelphia directory as an optician.  In 1860 he became associated with Samuel L. Fox and the firm became James W. Queen & Co.  For a number of years there was a branch office in New York City.  James Queen retired in 1870 and died in 1890.   The business was continued as James W. Queen & Co. until 1893, when it was incorporated as Queen & Co.   Queen & Co., Inc. existed until 1912 at which time it was reorganized as the Queen-Gray Co. by John G. Gray and continued as such until Mr. Gray's death in 1925."

First instrument shown is from the collection of the National Museum of American History, a division of the Smithsonian Institution