1842 Main Street corner Central, 6 Stone Block, Worcester, Massachusetts.[1]
1842-1844 Brinley Row, Worcester, Massachusetts.1
1841 May 26. Christian Reflector. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) May 26, 1841, Vol. 4, No. 21, Whole No. 152, P. 3.
Married: In Shrewsbury, 13th inst. by Rev. Dr. Bates of Northboro, Mr. Lucius J. Knowles to Miss Eliza A Adams both of S.
1842 March. The Worcester Historical Society Publications. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) New Series Vol. I, No. 8, p. 437.
In March 1842, the firm of Wood and [James] Knowles succeeded to the business of Mr. [G.] Evans, which they continued in the same location until June of that year, when Mr. Wood retired and Mr. Knowles removed to Brinley Row, where he carried on the business under the name of the “Worcester Photographic Apparatus Manufacturing and Daguerreotype Rooms.” It may be a matter of surprise to those not already acquainted with the fact, to learn that this was Mr. Lucius J. Knowles, afterwards so well known as one of the founders of the Knowles Loom Works. “Miniatures taken in any weather, in a style that is more accurate than a painting, and finer than any steel engraving, set in neat Morocco Cases, Frames, or Gold Lockets, and warranted to give perfect satisfaction. Persons wishing for likenesses of themselves or of their friends cannot do better than to call and get it done by Nature’s Pencil.” Mr. Knowles retired permanently from the daguerreotype business in 1844, to devote his time to the development of one of his numerous inventions, of which at the time of his death he had patented more than one hundred.
1842. March 30. The Massachusetts Spy. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) March 30, 1842, Vol. 72, No. 13, Whole No. 3001, P. 4.
Worcester Photographic Apparatus Manufactory, and Daguerreotype Rooms, Stone Block, corner of Main and Central Streets. The subscribers keep constantly on hand a supply of improved Daguerreotype Apparratus [sic.], Plates, Cases, and Chemicals, all of which they warrant to be equal to any articles of the kind sold, at any other establishment in the United States.
Persons purchasing one of their improved Apparatus will be instructed in the valuable art gratuitously.
Daguerreotype Miniatures taken at their Rooms in a style not surpassed by those executed ay any other establishment in the country. To those who admire the work of nature and wish a perfect semblance of themselves or friends, this offers a favorable opportunity.
Also, Buildings, Models of machinery, Drawings and Engravings copied with a degree of accuracy not attainable in any other way. Please call and examine specimens. Wood & Knowles.
Advertisement ran from March 30 to April 27, 1842.
1842. June 1. The Massachusetts Spy. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) June 1, 1842, Vol. 72, No. 22, Whole No. 3610, P. 3.
Worcester Photographic Apparatus Manufactory and Daguerreotype Rooms, Removed to No. 5, Brinley Row, up stairs, where may be found constantly on hand, a supply of his improved Daguerreotype Apparatus, Plates, Cases, and Chemicals. Also, every article used in the Daguerreotype Process.
Just received and for sale, two sets of Apparatus of entirely new combination, which will be warranted superior to any ever before used. Persons wishing to engage in a pleasant business for a livelihood, will do well to call and examine them.
Miniatures taken in any weather, in a style that is more accurate than a painting, and finer than any steel engraving, set in neat Morocco Cases, Frames, or Gold Lockets, and warranted to give perfect satisfaction. Persons wishing for likenesses of themselves or of their friends cannot do better than to call and get it done by Nature’s Pencil.
Persons having valuable family Paintings can have them copied by this process and set in Lockets with perfect accuracy.
The Public are invited to call and examine specimens. L. J. Knowles.
Advertisement ran from June 1, 1842 to February 8, 1843.
1842. June 8. The Massachusetts Spy. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) June 8, 1842, Vol. 72, No. 23, Whole No. 3611, P. 3.
Daguerreotype Pictures. We were shown some miniatures taken by Mr. Knowles, at his room in Brinley Row, which, we think, for beauty, boldness, and distinctness of outline, exceed any thing of the kind we have ever seen. It seems to us that he has brought the art to such a degree of perfection, that, if it were not blasphemy to say it, he almost surpasses Nature herself, whose pencil has used. Any one wishing for the very counterpart of himself or of a friend, cannot do better than to give him a call. His advertisement is on the first page.
1842 June 8. National Aegis. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) June 8, 1842, Third Series Vol. 5, No. 23, P. 3.
Worcester Photographic Apparatus Manufactory and Daguerreotype Rooms, Removed to No. 5, Brinley Row, up stairs, where may be found constantly on hand, a supply of his improved Daguerreotype Apparatus, Plates, Cases, and Chemicals. Also, every article used in the Daguerreotype Process.
Just received and for sale, two sets of Apparatus of entirely new combination, which will be warranted superior to any ever before used. Persons wishing to engage in a pleasant business for a livelihood, will do well to call and examine them.
Miniatures taken in any weather, in a style that is more accurate than a painting, and finer than any steel engraving, set in neat Morocco Cases, Frames, or Gold Lockets, and warranted to give perfect satisfaction. Persons wishing for likenesses of themselves or of their friends cannot do better than to call and get it done by Nature’s Pencil.
Persons having valuable family Paintings can have them copied by this process and set in Lockets with perfect accuracy.
The Public are invited to call and examine specimens. L. J. Knowles.
Advertisement ran from June 18, 1842 to April 5, 1843.
1843. February 15. The Massachusetts Spy. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) February 15, 1843, Vol. 72, No. 7, Whole No. 3647, P. 3.
Colored Daguerreotype Likenesses, At the Photographic Apparatus Manufactory and Daguerreotype Rooms, 176 Main Street, Brinley Row. The subscribers have the pleasure of announcing, that by years of application and experiments, in addition to other improvements, the have availed themselves of an art of such importance, as to throw entirely in the shade all other modes of producing Daguerreotypes heretofore seen By this process, secured to this establishment by letters “Patent,” they are enabled to offer to the public that invaluable desideratum, Colored Photographs.
No addition in price for Colored Daguerreotypes, so that all may avail themselves of this pre-eminently desirable mode of obtaining likenesses. Constantly on hand their improved Daguerreotype Apparatus, Plates, Cases, Chemicals, and all articles used in the business.
Instructions given on liberal terms. The public are invited to call and examine specimens.
Patent Electro Gilding, and Silver Plating Establishment. Metallic articles of every description, such as Watch, Cases, Chains, Pencil Cases, Spectacles, Thimbles, Spoons, Gold and Silver Lace, Castors, Lamps, Fine Cutlery, and all kinds of metal ornaments, thoroughly plated with Gold or Silver, at short notice, and at less than half the price of work done by any other process, and warranted durable.
Electro Gilding and Silvering apparatus, and instructions for sale on reasonable terms. L. J. Knowles.
Advertisement ran from February 15 to June 21, 1843.
1843 June 21. The Massachusetts Spy. (Worcester, Massachusetts.) June 21, 1843, Vol. 72, No. 25, Whole No. 3665, P. 3.
Patent Colored Daguerreotype Likenesses Taken at 176 Main St. (Brinley Row,) Opposite American Temperance House.
N. B. Likenesses taken of deceased persons if desired.
Electro Gilding and Silver Plating done at this Establishment. Knowles & Co.
Advertisement ran from June 21 to
Biographical Sketches of the Pioneer Settlers of New England and Their Descendants in Worcester, Massachusetts. By Charles Henry Bouley, Barre, Massachusetts: Barre Publishers, 1964. P. 337-338.
Lucius James Knowles, of the eighth generation,
1819. born in Harwick, Massachusetts.
1836 clerk at W. W. Pratt’s store, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
1838 partnership with uncle in a general store, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Ca. 1842 Daguerreotype business on Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, advertising to do electro gilding and silver plating.
1844 Manufacturing cotton sewing thread in a factory in New Worcester (Webster Square section of Worcester)
1847 manufacture of cotton warp in Spencer, Massachusetts
1849 removed to Warren, Massachusetts
1855-1858 manufacturer of satinets, Warren, Massachusetts
1862 with brother Francis B. manufactured looms for sale under name of L. J. Knowles & Brother.
1884 Died in Washington, D. C.
[1] A Directory Of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 