Printed: 2024-12-21
Le Docte, Armand
Identity
Category
Person (Male)
Alternative name or descriptor
- Manufacture Belge
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Status
- Connected
Details
Life dates
Gembloux, 1859 - Brussels, 1935
Activity
1885 - 1886 / Bruxelles, Rue du Poinçon, 16
Armand Philippe Charles, ° 25.8.1859; + 19.2.1935. Chemical engineer. First worked in his father’s sugar refinery, then he branched out into bicycle manufacturing. "Chemist, constructor. Belgian factory for cameras and general photographic supplies. 75 camera models; 30 types of shutter; 30 types of projector; plates, papers, card mounts, chemicals and all accessories. High-speed lenses. All photographic novelties. Considerable selection in photography. Illustrated catalogues." [De Vriese, 1886]. His first camera workshop in 1883, probably at this address. Co-operated with Louis Van Neck from Antwerp.
1885 - 1886 Bruxelles, Galerie du Roi, 19
Branch. Already advertising at this address, as a branch of Rue du Poinçon, in August 1885 (L'Indépendance Belge, 31.8.1885).
1886 * - 1891 Bruxelles, Rue de l'Ecuyer, 2
Chemist. At this address from 1.11.1886. Member of the ABP from 9.5.1886.
1888 - 1892 / Bruxelles, Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, 2 or 2-4
Registered at this address from 31.12.1889 only, he would have built bicycles here. Patents of 15.5.1889 for "an instantaneous photographic camera for multiple changing plates fitted with a direct viewfinder" and for "an instantaneous central shutter with gradual diaphragm opening, designed to produce instantaneous opening and shutting of photographic lenses".
1892 * - 1899 Bruxelles, Rue des Cendres, 10
Arrived at this address on 9.12.1892. Manufacturer of photographic cameras, including the universal Exell-Détective. Left on 18.10.1895 for Gembloux, where he married on 25.5.1897. Le Docte had announced his intention to cease trading in July 1896 and advertised a closing-down sale at this address "of all cameras and accessories" (Le Soir, 23.7.1896). It is possible that Le Docte terminated active association with the firm bearing his name even though that name was still being exploited by his successor J. Henry (see that name) who acquired Le Docte's stock and was selling it off by October 1897.
1893 - 1896 Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 8
Retail branch for cameras and supplies.
1893 Bruxelles - Ixelles, Chaussée d'Ixelles, 42
Retail branch for cameras and supplies.
1897 - 1900 / Bruxelles - Saint-Josse, Place Charles Rogier, 15
Successor: Henry J.
General depot. Inventory already transferred to this address by October 1897 when J. Henry advertised a sell-off. In 1900, voluntary liquidation of the company: "Catalogue de vente publique et volontaire pour cessation de commerce de toutes les marchandises en magasin de la Manufacture d'appareils de chimie - photographie, électricité...' - Firm Armand le Docte, construction engineer, at the request of J. Henry, successor. Sale from 1 October until 15 November 1900". Le Docte was still listed under "photographic suppliers" in the 1902 Mertens directory. He was subsequently registered as owner of his family’s sugar refinery, then as a person of independent means and a chemist.
Armand Philippe Charles, ° 25.8.1859; + 19.2.1935. Chemical engineer. First worked in his father’s sugar refinery, then he branched out into bicycle manufacturing. "Chemist, constructor. Belgian factory for cameras and general photographic supplies. 75 camera models; 30 types of shutter; 30 types of projector; plates, papers, card mounts, chemicals and all accessories. High-speed lenses. All photographic novelties. Considerable selection in photography. Illustrated catalogues." [De Vriese, 1886]. His first camera workshop in 1883, probably at this address. Co-operated with Louis Van Neck from Antwerp.
1885 - 1886 Bruxelles, Galerie du Roi, 19
Branch. Already advertising at this address, as a branch of Rue du Poinçon, in August 1885 (L'Indépendance Belge, 31.8.1885).
1886 * - 1891 Bruxelles, Rue de l'Ecuyer, 2
Chemist. At this address from 1.11.1886. Member of the ABP from 9.5.1886.
1888 - 1892 / Bruxelles, Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, 2 or 2-4
Registered at this address from 31.12.1889 only, he would have built bicycles here. Patents of 15.5.1889 for "an instantaneous photographic camera for multiple changing plates fitted with a direct viewfinder" and for "an instantaneous central shutter with gradual diaphragm opening, designed to produce instantaneous opening and shutting of photographic lenses".
1892 * - 1899 Bruxelles, Rue des Cendres, 10
Arrived at this address on 9.12.1892. Manufacturer of photographic cameras, including the universal Exell-Détective. Left on 18.10.1895 for Gembloux, where he married on 25.5.1897. Le Docte had announced his intention to cease trading in July 1896 and advertised a closing-down sale at this address "of all cameras and accessories" (Le Soir, 23.7.1896). It is possible that Le Docte terminated active association with the firm bearing his name even though that name was still being exploited by his successor J. Henry (see that name) who acquired Le Docte's stock and was selling it off by October 1897.
1893 - 1896 Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 8
Retail branch for cameras and supplies.
1893 Bruxelles - Ixelles, Chaussée d'Ixelles, 42
Retail branch for cameras and supplies.
1897 - 1900 / Bruxelles - Saint-Josse, Place Charles Rogier, 15
Successor: Henry J.
General depot. Inventory already transferred to this address by October 1897 when J. Henry advertised a sell-off. In 1900, voluntary liquidation of the company: "Catalogue de vente publique et volontaire pour cessation de commerce de toutes les marchandises en magasin de la Manufacture d'appareils de chimie - photographie, électricité...' - Firm Armand le Docte, construction engineer, at the request of J. Henry, successor. Sale from 1 October until 15 November 1900". Le Docte was still listed under "photographic suppliers" in the 1902 Mertens directory. He was subsequently registered as owner of his family’s sugar refinery, then as a person of independent means and a chemist.
Locations
1885 - 1886 / Bruxelles, Rue du Poinçon, 16
1885 - 1886 Bruxelles, Galerie du Roi, 19
1886 * - 1891 Bruxelles, Rue de l'Ecuyer, 2
1888 - 1892 / Bruxelles, Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, 2 or 2-4
1892 * - 1899 Bruxelles, Rue des Cendres, 10
1893 - 1896 Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 8
1893 Bruxelles - Ixelles, Chaussée d'Ixelles, 42
1897 - 1900 / Bruxelles - Saint-Josse, Place Charles Rogier, 15
1885 - 1886 Bruxelles, Galerie du Roi, 19
1886 * - 1891 Bruxelles, Rue de l'Ecuyer, 2
1888 - 1892 / Bruxelles, Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, 2 or 2-4
1892 * - 1899 Bruxelles, Rue des Cendres, 10
1893 - 1896 Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 8
1893 Bruxelles - Ixelles, Chaussée d'Ixelles, 42
1897 - 1900 / Bruxelles - Saint-Josse, Place Charles Rogier, 15
Exhibitions
Antwerp, 1885; Brussels, 1885 (no address, hors concours); Brussels, 1888; Brussels, 1891.
Genres / subject matter
Techniques
Bibliography/Webography
Context
Affiliations
Affiliated entity
Association belge de Photographie
Type of affiliation
Member of
Dates of affiliation
1886 - 1895
Description of relationship
Management
Record source
DIRECTORY_1997#2654
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation/revision
SFJ revised 24.4.2018; SFJ revised 12.9.2020 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; MD revised 5.6.2020, 6.4.2021 & 16.4.2021