name was originally engraved in a copperplate font, which later changed to a much simpler font. In 1915 James Simms died and the business passed to his sons. They made the company into a limited liability company. After 1915, the company name found on their products is "Troughton & Simms Ltd". After the First World War, business and long-term prospects were poor, and in 1922 Troughton & Simms was bought by T. Cooke & Sons of York to become Cooke, Troughton & Simms. Notable instruments from this period include a typical late 6-inch theodolite for use by engineers and surveyors and a typical late surveyors level, which can be dated to before 1915 by the lack of "Ltd" after "Troughton & Simms". Gallery References External links Obituary of Edward Troughton: MNRAS 3 (1836) 149 Obituary of William Simms, junior (nephew of original): MNRAS 67 (1907) 237 Merger with T. Cooke & Sons: Obs 45 (1922) 403 Manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom