In 1876 Jules Richard (1848-1930) took over his father's insturment manufacturing business iin Paris. He formed a partnership in 1882 with his younger brother Max, as Richard Frères, and although this was dissolved in 1891 the 'RF' monogram was retained as the firm's symbol. It was just at this time that Richard was moving into the field of photographic apparatus. His brother too went into this trade, eventually becoming a partner of Léon Gaumont in founding the famous cinematographic company. SEE ALSO JULES RICHARD