Lawrence & Mayo, one of the living centurions in the Corporate World, needs no introduction to the Public in India. The year 2002 was a memorable landmark in the long and honorable history of this corporate entity as it celebrated its post century silver jubilee during this year. Looking back into history, it will be interesting to know how the human effort of several generations has built and nurtured this company through 145 years of its marvelous existence.

Lawrence and Mayo traces its roots to two London based Jewish families, that of Lawrence and Mayo. The two families set up operations all over the world including London, Cairo, Spain, Portugal, the Indian subcontinent, Colombo, Rangoon and Singapore. Not much information is available on the early history of the company, but its reputation as a chain of High grade Opticians and makers of best quality Survey, Scientific and Meteorological Instruments was well known. Records show that Lawrence & Mayo opened its first Indian office and showroom in Calcutta in the year 1877.

In the year 1938, Lawrence & Mayo was incorporated under the Indian Companies Act 1913, as a private limited company. It was then controlled by a Britisher L H Alliston but he was soon to find an able successor in an Indian named I C Mendonca whose initiative took him all the way to Lahore and Karachi where he set up an optical workshop and showrooms. Mr. Mendonca returned to Calcutta before the partition and continued with the operations of the Company.