Footnotes

The partnership of Bentley & Beck was formed in 1814, between John Bentley and James Beck. John Bentley may have been apprenticed in 1796; a John Bentley was apprenticed on this date, to Boys Err Burrell, a repeat watch maker and later a chronometer maker. This John Bentley was the son of a brazier from Cripplegate and does not appear to have been made free of the Clockmaker's Company. Assuming this John Bentley was apprenticed at 14, he would have been born around 1782. There is not enough evidence, however, to definitively state if this was the John Bentley that would go on to form a partnership with James Beck.
James Beck previously advertised as a chronometer, watch, and clock maker from his premises in Aske Terrace, beginning in 1807 and ending in 1813. During this period, he was also in partnership with Miles Brockbank, Miles' nephew William Brockbank, and a financier named William Robert Grove.
Miles Brockbank formed the partnership in 1807, a year after his older brother, John, died. The Brockbanks began as watchmakers and eventually expanded into chronometer production, famously employing Thomas Earnshaw as a worker. Earnshaw initially approached John Brockbank about financing his spring detent escapement but was turned down. It is thought that James Beck may have originally supplied chronometer movements to the Brockbanks and was then approached about becoming a partner to keep manufacturing costs down in the wake of John Brockbank's death. Beck left the partnership around June 1813 and declared bankruptcy very shortly after, in September 1813.
By 1814, he had entered into a new partnership, between himself and John Bentley, with new shared premises listed at 5 Swettings/Sweeting's Alley, Cornhill. The partners were described at this point only as watchmakers. The insurance certificate for 1816 notes that Beck held additional property in Cripplegate, in the form of The Plough, at the corner of Coleman Street and Fore Street. The certificate also lists Beck as the sole occupant for 5 Sweetings Alley, again describing him only as a watchmaker. By 1817, however, Bentley and Beck's offerings had expanded, and they were listed as 'chronometer, watch and improved musical clock manufacturers.' A year later, they had changed buildings, now operating out of 19 Cornhill, and described as watch, clock, and chronometer makers. Interestingly, the insurance certificate for the new premises lists both Bentley and Beck, as well as John Moore, Samuel Brooks, Bargil Blogg and John Frost as trustees. Unfortunately, a few months after moving, the partnership declared bankruptcy, being described in the notice as watch and clock makers and jewellers (dealers and chapmen).
This appears to have been the end of the Bentley and Beck partnership. In 1820, both men were working from different premises; James Beck had returned to 5 Sweeting's Alley as a chronometer, watch, and clock maker, while John Bentley seems to have obtained a new premises at 5 Pope's-head Alley, Cornhill where he is listed simply as dealing in chronometers, watches, and clocks. A watch paper of Bentley's is known from 1823, which lists his address as Sweeting's Alley, and also mentions that he is foreman to James McCabe, however this could not be independently verified. It is unknown what became of Beck.
An example of a Congreve clock is known by the partnership, in addition to a variety of bracket and table clocks, as well as pocket watches with spring detent escapements and repeating work.

British Horological Institute (1939) 'A Congreve Clock', Horological Journal, Vol. 81 (16), p.439.
Critchett & Woods (1817) The Post Office London Directory for 1817. 18th Edition. London: T. Maiden.
Johnstone's London (1818) Johnstone's London Commercial Guide and Street Directory. London: Narnard and Farley.
Atkins, C. (1931) The Company of Clockmakers Register of Apprentices 1631-1931. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd.
Sun Fire Office (1818) Insured: John Bentley and James Beck [Online], London: Sun Fire Office. Available at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/4396b6fd-585a-4f9e-89e4-8f539ebaacc8
Sun Fire Office (1816) Insured: John Bentley and James Beck [Online], London: Sun Fire Office. Available at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/72217995-5dca-47de-9cee-2af7357768f7
Critchett & Woods (1820) The Post Office London Directory for 1820. 21st Edition. London: T. Maiden.
Sun Fire Office (1814) Insured: John Bentley and James Beck [Online], London: Sun Fire Office. Available at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/c2b69b49-0ba4-4db7-a1c7-e54c1965ff93
Sun Fire Office (1816) Insured: James Beck [Online], London: Sun Fire Office. Available at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/f0ed3293-dc7f-49a2-a344-6aa57d839016