Vilímek junior learned the business in his father's firm, as well as periods abroad.

In 1885 he took over the firm, and expanded its production to become one of the best-known Czech publishers of the time (together with Jan Otto and František Topič).

Among its most popular titles were novels by Jules Verne (52 books in several editions), Karl May, and Arthur Conan Doyle.

The building and technology were handed over to a large state publisher Knižní velkoobchod.

After the Communist Party fell from power (1989) the now forgotten name J. R. Vilímek was picked up and misused during a privatisation scandal (known for participation of a Czech politician Miroslav Macek).