Joe,
Here you go. Maybe Roy will have more.
Thomas Newton in business from 1855 to about 1940.
Thomas Newton moved from 4 (or 41) Frederick Street, Salford where he was established in 1855, to 56 Lower King Street, Manchester in 1860.
In 1862 he patented an adjustable foresight and an adjustable backsight (the Venetian blind and wingauge adjustment type) (No. 132), and in 1864 a "self-acting" drop-down barrel breech action (No. 297) which had a single bite moved by a slide on the top of the action.
In 1870 he patented a quick detachable barrel attachment (Patent No. 703) this had a trigger guard the rear of which was hinged and spring loaded to avoid a bruised second finger.
In 1879 the business was sold to William Howat who moved it to 48 King Street West, but it continued to trade as T Newton.
In 1883 Howat sold it to Joseph Percy who also traded as T Newton.
Although no record has been found after 1906, the business is known to have traded up to about 1940.
The firm sold cartridges under the names "The Lightning", "Newton's G P", "The Smokeless Cartridge" and they loaded a cartridge in Pegamoid paper cases.
Pete
