In 1901 The Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House,voted to estabablish a technical training committee and training school. This course of action was a result of the initiative of Mr Samuel Allport a former Proof Master [deceased 1899].Mr Allport was a former Guardian and Chaiman of the Board.Previous to becoming Proof Master, he was a successful gun and rifle maker. He believed in a scientific approach to gun making backed by technical training and that it would be essential to the future of the Birmingham trade.[For example, as Proof Master he is credited with designing the lead crusher gun for establishing barrel pressure at various points in a gun barrel] The school despite its favourable begginings, closed in 1924. The reason being lack of response from the younger gun workers/ apprentices!Whilst I would agree technical training alone dose not create a Master gun maker, it would be decades before any real progress was made in the U.K. to advance the technology needed to compete in the international market.

Roy Hebbes