OT and a long shot, but I have been looking for information on W. B. Read & Co. for my other hobby, antique fireworks, for a long time. This company put out what is probably the first depiction of a Boy Scout on an imported item, in this case Chinese firecrackers. I have no clue as to where this company was located.
Anyone with any information should email me at halka@hughes.net to avoid more OT posts in this wonderful thread.