oldstarfire, yes, it really does not detract from your well designed label. Maybe what the caption meant was that Syracuse Forging Co. [owned by Dr. Ellis Baker, William Baker's brother] did start in 1885. William Baker the gun designer, left Ithaca Gun Co. in ca. 1886 and joined his brother with the intent to add gunmaking to the Syracuse Forging Co. line. Shortly, then, the Company name became Syracuse Forging and Gun Company, and the locations and name changes progressed as I mentioned above. I guess we can give the Bakers license to "Established in 1885". A lot of gunmakers seemed to use license when advertising that they had been in business "since" some date. Sometimes those dates are incorrect. I know Ithaca Gun Company used "founded in 1880 in their company literature, later knowing full well that they started in 1883. But, it was easier, I guess, for them to go on with the incorrect date than to change it.
It would be interesting to know the source of your illustration and caption for it.
