I have subscribed to the D.G.J.commencing with Vol;1.My special interest is the Birmingham Gun Trade. When I rceived Volume 22, issue 3, I read with interest the article on Samuel Buckley [pages153-161].Unfortunately the background information on Samuel Buckley contained significant errors!The author states:
."Samuel Buckley was a bloody Good gun maker."
"Samuel Buckley was a founding director of B.S.A."
"Samuel Buckley was the first Chairman of the Guardians of the
Birmingham Proof house."
All of the above statements are incorrect!
As a result, an "E" mail letter detailing Samuel Buckley,s profile and his connection with the Birmingham Gun Trade was sent to editor Daniel, who duly forwarded a copy to the author.I haved received a response from the author. I shall be interested to see if the editor sees fit to publish my letter?
For your interest, Samuel Buckley was a merchant trader,trading under the name, Samuel Buckley & Co; Samuel was a resident of Birmingham and was a justice of the peace.[J.P.]
In July 1868 the British Government passed in to law a new act governing proof regulations.In effect the new act broke the gun trades monopoly in terms of administering control over proof testing.The new act required the City of Birmingham to appoint a justice of the peace and three members of city council to sit on the proof house committee.[Still in effect]
It was Samuels residence in Birmingham and his status as a J.P. that lead to the City of Birmingham selecting him to serve
on the proof house committee.It is almost certain that this appointment coupled with his business acumen that lead to his association with B.S.A.and other prominent Birmingham gun makers.These connections almost certainley resulted in his establishing a business branch in Detroit.It Was through this outlet that guns bearing the name,Samuel Buckley, entered the U.S.A.
Published records of the Birmingham gun trade [IE;Boothroyd,Bailey and Nie] make no mention of a Samuel Buckley practicing as a gun maker from 1868-1900.
Last edited by Roy Hebbes; 01/04/12 10:20 PM.
