Further info in Skimin & Wood courtesy the IGC:
Name Skimin & Wood
Address1 31 Loveday Street
Address2 Enterprise Works, 52 Cliveland Street
Address3 10, 12, & 14 Vesey Street
Address4 12 & 14 Vesey Street
Address5 Little Shadwell Street
Address6 3 Price Street
City/Town Birmingham
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun & rifle makers
Other Address Cannock, Staffordshire.
Dates 1920-1970?
Notes
The firm of Skimin & Wood was established in 1920 at 31 Loveday Street. Samuel Skimin had previously been works manager at Holloway & Naughton. The firm were mainly manufacturers for the trade in the UK, but they later developed an export trade with firms in Australia and New Zealand and elsewhere in the world.
In 1923 the firm moved to the Enterprise Works, 52 Cliveland Street. In 1929 the firm bought Holloway & Naughton (and J & W Tolley who had been bought by Holloway & Naughton in 1916) and moved into their premises at 10, 12, & 14 Vesey Street. In that year they also bought Charles Osborne & Co Ltd.
In 1930, in the UK and the USA, Samuel Skimin undertook the marketing of the first successful 2 inch chambered 12 bore shotgun. It was named "The 20th Century Gun" and weighed 5 pounds. The cartridges were loaded with 26 grains of powder and 3/4oz of shot.
In 1932 the 10 Vesey Street premises were occupied by R B Rodda & Co Ltd, and Skimin & Wood, Holloway & Naughton and J & W Tolley traded from 12 & 14 Vesey Street (Charles Osborne & Co Ltd appear to have ceased trading but survived in name until 1957). In about 1945 Skimin & Wood bought the business of Standard Sporting Guns Ltd. In 1957 Skimin & Wood moved to Little Shadwell Street. In 1964 the firm was bought by F J Wiseman & Co Ltd who moved them to their premises at 3 Price Street. In 1986 F J Wiseman moved to 262 Walsall Road, Bridgtown, Cannock, Staffordshire.
The records of J & W Tolley, Holloway & Naughton, and Skimin & Wood prior to the Second World War appear to have been lost due to bombing of Birmingham.
Tim
