IGC info on Horton, assumed to be your man, bye the bye:
Name William Horton
Address1 13 Moat Row, Smithfield
Address2 13 Moat Row and 8 Steelhouse Lane
Address3 13 Moat Row
Address4 16 Roper Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland
Address5 29 Union Street, Glasgow
Address6 11 Royal Exchange Square & 29 Union Street
Address7 11 Royal Exchange Square
City/Town Birmingham
Country United Kingdom
Trade Stocker; gun and rifle maker
Other Address 98 Buchanan Street (11 Princes Square) (64 Osborne Street); 98 Buchanan Street; 199 Buchanan Street; 31 Port Street, Stirling; 35 Murray Place, Stirling. Letham Hill, Glasgow.
Dates 1855-1923
Notes
William Horton was born in 1826 in Birmingham. In about 1849 he married Sarah Launcet (nee unknown b.1825 in Birmingham). In 1855 he was recorded as a stocker in 1855 at 13 Moat Row, Smithfield, Birmingham. On 2 October 1855 he registered patent No. 2197 for an improved percussion system with nipples which were designed to give a direct angle of flash. In 1857 he took on additional premises at 8 Steelhouse Lane, which became his principal offices, but in 1858 he gave up these premises. In 1859 the family moved to 16 Roper Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria. In the 1861 census William and Sarah were recorded with their children, Rachel (b.1850 in Birmingham), Oliver (b.1852 in Aston), Jane (b.1853 in Birmingham), Mary (b.1856 in Birmingham), Emma (b.1859 in Whitehaven) and Harry (b.1859 in Whitehaven). In 1863 William and Sarah had another son, Gilbert, and later in that year they moved to 29 Union Street, Glasgow.
In 1865 the firm were trading as gun and fishing tackle makers, but fishing tackle making ceased in about 1870 although the firm continued to sell it. By the time of the 1871 census the family were living at 2 York Place. William described himself as a gun maker employing 2 men and 1 boy. At some time after 1875 the firm opened an additional shop at 11 Royal Exchange Square, they closed the Union Street shop in about 1883. In the 1881 census William described himself as a gun maker employing 3 men and 2 boys. Oliver was not recorded, Harry was an ironfounder's clerk, Gilbert was a gun makers assistant. In about 1889 William opened a branch at 31 Port Street, Stirling. Gilbert managed this branch.
In 1889 William patented a box-lock action (No. 2790), and in 1891 a top lever (No. 20940). No record of William and Sarah has been found in the 1891 census, but Oliver was recorded at 145 Renfrew Street married to Jessie (b.1851 in Glasgow) and living with their children, Bessie (b.1885), Winifred (b.1887) and Olivia (b.1889). Gilbert was recorded at 24 Queen Street, Stirling with his wife, Joanna (b.1862 in Glasgow) and a daughter, Dorothy J (b.1890). Gilbert described himself as a fishing tackle maker. In about 1897 the Stirling address changed to 35 Murray Place. By 1900 the firm had moved to 98 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, with separate workshops first at 11 Princes Square and then at 64 Osborne Street. They had a shooting ground at Letham Hill when the workshop was at 64 Osborne Street. In 1901 William patented an adjustable trigger (No. 3634).
The 1901 census records William as a retired gun maker and fishing tackle dealer living at 135 Somerville Drive, Cathcart, Glasgow, with Sarah and some of their family. Oliver was recorded again at 145 Renfrew Street, with his family. He described himself as a gun and fishing tackle maker assisted by Bessie who was his fishing tackle shop assistant. Gilbert was recorded at 15 Overdale Avenue, Cathcart, as a book-keeper and cashier, but whether he worked for the family firm or not is not known. The Stirling shop he ran appears to have closed by about 1900. In about 1913 the Glasgow shop and workshops moved to 199 Buchanan Street. The firm closed in 1924, the stock being sold to Arthur Allen.
Other Info
The firm sold shotgun cartridges under the names "Blue Paper Tube" (post 1883), "Horton Cartridge", "Extra"(post 1900), "Weatherproof" and "Ejector".
Edit: To add that Patent 3634 was in fact taken out by Oliver Horton in 1901, not William as stated above (address 98 Buchanan St). It is detailed in Vol III of Crudgington & Baker, being introduced as 'Another revised form of the age-old gunlock ...' The patent changed the site of the bent, placing it further away from the pivot. Oliver also patented a keyed top lever spindle, engaging with slots in the action, to prevent the spindle from rising. This was no. 20940 of 1891 (address 11 Royal Exchange Sq).
Tim
Last edited by trw999; 09/21/16 06:25 AM.
