Just thought I'd put out an inquiry if anyone has any detailed information on Armstrong and Co a company predominantly operating out of Newcastle in the late 1800's until 1956 when they went into liquidation which finalized in 1957.
I have the usual reference material in Brown, Boothroyd and a scattering of material I've acquired over the years. Just wondering if anyone has seen one of their catalogs for example (I have a "Xerox" copy of one) or any such. I've come across advertisements indicating a possible London outlet. There was a Darlington branch, and maybe, based on a single item, a Carlisle branch. I'm fairly certain that the firm is NOT directly related to the major engineering firm of Armstrong based in Newcastle. It also seems to have bought in guns from a wider range of suppliers (BSA, Bentley and Playfair, Webley and Scott? Midland??). Just wondering what information might be out there.
On a related topic if barrels are marked "Rebarreled by XXXX" was the firm XXXX typically capable of performing the gunsmithing involved or was this like the retail goods more typically farmed out? I have come across barrels marked as such for Armstrong & Co.
Did barrel suppliers ever stamp barrels with the purchasers' name in the under barrel area or does such a stamp reliably indicate an involvement in the production? I have a set stamped (A H & Co) that were marked on the rib as rebarreled by Armstrong. No other Armstrong I've seen has that mark.
A H & Co reflects the full name of the firm: Armstrong Hawdon and Co. Two of the board of directors were named Hawdon.
Thanks
Jeremy
