When I was doing research on the engravers that were at The L.C. Smith Gun Works, Syracuse, N.Y. and then moved to Fulton, N.Y. when the Gun Works was sold, I had heard of a Optimus grade that was done for President Benjamin Harrison that was engraved by A. Spangler and he had signed the lock plate with his name on it. I didn't have a picture which I thought I did but put a few feelers out and did receive an email back with a picture of the gun and was able to enlarge it and see Spangler's name on it. I was told I could have the picture but the owner wished to remain anonymous.
L.C. Smith hired only the best engravers the Spangler Brothers, Joseph Glahn and his 3 sons and a young Albert Kraus. The Spangler's were the first to go to Fulton for the now Hunter Arms Co. and then the Glahn's along with Kraus. It is known fact that the Spangler's and Joseph Glahn did other work for Lefever and Parker in the early days and possibly others as well.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/pLvT5B1.jpg?1[/img]
There's a few things that aren't correct here.
1. Jacob Glahn, not Joseph. Born in Germany, raised in Brooklyn, NY, arrives in Meriden, CT and engraves for Parker, then Syracuse for Lefever and LC Smith.
2. Only Jacob and his 2nd son Augustus went to work at Hunter. Every indication I have seen -- including U.S. and NY State census records, as well as business directory records -- put his first son George and 3rd son Theodore, in Syracuse. They are listed for a time as staff engravers for Syracuse Arms Co., and also as independent engravers. Clearly the possibility exists that they worked for Hunter at a distance, but if so, I have seen no reference to this effect.
3. Outside of Cincinnati, OH, where they were from and ultimately returned, Albert Spangler and his kid brother Milton (not "Wilton," as is incorrectly noted in both internet threads and books), I have not found a reference to them living anywhere in NY State other than Syracuse. So their continued work on LC's after Hunter acquired it seems to have been done at a distance (which would not have been odd in that day). Not long after the turn of the century they were back in Cincinnati.
4. As an aside, Wilber Glahn was the son of George, and became famous on his own, engraving 15+ years at Remington, followed by almost 30 years at Colt. He, and his grandfather Jacob, were probably the best of the Glahn clan.
NDG
