Just an off the wall question if anyone has seen any offerings by the Abingdon Works Company Limited, Gun, Rifle & Pistol Maker, which seems to have been a bicycle & tool maker. Was searching for something else of course & noticed it. Located @ 94, 95 & 96 Bath Street & Shadwell Street with Thomas Mabbutt as managing director in the 1870s.
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
This is all that IGC has on them:
First name/s: None Given
Surname: Abingdon Works
Location
First Address: Shadwell Street
City/Town: Birmingham
Country: United Kingdom
Other Addresses:
94-97 Bath Street; Shadwell Street
Trade: Gun & Pistol Makers
Dates: 1867-1889
Notes:
Abingdon Works was a manufacturing partnership formed in 1867 in Shadwell Street to supply the trade. The partners were Frederick and Henry Woodward (see Thomas Woodward), Charles Playfair and Thomas Bentley (see Bentley & Playfair), William Bourne (son of Joseph Bourne?), Charles Pryse and Richard Redman (see Pryse & Redman), Charles Cooper and John Dent Goodman (see Cooper & Goodman; Scholefield, Goodman & Sons Ltd; Birmingham Small-Arms Co.), John Field Swinburn, Joseph Smith, and Joseph Wilson.
It would seem the partnership was not too successful, so in 1875 the assets were sold a newly formed company, Abingdon Works Ltd in which William Middleditch Scott was the largest shareholder. The other shareholders were the former partners plus Thomas Mabbutt who was appointed managing director (see Thomas Mabbutt). The company took over W C Scott & Sons premises at 94-97 Bath Street but continued to occupy the premises in Shadwell Street.
Mabbutt together with Westley Richards and Thomas Batley had bought 53,610 Snider actions from Edwin H Newby. Mabbutt sold his share in these to the new company.
The company made Snider, Martini, Chassepot, Henry and Swinburn rifles and actions, and Field actions for BSA. They also made gunmaking tools and gun and rifle accessories.
Abingdon Works Co Ltd went into voluntary liquidation in 1889. However, another company of the same name traded until about 1907 making Snider rifles and Gatling machine guns, this was owned by the Cartland family but it appears it was managed by Thomas Mabbutt.
Tim
Many, many thanks for the effort. Some big names as stakeholders. I guess they didn't dabble in the doublegun realm?
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
Another industry name shows up on Bath and Shadwell streets.
Both labels are on the same stock blank. Shipped in 1938.
Most interesting especially the term "rough" which is a holdover from the 1890s Tariff exemptions. So, like a Land Surveyor, did the master gunsmiths freely use the term esquire during that period?
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
Raimey,
Don't know the answer to your question. I bought the blank (few days ago) to make a shadow box to hang on the wall.
Selinsgrove is the nearest town of any size near our home.
The term Esquire, or Esq. for short was, and still is to a lesser extent, used in correspondence here in the UK.
In the early part of the last century it was often used by the trade (of any description, not just gun makers) when addressing correspondence to their customers. It is less usual these days, but then so are letters!
Two hundred odd years ago it used only to be used when addressing someone of a certain rank or standing in society. I forget all of the criteria but do know that anyone of the rank of captain or above was entitled to be referred to as Esquire, because I met that particular bar!
The convention is that it is used after the persons name only. It would be incorrect to preface a name with Mr, Dr, Capt or whatever, when using Esq.
Tim