Thank you for your response Dewey. I am profoundly unqualified to defend the mechanical defects in Alexander Brown's design, but would make a couple of observations, which are discussed in The L.C. Smith "Farm Implement Grades" article by me & Dr Jim, Double Gun Journal, 2014, Volume 25, Issue 2, Page 113.

1. Price comparisons in the 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue:
Parker GH - $51.20
Smith No. 00 - $25
Smith No. 0 - $31.75
Ithaca No. 1 - $26
Remington 1894 A Grade - $33
Baker B Grade - $31.75
Fine guns listed included:
Daly 150AE at $129 and 250AE at $190
Greener No. 3AE at $187.50, Facile Priceps at $93.75, and No. 6 Forester $69.95.
More comparisons here:
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1OTND2bQH0vhlbCf7c2sN8H1vzmT7xagUSXhewGB03SE

2. Despite the defects, I'm still using an "agricultural grade" and well used 12g 1906 OO and a 1906 16g OE to shoot 2-4 rounds of recreational skeet every week. Dan Lammers replaced one bushing, tuned the locks, and glasbedded the head of the stock (mostly because it's also my big country pheasant gun) on the 12g; the 16g is mechanically original. I enjoy both almost 110 year old guns, didn't pay much for either, hope they'll last a few more years, and that is what matters at this point in my life.
I'll freely admit that my 1913 Fox Sterlingworth will probably last longer however.

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