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
