Unknown S/N: This has only 502 and no Rue Scribe like the above label. It looks like Reilly went back to the 1859-68 generic label often after 1872. The canvas covered case fits with advertisements from the era late 1870's-early 1880's; and the two below labels, one with a dated gun. (no scollops)



315 Oxford st with both 502 and Rue Scribe: 1872-1881: no scollops.



1884 (per gun Serial Number) S/N: 25711
Rib: E.M. REILLY & CO. NEW OXFORD ST. LONDON. AND 2. RUE SCRIBE. PARIS
Label: E.M. Reilly Co.
Gun Manufacturers
502, New Oxford Street
London
For: H. H. Maharana Shree Warhatsingji Loonawara -- Looks like a one-off special label - usually it would be inset into the velvet without a paper label -- or more likely a replace label and possibly case. - note: No scollops.



And another restored SxS in what the seller claims is an original case. Again E.M Reilly & Co..with only 502 and "Gun Manufacturers"...(this is a side-lever hammer gun; no S/N is given. The case looks a little new; perhaps relined years ago making the label a copy. (scollops)



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.............1882 - 1886 (In Dec 1881 Oxford St. was renumbered. 502 became 277; 315 became 16. Labels still had “GUN MANUFACTURERS”
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His gun trade labels for the most part continued to use 502 or 315 though advertisements used both numbering systems and 277 and 16 became normal on gun ribs.

Label for a Tower Bulldog revolver made by Bentley before Webley took over the Tower trademark about 1882. Interesting - 16 Oxford street, 277 Oxford (post 1881) and rue Scribe (pre-1886). And it paradoxically has the medals from 1867 Universalle...this label can't logically exist in a normal world. (scollops) (except per follow-on post below, Reilly did occasionally use the Paris medals in both ads and trade labels up to 1886).



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.............1880?? (502, 315 Oxford Street, Rue Scribe) “GUN AND RIFLE MANUFACTURERS”
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Sometime in the early 1880’s Reilly changed from “Gun manufacturers” to “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers.” In addition in late 1881, 502 was renumbered 277, 315 was renumbered 16. Yet labels and ads often kept the old address for a few years - which address was written on the ribs of guns produced post 1881 or on the labels seems to be haphazard.

(edit: I'm wondering if the addition of "Rifle Manufacturers" might have had something to do with this success in advertising: "Two prominent Victorians were associated with E.M. Reilly. Sir Samuel Baker used a pair of Reilly 10 bores and inspired by Baker, Frederick Courtney Selous took a Reilly 10 bore to Africa on his first venture there. Selous’ gun was stolen shortly after he arrived and so it is mentioned only ruefully, but Sir Samuel’s pair achieved fame through his books. Because Baker was a hero to the Victorians and his books sold well, the fact that he used Reilly guns was a good endorsement. See SN 30363), Number 1 of a pair. Also a lot of London gun makers switched to "Gun & Rifle Manufacturers" at this time.

A couple of labels from royalty cases one with “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers” on the other - only “Gun Manufacturers.”

1883 (per gun Serial Number) (but an 1880 - allegedly - case) S/N: 25161
Rib: E.M. REILLY & CO. NEW OXFORD ST. LONDON. AND 2. RUE SCRIBE. PARIS
Label: E.M. Reilly Co.
Gun and Rifle Manufacturers
502 New Oxford Street
London
(lowest line illegible)
Comment: The case lid exterior is mounted with an ornately carved and engraved frame, with central crowned monogram for Alfonso XII and brass banner pierced with 'CONCURSO DE TIRO DE 1880' (Shooting competition 1880). This is strange - The gun should have been serial numbered in 1883-4. The tale of the gun is a twisted one. Nevertheless, this might be the origin of Reilly’s claim to be a gun maker for H.M the King of Spain. The ad for the gun claims that, “By 1887 his trade labels have the additional acknowledgements of 'By special appointment to His Majesty the King of Spain; His Majesty the King of Portugal; His Majesty the King of the Netherlands.’ “ (this in fact began appearing on his advertisements much earlier - 1876 for King of Portugal; circa 1882 for King of Spain and King of Netherlands).



This label was added to S/N 10354 (1857) when it was redone in the 1880’s or early 1890's. The label is unique - Note “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers”...the 502 Oxford address, and the simplified curlicues seem to find a echo in the 1886 label below although the Font's are different. (no scollops)(internal border just visible).



The Capitol letters "G", "R", & "M" in this label are similar to those in H&H and Watson Bros from the same era: And by the way, label art is in a way addictive...this is a good site with a lot of reproductions and I noticed their descriptions of Reilly reproduction labels recently changed to add date periods...maybe the influence of this DGS line? https://www.peterdyson.co.uk/acatalog/TRADE_LABELS.html



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.............Late 1870's-to 1886?? Unique label for 315 Oxford St. on Pistol cases? “Breech Loading Gun & Rifle Manufacturers"
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Label for a Webly&Scott revolver. EM Reilly 315 Oxford street. Breech Loading Gun & Rifle Manufacturers: (no internal border)



Identical label on another Webley Scott (no internal border):


Last edited by Argo44; 05/15/18 10:23 PM.
Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch