Hello to the New Forum

[trw999]

This is really by way of a test, as the first forum member to log in.

First, very many thanks to John for providing us with this wonderful facility. I find the historical database a fabulous resource. I also like the new look of the site and forum.

Secondly, a little about myself. I still work, from home, for myself. I have particular interests in British sporting guns. I and a US based colleague are researching and writing a book on Frederick Beesley. I also research and have interest in Henry Joseph and Henry Hugh Hussey, John Wilkes (no relation, despite sharing the same surname!), Henry Clarke of Leicester and then two lesser known but very gifted gun makers, John Harper and John Ross.

Lets make this forum a beacon for British sporting guns, gunmakers and associated history.

Tim

[Tom Alexander 50]

This is my first post, too and I'm also using it as a test. Welcome aboard to us!

[John 39]

Hello everyone, I'm John, owner of this site.

It's taken a long time but the site has been completely re-programmed and is now back up and running with up-dated info on hundreds of makers and more details of UK patents. The search facility is much improved so you can find patent numbers and any word or address in seconds.

You can look at and use the forums free of charge, and you can check to see if we have any useful info before you pay for access to the database.

The old forums were so badly damaged we had to move to a completely new forum which will take time to repopulate. There is a mine of info in the Archived Forums which you can search.

Please let us know if you find any errors e.g. wrong image or wrong history under right name.

[John 39]

I'd like to introduce you to Maurice Stroh who bought the entire patent collection of Manchester City Libraries in 1991 which occupied 1200 yards of shelving. Included are the original patent drawings of gun and ammunition patents up to 1875. Hopefully, Maurice will reply to this post giving a few more details of what he has available.

[John 39]

Email from Djamel posted by John

Bonjour John, how are you? I hope you are well.
Sorry to disturb you again but I need your help. My English is not very good and I did not quite understand some things about "Watson Bros".
Who was the real founder? Thomas William or Thomas or Thomas of Kensington? I'm lost! Which of the two was Tranter's stepson?

[John 39]

Hi Djamel,

The story is complicated and most people have made mistakes about this firm’s history because they didn't know there were two Thomas William Watsons!

They story starts with William Watson (& Sons) of 131 High Holborn who had a son named Thomas William who was born in the Notting Hill area of London. This Thomas William worked for his father but eventually set up his own business at 4 Pall Mall (the old Durs Egg business) and this became Watson Brothers when Arthur Henry Watson joined him.

The other Thomas William was the nephew of William of High Holborn and cousin of Thomas William of Watson Brothers. He eventually became a partner in William’s business but when this business became Watson & Hancock then W T Hancock he joined Watson Brothers at 4 Pall Mall.

Tranter’s son-in-law was Thomas of Kensington who became a partner in William Watson (& Sons), not Thomas of Notting Hill.

Almost all Watson guns were made in Birmingham, although few of their best may have been made by outworkers in London - but I haven’t seen any. William Baker patents were used by both Birmingham and London makers, The Watsons sold many Tranter guns but at least half their guns were by other makers.

[Maurice Stroh 52]

Thank you John for the introduction
I bought the British patent collection in 1991 it comprised all the patents from 1617 to part of 1970 they all have their
illustrations.
There are about seven other institutional collections in the country but uniquely my collection has the patents to 1875 bound subject-wise and all have their front blue wrappers which many libraries discard, this collection continues chronologically from 1876 onwards to 20thc . Other collections are bound chronologically beginning to end .
Many collections are within the collection - cars fishing textiles etc.
There are over 2000 firearm patents 17century to 1875 and a much larger number from 1876-20th century
Many brand names - Boss, Egg, Holland, Manton, Remington, Tranter etc.
originally they were for sale as a collection but eventually became available singly because that's how the customers wanted,
Descriptions to follow.
thank you
Maurice Stroh

[Tim Wilkes 43]

Thank you Maurice, both for joining us and keeping such a wonderful collection of important patents.

My US based co-author has made a study of the many F Beesley patents and even has some of the man's own copies with pencil annotations. They reveal a fantastic engineering genius!

Tim