The following info. is via
http://www.internetgunclub.comLog-on to see case labels etc.
Regards,
Redgrouse
" Historical Data for Isaac Hollis & Sons
Name Isaac Hollis & Sons
Other Names
Address 1 5-11 Weaman Row, Lench Street
Address 2 91-92 Lower Loveday Street
Address 3 91-92 Lower Loveday Street & 16-17 Loveday Street.
Address 4 16-17 Loveday Street.
Address 5
Address 6
Address 7
City/Town Birmingham
County
State/Region/Province
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun, Rifle & Pistol Makers
Other Address London offices: 83 Cheapside; 44a Cannon Street; 83 Cheapside; 6 Great Winchester Street; 26 Billiter Buildings; 101 Leadenhall Street; 9 New Broad Street; 54 Clerkenwell Road; 84 Goswell Road.
Dates 1814-1955
Notes
Isaac Hollis & Sons claimed establishment from 1814, i.e from Richard & William at Bath Street, but their immediate predecessor was the firm of Hollis & Sheath (but see Hollis Brothers).
Isaac Hollis & Sons became volume producers of military guns and inexpensive trade guns, but they also made quality sporting guns for the South African (e.g. A Cloag of Port Elizabeth) and Indian markets, the Australian and New Zealand markets, and the home market (e.g. Crockart of Blairgowrie).
In 1861 Isaac Hollis, by now at least 66 years old, appears to have been trading from 5-11 Weaman Row, Lench Street. He patented a trigger guard (No. 1082) and he patented another in 1868 (No. 4922) when he was over 73. It is not known when he died.
In 1870, presumably under the control of the sons, the firm opened a shop at 44a Cannon Street in London; in 1871 this moved to 83 Cheapside.
In 1876/1877 the firm became a limited liability company, Isaac Hollis & Sons Ltd, but by 1879 they were trading again as Isaac Hollis & Sons (which suggests short term financial difficulties).
From 1884 the London office was at 6 Great Winchester Street. From 1892 to 1899 the office was recorded at 26 Billiter Buildings, if the principal London offices were not at this address, 6 Great Winchester Street may have been wholesale offices.
It would appear that in 1899 the offices were moved to 101 Leadenhall Street. In 1903 they moved to 9 New Broad Street.
In about 1911 the firm formed a joint venture of some kind with Bentley & Playfair (see Hollis, Bentley & Playfair). The Birmingham factory seems to have been at 91-92 Lower Loveday Street at this time, but in about 1915 further factory space was taken at 16-17 Loveday Street.
By 1920, Bentley & Playfair appear to left the firm which traded as "Hollis, Bentley & Playfair (I Hollis & Sons)" from 54 Clerkenwell Road.
From 1931 to 1933 the firm traded as I Hollis & Sons from 54 Clerkenwell Road, and as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair from 84 Goswell Road. From 1933 they traded under both names but only from 84 Goswell Road.
From 1935 the firm traded as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair, the factory at 16-17 Loveday Street closed whilst the factory at 91 and 92 Lower Loveday Street continued to operate.
From 1938 to 1943 they traded only as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair but in 1943 closed their London offices.
The firm appears to have closed in 1955.
The full Hollis story is complicated and confusing because it was a large family. William Hollis was born in 1777 and established his business in 1807 at St Mary's Row, he was recorded there until 1811. [It is unlikely he was working on his own, and it is thought that he had at least one brother in the firm, possibly Richard (of Richard & William); Richard (1829-1853) of 3 Lench Street/20 St Mary's Row/79 Weaman Street was probably his nephew (presuming William had another brother)]. Between 1812 and 1816 William moved to 73 Bath Street. In 1838 the firm became William Hollis & Sons, but this partnership does not seem to have been a success and it reverted to William Hollis in 1839. The firm was last recorded in 1845, William died in 1856 at the age of 79 claiming to be the oldest manufacturer and contractor in the Birmingham Gun Trade.
In 1829 a Richard Hollis opened at 3 Lench Street, this may have been William's son but more likely it was a nephew. In 1833 Richard also occupied 20 St Mary's Row, but for one year only. In 1847 Richard moved from Lench Street to go to 79 Weaman Street, he closed in 1853, but it is possible that he teamed up with Christopher (brother or son?).
The firm of Hollis Brothers started trading from 11 Weaman Row in 1839. The partners were Isaac Hollis and Frederick Hollis who died in 1839. They stopped trading in 1848, to form Hollis & Sheath at 10-11 Weaman Row.
Other Info
The firm of Isaac Hollis became a major manufacturer (and one of the largest trade manufacturers) of guns and rifles. In order to understand the type, quality, model, and style of guns made in the nineteenth century, one has to realise that this was a period of invention and perfection far surpassing anything seen either before or during the next 100 years. Shooting men were more knowledgeable about their guns and the "latest principles" on which they were made than they are today, and both the medium sized gunmaker and the major manufacturer could be much more flexible in terms of what they produced.
Whether ordering a gun or buying it off-the-shelf, the customer usually had his own ideas about what he wanted but, in the main, he was advised by his gunmaker. Thus, the specification would list every required detail including any patent numbers for bolting mechanism, safety, triggers and ejectors etc.
Although the retailer or "gunmaker" would advise the customer, his advice would depend on what he could produce himself or, more likely, by what was available at the time from the actual manufacturer of the parts or the complete gun.
Manufacturers often supplied retailers with complete guns which bore the manufacturer's name and serial number on the barrels and action, but a "trade" manufacturer would usually put the retailer's name and serial number on the barrels and the action. The trade manufacturer's initials or trade mark might be put somewhere inside the action, under the barrels or on the fore-end.
If a "gunmaker" had a workshop or factory, it was not necessarily an indication that he actually "made" his guns himself. Most of the medium sized firms bought guns "in the white" and stocked, engraved and fitted the "furniture" themselves. Alternatively, the so-called factory might have just "finished" guns or it could simply have been a buying, storage and transhipment office. In any event, to the customer, the retailer or "gunmaker" usually appeared to be the actual maker of every part of the gun."
