LeFusil, the additional information of Newark would have been helpful. There were more than one Charles Smith [and sons]. Here's some info on the Newark connection. The Internet Gun Club also shows three Newark Trade labels.
Charles Smith was born in 1844 in Scarborough, Yorkshire. He was reportedly apprenticed to David Nixon of 37 Market Place, Newark on Trent, Cambridgeshire, but this has not been confirmed.
In the 1871 census he was recorded living as a lodger with the Brewster family at 64 Maldertongate. He was recorded as a gunsmith living with his wife, Ellen (b.1847 in Newark) and their children, Charles (b.1868) and Nelly (b.1871).
In 1878 David Nixon died and his wife, Elizabeth, inherited the business. She made Charles Smith a partner and the firm was re-named Nixon & Smith.
In the 1881 census Charles was recorded as a master gun maker living at 37 Market Place with Ellen, Charles (II), Nelly, and a second son, George (b.1878).
In 1889 the premises at 37 Market Place were given up and the family moved to 40-41 Market Place. A new workshop and testing range was built in the yard of the Clinton Arms Hotel which was the property adjacent to 37 Market Place.
Jack Parker joined the firm in 1890 (he remained with it until 1961).
In the 1891 census the family was recorded living at 40 Market Place which may indicate that the shop occupied the ground floor at 40-41 Market Place. In the census Charles (II), then aged 23, was described as a gun maker, George was a scholar aged 13 years.
In about 1892 the firm changed its name to Charles Smith & Sons. In about 1894 the shop moved to 47 Market Place.
Charles Smith died in 1908 but his sons Charles (II), George and Walter (b.1887)continued the business through the First World War, the 1930s depression and the Second World War.
Reports differ about the date, but in 1942 or 1951, probably 1951, the firm bought the business of Peter Knight of Clinton Street, Nottingham.
In 1953 the firm closed the shop at 47 Market Place and part of the workshop at the Clinton Arms Hotel Yard was converted into a shop.
In 1954 the Nottingham shop was moved to 28 Milton Street, and in 1961 to Broad Street.
In the early 1960s the firm became a limited company, C Smith & Sons (Newark) Ltd, Walter (Jnr) was recorded as a Director and shareholder. The firm is now owned by Roy Martin Gunsmith, The Old School, Darlton Road, Dunham-on-Trent, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 0UJ. Tel: 01777 228 259 Fax: 01777 228 960 Email: info@rmartinguns.co.uk
Other Info
The firm loaded cartridges under the names the "Brown Sixteen" (post 1910), the "Castle", the "Clinton", the "Gorten" (.410 2 inch post 1920), the "Newark Cartridge", the "Newark Twenty", the "Rufford", the "Universal", the "All British Extra Special" and "Schultze Loaded".
