Having had the pleasure of talking to men who new the Midland in the 30's I was told that they ran a very big trading company ,goods from the colonies ,Africa and India ,hides tusks and all manner of other stuff imported in payment for goods sent. I was also told the percussion guns were made up until 1938 as were damascus barreled guns .
As to currency conversion I think that the dollar ran at 4 to the pound in those days . Our Half Crown [hats 2 shillings and 6 pence in old money] as often referred to as "half a dollar" .A Crown beign a largely out of fashion 5 shilling coin .[20 shilling to the pound ]
