The name J.T. Powell is more than likely a red herring.
Below pretty much sums it up. An importer or maker could import components into the Birmingham proofhouse with the tubes in the "Tube State" & the proof facility would apply the appropriate marks if, if the tube was void of any Belgian marks. Then akin to the U.S. of A. in circumventing tariffs, the separate components could be cobbled together for a low end sporting weapon w/ Birmingham proof marks & exported to a country w/out proof laws. It was all about the Benjamins. The London makers would source the Birmingham makers for tubes in the "Tube State" and the Birmingham makers would in turn source the Belgian makers for tubes in the "Tube State". But there may have been a gap in time of the London - Birmingham sourcing and the subsequent Birmingham - Liege sourcing. I'm all but positive this is the case for those odd, arcane, slightly misspelled firearms merchant names. Liege had an exception in their proof law that they could export directly to a country w/ a proof facility their wares being devoid of their proofmarks. I'm highly confident this was the case & it may be that the importer/exporter B.J.W. & Co. may have been in Amsterdam or similar?
Arms & Explosives Nov. 1903.
I have more if any are interested.
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
