James,
I am pretty sure every French proof powder prior to the year 1900 was a semi smokeless powder. The first truly smokeless powder was powder T, which became the default proof powder in 1900. People could and did specify powder S or J after 1900. It took the proofhouse a few years to get proof with the new powder completely sorted, and powder S was a higher pressure proof at the turn of the century.
Powder T is used to this day. French proof is, by law, the highest in Europe.
I really dont know anything about Ideals. At least not anything that matters.
Best,
Ted
French proof dates well back beyond the "Invention" of smokeless powder. Obviously former proof was done with BLACK.
Plese define Semi-Smokeless.
