T'he photos posted by LeFusil of the Benj. Wild and Malcolm Cruxton shops were taken by me (with an old Nikon) in the June-July 2002 while I was in Birmingham researching the Howell family of Birmingham gunmakers--Arthur & William Howell (Double Gun Journal, Winter 2005 issue). The first photo posted shows the shop premises on Price Street and the second photos shows the entrance way after you walk into the court yard of the 63 Price St. walkway. These buildings were demolished by the City of Birmingham 3 years ago. I spent maybe 1/2 hours inside the barrel blacking shop of Benj. Wild watching the barrel blacker at work.
I spent several hours in Malcolm Cruxton shop talking with him about the trade and taking photos of the inside of his shop and the work in progress. Today Malcolm, who is 83 years of age works from his home since the buildings were demolished. Malcolm began in the trade as a 14 year old stocker apprentice and has stocked thousands and thousands of guns in all those years in addition to doing gun repairs and building guns under his name. Malcolm told me on that visit that he began sleeving barrels early on. I recall Malcolm telling me 5 years back that he must have stocked 10,000 guns in his career.
The book " The BIRMINGHAM GUNTRADE" by David Williams c. 2004 printed by Tempus Publishing, Ltd. contains 4 photographs of the inside of Malcolm Cruxton's 63 Price Street workshop of 1981 (pages 156-157). Photograph 6.19 of page 156 shows Malcolm Cruxton at work while photograph 6.20, p. 156 shows two employees, Jimmy Roach and Ted Spurrier at work at the benches. Photograph 6.21, p. 157 shows Mike Webster at work and photograph 6.22 shows Malcolm Cruxton finishing the "pip" detail on a buttstock behind the lockplate.
Those of you who are interested in the Birmingham guntrade David Williams "The BIRMINGHAM GUNTRADE" is a must have book.
Kindest Regards;
Stephen Howell
Last edited by bushveld; 10/27/24 06:56 PM.
