|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,506
Posts545,570
Members14,417
| |
Most Online1,344
Apr 29th, 2024
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96 |
I think Hugh is on the right track with Westley Richards. It is an early gun proofed between 1875 and 1887. Late 1870's at a guess. Lagopus.....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 138
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 138 |
Indeed that is the puzzle, Charles had what can only be described as a 'palace' as a home in Birmingham and so his house in Belfast would not have been his main residence.
But I never found out if the business of Braddells brought him to Belfast and he met his wife there or through the heavy Irish presence in Birmingham he married and through a family trip back to the emerald isle, he came across the business of Braddells and things moved on from there.
It's hard to figure out but the underlying question is why would a established and professional man (fought in a war, ran a big gunmaking business and then association with the proof house) such as Charles Playfair (III) have time to buy into a small business some 400 miles away over the sea?
In case you are wondering, Charles Playfair (III) mother was Louisa Bentley, Thomas Bentley's daughter. Nothing like marrying your business partners prized possession!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202 |
Hugh, you could be right. But I think there is a possibility of the Braddell/Bentley and Plafair connection quite early. The following scenarion appears in my files.
June 22, 1876, R E Couchman [for Anson and Deeley] license the pat 1756 of 1875 [action] to Westley Richards. No mention, as I read the contract, is made of a "sole" license.
Nov. 3, 1879, Couchman [I think for Anson and Deeley] licenses the A and D action to Charles Osborne and Co. [Charles Osborne, Ellis and Edward, and Wm Wilkerson]
Feb. 20 1880,Couchman licenses [for Anson and Deeley ?] the A and D action to Harrington and Richardson for sole license in USA. By the way, these guns had the round cocking rods Hugh refers to.
It was sometime later , but at least by 1889 that the licensing of the Deeley patents, at least was being done by Westley Richards and Co Ltd. So it seems sometime between 1880 and 1889 that Westley Richards may have acquired the sole rights to the A and D action. [or when did the 1876 patent expire and was it renewed ?] In 1889, the Deeley ejector was licensed to Pryse, Turner, P. Webley, Bentley and Playfair and others by Westley Richards. It is not inconceivable that the A and D action was licensed to others closely following the original license to Westley Richards , similar to the License for the A and D action granted to Osborne in 1879. My "guess" is that Westley Richards acquired the A and D patent sometime in the early 1880s as their own.
To me the high use number on the Braddell A and D action suggests quite a time period from the late 1870s when it was manufactured. Use numbers for the A and D patent built by Westley Richards started at No. 1.
Well, what does all this mean ? Maybe the Braddell is a Westley Richards made gun, but maybe not. Could be Osborne, or Bentley and Playfair . History of the companies might make me lean toward the latter.
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 10/30/12 05:38 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,427 Likes: 315
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,427 Likes: 315 |
Paddy: it may be 4 rod English 'Best' c. 1870s-80s. Could you please post another image of the pattern? 
Last edited by Drew Hause; 10/30/12 03:47 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,530 Likes: 82
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,530 Likes: 82 |
I have seen a similar gun stamped under the cover plate by Brazier .Made under licecne so I would guess there may well be others who also did so .
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23
Boxlock
|
|
OP
Boxlock
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23 |
Thanks, Drew - is this useful? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,427 Likes: 315
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,427 Likes: 315 |
You are correct Paddy - it's 3 Iron 'English Best' or 'Turkish', and very nice!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,859
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,859 |
Hmmm, Paddy Garcia, while at Halliburton I worked with a Christine Garcia in Houston, but she was Chinese.
Approach life like you do a yellow light - RUN IT! (Gail T.)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23
Boxlock
|
|
OP
Boxlock
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23 |
Hmmm, Paddy Garcia, while at Halliburton I worked with a Christine Garcia in Houston, but she was Chinese. Ah, the handle comes from a Pogues song rather than my real name. I liked the ring of the San Patricio sort of Spanish + Irish name, but adding Chinese into the mix is beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23
Boxlock
|
|
OP
Boxlock
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23 |
Got a very nice reply from Braddell, unfortunately no further information available: Unfortunately your gun's records are in the group that were lost in the fire. The only information that I can give you is that serial no 5375 dates it to the early 1880's. I am sorry that I can not be of any more assistance. Regards Charlie Costley J Braddell and Son Ltd 11 North Street Belfast BT1 1NA Tel 02890320525 Fax 02890322657 www.braddells.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
