doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Smallwood Records

A year ago I had not heard of Smallwood, now I own two and am interested in their stories. Anyone know if their records are still around?

There were 7 of them. Which one are you asking about? Any marks on the rib, address, etc?

Pete

LFG;Samuel Smallwood of Shrewsbury is a likely source of your guns.I also believe this business had a strong connection with Samuel Smallwood and Co; Of 32 1/2 Whittall Sreet,Birmingham,circa 1885.
I have a very fine hammer gun by Samuel Smallwood of Shrewsbury.Gun # 899.From the," Not for ball", proof marks, we know that this gun was made between 1875 & 1887. A noteable feature of this gun is the unusual fancy chequering contained in enclosed panels on stock and fore end,a most unusual feature on English guns. The address on the rib is 4&5 Mardol Shrewsbury. This gun is in its origional case.The label states;" Manufacturer of Breech and Muzzle loading guns"."By appointment,Sergeant Armourer to the Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry."
These are the Shrewsbury adresses that are on recorded.
Established 1870
4&5 Mardol, 1870-circa 1900
Milk Street 1900-1950,s
High Street 1950,s-1960 business closed.
If this is the maker of your guns;Shrewsbury,is in Salopian,s territory,perhaps he can help with the record location?

Pete and Roy: many thanks. Both are from Samuel. One is a ten bore Damascus hammergun, from which I am temporarily separated; I am pretty sure it has the Mardol address. The second is a 20 boxlock, with the Milk St. address.

LGF,
Smallwoods records as is often the case have been lost/destroyed/thrown away.
In the next few weeks I will go to the library and see what I can find. I do have a fair bit of information on Smallwoods and would welcome photographs and any details about their guns.
They were very busy whilst in Milk Street and produced basic ironmongers Birmingham boxlocks, but their own guns were superb examples of the gunmakers art.
I will endeavour to piece something readable and interesting together.

Salopian - your research would be most appreciated; as you know, there is very little in Boothroyd.

I will send you pix as soon as I can get together with a camera.

Just googled Sam Smallwood and came up with this
I've landed a Double 10 Damascus Smallwood
Got any info anybody ?

I have been working on this 16 Smallwood and would be interested to see any more pictures of his work.

[img]http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums...~original[/img]

[img]http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums...~original[/img]

Mark

For interest, here is what IGC has on the firm:



First name/s: Samuel
Surname: Smallwood
First Address: 4 Mardol
City/Town: Shrewsbury
County: Shropshire
Country: United Kingdom
Other addresses:
4-5 Mardol
Milk Street
5-6 Milk Street
5-6 Milk Street and College Hill
13 High Street
5-6 Milk Street
12 High Street, Shrewsbury. Branches at: Old Street, Ludlow, Shropshire; Church Stretton, Shropshire.
Trade: Gunsmith
Dates: 1870-1957

Notes:

Samuel Smallwood was born in 1843 in Handsworth, Staffordshire (now part of Birmingham). He was the son of James Smallwood (b.1793 in Handsworth), a labourer and Elizabeth (b.1803 in Pebworth, Gloucestershire), a launderess. Despite these humble beginnings Samuel seems to have gained an apprenticeship with the firm of Westley Richards, possibly through a relative in the gun making trade. In about 1864 at the age of 21 he married Mary Ann (nee Hands b.1842 in Pebworth, Gloucestershire). In 1870 he left Westley Richards and established his own business as a gun maker at 4 Mardol, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He may have inherited the business from a relative. In the 1871 census he was recorded living at 6 Trinity Place, Shrewsbury with his wife Mary Ann and their children Jane Elizabeth (b.1864 in Handsworth), Thomas James (b.1865 in Handsworth recorded as a gun maker apprenticed to his father), Alice Maud (b.1867 in Handsworth), Samuel (b.1869 in Handsworth probably apprenticed to his father for a short time but became a cycle fitter) and Mary Hannah (b.1871 in Shrewsbury). In about 1883 Samuel took over the neighbouring premises at 5 Mardol, no doubt partly to house his increasing family. The family were recorded in the 1881 census at 4 & 5 Mardol and at that time comprised another three sons and one daughter: George Henry (b.1872 became an electrical engineer in Lancashire returning to Shrewsbury to take over the business in about 1907), Florence (b.1874), Frederick William (b.1876 and later probably apprenticed to his father) and Charles Edward (b.1878). Also recorded living there were Richard Dawson (a visitor but also gun maker b.1841 in York, Yorkshire who had previously had his own business in Ludlow and Bridgnorth) and John Henry Hands (a tailor and brother-in-law b.1855 in Pebworth).

A firm by the name of S Smallwood & Co was recorded at 31 1/2 Whittall Street, Birmingham in 1885. This may have belonged to Samuel and may have been run by Thomas James, but the business was only recorded in that year. In his early days in business Samuel probably assembled guns from parts acquired from the Birmingham trade but then from the late 1870s bought completed guns from small and large trade makers including Westley Richards. Samuel died in 1886 at the age of 43 and Mary Ann took over the business assisted by Thomas James who was 21 years old and Richard Dawson. The 1891 census records the family apart from Thomas James at 4 & 5 Mardol with an additional son Frank (b.1885) and daughter Ada (b.1887). John Henry Hands was still living with them as was Richard Dawson who at that time was employed by them as a gun maker. This 1891 census records Thomas James living in Greenfield Street, Shrewsbury with his wife Theresa (b.1864 in Birmingham). They had three children at that time but went on to have another four. In about 1900 the name of the business became S Smallwood & Son the son probably being Frederick William because Thomas James had moved to work for a gun maker in Leicester in about 1896. He had married Theresa Adelaide (b.1864 in Birmingham) in about 1889. The 1901 census records Mary Ann as a gun maker and Frederick William as a gun maker's assistant. Charles Edward was a printer lithographer, and Mary Ann's brother John Henry Hands was a tailor cutter.

In about 1903 the firm moved to 5-6 Milk Street. In about 1907 Mary Ann retired or died and it is likely that Frederick William, who was 31 years old at the time, took over. Frederick William appears to have died in about 1930 and George Henry took over and established a limited company under his own name, G H Smallwood & Co Ltd. He may or may not have ceased being an electrical engineer. The company opened additional premises in College Hill and two branches, one in Old Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, and another in Church Stretton, Shropshire. This expansion of the business seems to have been a little over-optimistic because by about 1935 these branches had closed as had the College Hill premises. The main business moved to 13 High Street, Shrewsbury where it traded under the old name of Samuel Smallwood. In about 1942 the business moved back to 5-6 Milk Street, but in about 1955 it moved to 12 High Street. The business finally closed in about 1957.

Other:

The firm loaded cartridges under the names "Gastight" (post 1900) and "Smallwood's Challenge".

Tim

As a descendant of Samuel Smallwood I was interested by your post. I'm starting to take an interest in family records. As an engineer of sorts, I'm rather fascinated by Sam Smallwood and his rather beautifully made guns.
My Dad was MD of GH Smallwood and Co untill it folded in the economic climate of the 1980s.

If you'd like to swap notes on Sam Smallwoood and his activities I'd be interested.

BTW I know nothing about guns!