Pete-
Thank you very much for that information. Amazing to think that my humble Meriden hammer gun was "state of the art" in 1908, with two patented inventions incorporated into its design!
Actually it is very interesting that while the hammer gun was on the way out in 1908, Aubrey was still working to perfect it. Well his inventions, both the hammer gun lock and the fore-stock fastener worked and they work well to this date, nearly 100 years later.
Researcher (if I recall correctly) pointed out many months ago that the patent date appearing on the rib of the Meriden hammer gun is actually the date of the improved safety (which obviously was incorporated not in the hammer gun, but in the side locks as the hammer gun had no such safety).
Doug
