Name on flintlock lock plate, ? for squire Robin

[Jdzara]

I've a .53 cal. fowler with a belgian barrel and a union jack in a shield( much like Brittania's shield on the pre 1967 penny) engraved on the butplate.
The lock is marked "Sowers and Smith".
Were Sowers and Smith english lock makers, or were these names used by the Belgians to give the impression of British
Manufacture.
thanks for your help.
Jerry

 

[robinghewitt]

SOWERS & SMITH, Philadelphia. Pa./USA, ca 1855. Sclo

 

[Jdzara]

Thank you Squire.
Does 1855 seems late for a flintlock?
Who is "Schlossmacher", that you quote?
Thank you again.
Jerry

 

[Al Bateman 1]

AZ...Does that translate into Lock maker? :hmm:
Al

 

[musketman]

Does 1855 seems late for a flintlock?

They're still making them in 2005, so 1855 doesn't seem all that shocking...

We have gun makers today making them because they love the flintlock, I would think it was a matter of pride and passion that kept builders in 1855 making the flintlocks in a modern caplock world...

 

[benvenuto]

I have a 1909 catalogue packed fulled of new as well as surplus flintlocks and caplocks...

 

[robinghewitt]

Unfortunately I don't sprekken sie German. Stockel does throw in the occasional blooper so maybe the date is wrong. OTOH an American origin must be good news :thumbsup:

 

[AZ-Robert]

AZ...Does that translate into Lock maker? :hmm:
Al

I know you meant that for the other AZ, but yes - that is the German for 'lockmaker.'

Interesting that two very English sounding names would use that on their lock. Guess it talks to tradition and the influence of early German settlers in that part of the country.

 

[FearNot]

AZ - are you sure about that translation? I'd have thought it translated (literally) to castle maker or castle builder. Isn't the German word for lock something like "schl

 

[AZ-Robert]

Yep, that was my first thought too only since I saw it on the side of every castle I ever toured ::

But my trusty, dusty pocket dictionary translates Sclo

 

[Jdzara]

Hi everyone,
Sorry I screwed up the original question, what I meant to ask was, "is Schlossmacher a book or listing of lockmakers?"
Thanks to all for your replies.
Jerry

 

[AZ-Robert]

Yeah - I misread that and thought it was on the lock. Sounds now more like a descriptor in his reference telling us what these guys did. That a German-language reference you're using there, Squire?

 

[robinghewitt]

That a German-language reference you're using there, Squire?

Surely is ::

Heer der neue Stockel, I think it may be Heer's translation of Stockel's Norwegian original lists.

OTOH even German is better than Norwegian :thumbsup:

 

[robinghewitt]

PS: It took me a while to find out how to type the '

 

[robinghewitt]

PPS: Typo.. it should be Schlo

 

[AZ-Robert]

SM = Schlo

 

[Jdzara]

If anyone's interested, I've posted 3 photos of this fowler.[url] photobucket.com/albums/a82/jdzara/JDg1[/url]
Thanks for your help.
Jerry

 

[AZ-Robert]

Thanks for the pics, Jerry. I see it has rear sight. Was that a very common feature on a fowler?

Thinking about that date of 1855 in Squire Robin's reference. It could mean that company was still in business and producing locks as late as 1855, but doesn't really tell us when they started out. Probably doesn't really help you date this piece, does it?

What is your take on its date?

 

[arilar]

That a German-language reference you're using there, Squire?

Surely is ::

Heer der neue Stockel, I think it may be Heer's translation of Stockel's Norwegian original lists.

OTOH even German is better than Norwegian :thumbsup:

Eugene Heer from "Schweizeriches Waffeninstitut" (Swiss fellow). St

 

[robinghewitt]

What is your take on its date?

:hmm: which part? ::