Here are a few examples of some guns and cutlery billheads. I think these go together and I am not entirely sure why. The cutlery trade in the United States was once dominated by Sheffield manufacturers, but in the 1860s new innovations in the U.S. allowed cutlery to move from being hand-made to machine made and thus the US cutlery became cheaper and better quality.
BIGGS, SPENCER & CO., 335 Wabash avenue, Chicago. Cutlery and Guns. The above line of goods were well represented by the old established house of these exhibitors, and the display made was especially attractive, comprising, as it did, specimens of the finest manufactures. The Florentine carved work on one muzzle-Loading gun being unique, and the engraved locks and furniture on another representing the highest class of modern engraving on metal. Breech-loaders of all the various actions evidence the great advance in sporting arms within twenty years or so, the first breech-loading shot gun (then considered a useless novelty) being exhibited by Lefaucheux, of Paris, at the London Exhibition of all Nations in 1851. A pair of laminated barrels, partly finished, showing the method of manufacture from the rough bar to the completed gun,
attracted the attention of gun men. The cutlery and scissors were superb, and some of most exquisite finish, affording an opportunity for the comparison of French and English with the best American products. A curiosity was a case of scissors in the different stages of manufacture: First, the rod of fine steel; then, the roughly forged blade ; the same, filed, tempered, polished, matched, and riveted ; and, lastly, the perfect scissors ready for use. Cases of fine pearl and ivory table cutlery, and fine penknives, from the tiny blade half an inch long to the large clasp-knife, were in profusion at the greatest possible variety of price. Suffice to say, that the ability of any house to carry such a supply of fine wares is evidence that Chicago is an Empire city, commanding the trade and able to compete on equal terms with any sister city in the Union. (From The Inter-state Exposition Souvenir: Containing a Historical Sketch of Chicago; Also a Record of the Great Inter-state Exposition of 1873, 161-162).
LAU & GARLICHS: I cannot find much on this shop. There is one mention in the in the 1877 Rand’s New York City Business Directory and in 1874 in the New York Business Directory - neither of which are available in full at google books. There is another mention in 1913 of a J.H. Lau and Company, 75 Chambers Street, Fire-Arms. Not sure if this might be the same Lau.
HENRY SEARS & CO.: From The Inter-state Exposition Souvenir: Containing a Historical Sketch of Chicago; Also a Record of the Great Inter-state Exposition of 1873:
Henry Sears & Co., 62 State Street, Chicago. Fine cutlery and Fire-arms. This was one of the richest displays in the Exposition, and one in every way commendable to this old established house. Pocket cutlery of all kinds, razors, polished scissors, shears, etc., were shown in great variety. The specialty of this house is fine pocket cutlery, manufactured by them at Waterbury, Conn., under the style of the H. Sears Manufacturing Co. The goods of this firm have become so justly celebrated for their excellence that any article bearing the imprint of “H. Sears Manufg. Co.”, or “H. Sears and Sons,” is at once purchased without question . . In their exhibition were shown several fine specimens of breech and muzzle-loading shot guns, imported directly by the firm. (p. 134)
BIGGS, SPENCER & CO., 335 Wabash avenue, Chicago. Cutlery and Guns. The above line of goods were well represented by the old established house of these exhibitors, and the display made was especially attractive, comprising, as it did, specimens of the finest manufactures. The Florentine carved work on one muzzle-Loading gun being unique, and the engraved locks and furniture on another representing the highest class of modern engraving on metal. Breech-loaders of all the various actions evidence the great advance in sporting arms within twenty years or so, the first breech-loading shot gun (then considered a useless novelty) being exhibited by Lefaucheux, of Paris, at the London Exhibition of all Nations in 1851. A pair of laminated barrels, partly finished, showing the method of manufacture from the rough bar to the completed gun,
attracted the attention of gun men. The cutlery and scissors were superb, and some of most exquisite finish, affording an opportunity for the comparison of French and English with the best American products. A curiosity was a case of scissors in the different stages of manufacture: First, the rod of fine steel; then, the roughly forged blade ; the same, filed, tempered, polished, matched, and riveted ; and, lastly, the perfect scissors ready for use. Cases of fine pearl and ivory table cutlery, and fine penknives, from the tiny blade half an inch long to the large clasp-knife, were in profusion at the greatest possible variety of price. Suffice to say, that the ability of any house to carry such a supply of fine wares is evidence that Chicago is an Empire city, commanding the trade and able to compete on equal terms with any sister city in the Union. (From The Inter-state Exposition Souvenir: Containing a Historical Sketch of Chicago; Also a Record of the Great Inter-state Exposition of 1873, 161-162).
LAU & GARLICHS: I cannot find much on this shop. There is one mention in the in the 1877 Rand’s New York City Business Directory and in 1874 in the New York Business Directory - neither of which are available in full at google books. There is another mention in 1913 of a J.H. Lau and Company, 75 Chambers Street, Fire-Arms. Not sure if this might be the same Lau.
HENRY SEARS & CO.: From The Inter-state Exposition Souvenir: Containing a Historical Sketch of Chicago; Also a Record of the Great Inter-state Exposition of 1873:
Henry Sears & Co., 62 State Street, Chicago. Fine cutlery and Fire-arms. This was one of the richest displays in the Exposition, and one in every way commendable to this old established house. Pocket cutlery of all kinds, razors, polished scissors, shears, etc., were shown in great variety. The specialty of this house is fine pocket cutlery, manufactured by them at Waterbury, Conn., under the style of the H. Sears Manufacturing Co. The goods of this firm have become so justly celebrated for their excellence that any article bearing the imprint of “H. Sears Manufg. Co.”, or “H. Sears and Sons,” is at once purchased without question . . In their exhibition were shown several fine specimens of breech and muzzle-loading shot guns, imported directly by the firm. (p. 134)
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