Paul
#1There is always talk about who made handcuffs for other retailers. ie Hiatt or Nichols making handcuffs for the gunsmith Parker in London. For those of you interested in handcuffs with unusual makers marks, you might find this interesting. I believe there is one known example of a Firmin & Sons handcuff. Firmin are better known for brass badges buttons and medals. The following discussion on the Military Badge Forum is not about handcuffs but raises more questions about the incestuous nature of the Birmingham businesses -ie Firmin using the William Dowler name. W.Dowler and Dowler handcuffs are relatively common but Dowler were brass founders going back generations and debate continues as to whether they actually made handcuffs or just applied their name to them when filling an order for Police whistles and other brass items.
It might also be true that Dowler made handcuffs for Firmin who stamped their own name on them - who knows.
Quote
"I raised a question about a badge for sale from EC Snaith Military Tailors who incidentally are partnered with Firmin. The question was regarding the origin of the Welsh Horse badges they have for sale on Ebay. The reply I received indicates that an original die may have been used to create these. Is there grounds for fair assumption that Firmin are doing the same thing as Gaunt did in the 70's? In other words are they creating restrike badges for the collector's market and using EC Snaith as an outlet?"
"Yes, EC Snaith & Firmin are one and the same. Firmin use a variety of differing names for different parts of their business. That reduces their tax liability. In fact they still make sales using the name William Dowler. If you order an item from EC Snaith it will arrive in a padded bag. The postal franking will show a return address of Firmin & Sons, Newtown Row, Birmingham. It is unlikely that they have gone to the extent of having new dies made for defunct regiments etc and almost certainly the dies are the originals used to fulfil War Dept./MOD orders."
It might also be true that Dowler made handcuffs for Firmin who stamped their own name on them - who knows.
Quote
"I raised a question about a badge for sale from EC Snaith Military Tailors who incidentally are partnered with Firmin. The question was regarding the origin of the Welsh Horse badges they have for sale on Ebay. The reply I received indicates that an original die may have been used to create these. Is there grounds for fair assumption that Firmin are doing the same thing as Gaunt did in the 70's? In other words are they creating restrike badges for the collector's market and using EC Snaith as an outlet?"
"Yes, EC Snaith & Firmin are one and the same. Firmin use a variety of differing names for different parts of their business. That reduces their tax liability. In fact they still make sales using the name William Dowler. If you order an item from EC Snaith it will arrive in a padded bag. The postal franking will show a return address of Firmin & Sons, Newtown Row, Birmingham. It is unlikely that they have gone to the extent of having new dies made for defunct regiments etc and almost certainly the dies are the originals used to fulfil War Dept./MOD orders."