Hello weblman-ga,
I have compiled all the information I was able to uncover on the San
Francisco merchants Liddle & Keading. I am including a timeline, links
to images of molds, sprue cutters and headstamp as well.
Liddle & Keading is also spelled Liddle & Kaeding.
At the Antique Gun Room Website there is a nice summary of Liddle &
Kaeding:
“Liddle & Kaeding operated in San Francisco. Robert Liddle (ca. 1824,
England - ?) and Charles Van Buren Kaeding (ca. 1840, NY - ?) bought
out the Bogart Brothers "Sportsmen's Emporium" in 1859, the new firm
being known as R. Liddle & Co., with Kaeding as a silent partner.
In 1866 Kaeding became an active partner and from then to 1889 the
firm was known as Liddle & Kaeding. They also kept the popular
"Sportsmen's Emporium" name.
According to Lawrence P. Shelton (1977, California Gunsmiths,
1846-1900), by 1875 they were the largest firearms dealer in San
Francisco. They made their own guns, bullet molds and sporting
equipment, were dealers for most of their well known competitors, and
repaired just about anything in the firearms line.
They employed a number of gunsmiths, among them Robert Liddle,
himself, and his son James Henry Liddle, Gustave Adolf Robertson,
William H. Soper, Theophilus Knoderer & Henry A. Wilson.
In 1889, Liddle bought out Kaeding and re-established R. Liddle & Co.
with his sons George and Robert H. Liddle. Liddle retired in 1896 and
Robert H. ran the business until 1898, when it was finally closed.”
Source: Antique Gun Room Website
http://www.antiquegunroom.com/agr/experts/question_view.php?q_id=274
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Here is a good timeline that gives a general overview of Liddle &
Keading:
“Robert Liddle and Charles Keading
Dealer and manufacture of firearms in San Francisco (c.1854-1898)
1824
Robert Liddle Born in England.
1836
Apprenticed as a gunsmith in Baltimore.
1853
Arrived in San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama in February and
mined for a few months on the south fork of the Salmon River. A short
while latter he returned to San Francisco and resumed work as a
gunsmith on Davis Street.
1854 circa.
Returned to Baltimore and brought his family back to San Francisco.
1858
Listed as a gunsmith dwelling on Union Street.
1860 circa.
Formed a partnership with Charles Keading as Robert Liddle & Co., at
418 Washington Street.
1866 circa.
The two formed the partnership Liddle & Keading and relocated to 538
Washington St., selling guns and sporting material.
1891
Keading is absent from the firm and Robert operates as R. Liddle &
Co., gunsmiths.
1895
The firm relocates to 110 Montgomery St.
1896
Robert is listed as manager of the Emporium Sporting Goods Store.”
Source: Witherells Arts and Antiques
http://www.witherells.com/makers/j-l.htm
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The Antique Reloading Tool Collector’s Association provides a number
of very detailed images and close-ups of Liddle & Kaeding molds and
sprue cutters that you may see here:
http://www.antiquereloadingtools.org/miscellaneous5.html
Here is an example of the Liddle & Kaeding mold; this one is in 45-70
and has the elongated sprue cutter. It is marked "Liddle&Kaeding" on
the handles of both sides as shown.
http://www.antiquereloadingtools.org/images_miscellaneous/liddle&kaeding_4570.jpg
This rare 50 caliber example has somewhat deformed handles from hard
use; it also has the Remington-like sprue cutter.
http://www.antiquereloadingtools.org/images_miscellaneous/liddle&kaeding_50_mold.jpg
Here is an image of a rare Liddle & Kaeding S.F. caliber single cavity
brass mold.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/bp464.htm
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To see an image of a Liddle & Keading headstamp please scroll down to
middle of the page. You will see an “L&K” in the center of a circle.
http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/usrim.htm
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Liddle & Kaeding was awarded a State Agricultural Society Premium
Awarded in 1868 for best California made fire-arms.
“Exhibitor: Liddle & Kaeding
Residence: San Francisco
Article: Best California made fire-arms”
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~npmelton/misc.htm
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Wells Fargo Shotguns were obtained from Liddle & Kaeding
“The double-barreled, hammer-fired, “cut-off” shotguns, as Wells Fargo
called them were marked with “W. F. & CO. EX.”. Up to the mid 1880’s
Wells Fargo weapons were obtained from A. J. Plate & Co., Liddle &
Kaeding and Shreve & Wolf of San Francisco. Messengers on the
stagecoaches were normally issued 10 gauge shotguns while all others
were normally issued 12 gauge shotguns.”
http://www.genuinereproductions.net/trivia.htm
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Additional information that may interest you:
Tom Quigley reported on characteristics of 24 Liddle & Keading molds
in The Gun Report volume 43, number 6, pages 32-38 (November 1997).
The article, entitled "Loading Tools from R. Liddle & Co. and Liddle &
Kaeding, S.F." contains much interesting background information about
the company and details of mold markings.
Given that The Gun Report Website ( http://www.thegunreport.com/ ) is
currently under construction I am providing their contact information
where you may inquire by phone or e-mail for past issues:
The Gun Report
P.O. Box 38,
Aledo, Illinois 61231
Phone: 309-582-5311 or 309-582-5312.
FAX: 309-582-5555.
E-mail address: gunrprt@winco.net
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Search terms used in my research:
Liddle & Keading, Liddle & Kaeding, history, biography, San Francisco
Merchants, firearms,
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Thank you for your question and I hope this response has provided you
with the information you were seeking. If anything I have written is
not clear, please post a request for Answer Clarification before
rating my answer and I will do my best to meet your needs.
Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
