Product Details
S.B. ALLPORT
A CASED VINTAGE TUBULAR INSIDE MICROMETER,
circa 1875, 34 3/4in. total length, the spindle operating a three point contact, full length outer sleeve graduated in inches from 3 to 31 and sleeve scale marked in 20 thousandths of an inch from .640 to .800, thimble scale marked in thousandths of an inch from 0-19, the thimble marked 'S.B. ALLPORT - PATENT - BIRMINGHAM' and with knurled grip, in its full length wood case
Provenance: Samuel Blakemore Allport was born in 1823 and apprenticed to his father Samuel Allport, gunmaker
In the 1841 census, Samuel Allport (Snr) is listed as being a gunmaker and by the 1851 census, as a 'Gun Implement, Fishing Reel and Weaver's Mail manufacturer'.
By 1861, Allport Snr had died and SB Allport is listed as a gunmaker and living at 1 Weaman Row with his wife and daughter, his stepmother and two brothers (Joseph and Charles Rigby Allport - both recorded as gunmakers). He took over the family business, renaming the family firm to be 'Samuel B Allport, Gun, Pistol and Rifle Manufacturers, Gun and Rifle Implement Makers and makers of Fishing Reels and Tackle'.
During his career as a gun and rifle maker he patented three well regarded designs, including a toplever action in 1872, an underlever action and safety in 1881 and an ejector in 1890. He is also credited the producing of a characteristic design of rook rifle, often found with Purdey, Scott, Bland, Lewis, Henry, Boss and Rigby retailers names on them. He is also linked with Metford and Sir Henry Halford and Alexander Henry in the development of their rifling.
He became a Guardian of the Birmingham Proof House in 1867. When he became Birmingham Proof Master in 1892 he sold the business the following year over a three day auction (having no heirs to pass it on to). He served as Proof Master for nine years, during which time he was responsible for the comparison testing of damascus and steel barrels - and made one of the first pressure test barrels utilising the crusher concept.
He died on the 24th October 1899 at the age of 76
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Estimate £150-250