Author Topic: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn  (Read 4737 times)

Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

  • Library_mod
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2081
"J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« on: March 16, 2016, 09:12:25 PM »
Seeking historical information on this commercial 19C. horner of Lancaster. I have a horn stamped on the plug and a metal band J.H. Smith Lancaster, PA
Thanks









Hurricane
« Last Edit: March 17, 2016, 04:57:04 AM by Hurricane ( of Virginia) »

Offline Shreckmeister

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3808
  • GGGG Grandpa Schrecengost Gunsmith/Miller
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2016, 09:16:49 PM »
Could you start by telling us what you know?  What makes you think he was a horner and not
the owner?  Have others surfaced?  Got pictures?
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline j. pease

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 103
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2016, 03:22:09 AM »
I have seen several stamped by Smith, had horn shop in Lancaster

Horner75

  • Guest
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2016, 05:55:26 AM »
What is that collar in front of the butt plug made of...brass?

Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

  • Library_mod
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2081
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2016, 04:38:08 PM »
Collar is brass, I believe.
Hurricane

Offline Jerry V Lape

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3028
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2016, 08:33:24 PM »
What is the butt plug made of.  It appears to have the texture of leather?  The plug looks to be machine made and the diagonal design on the base is very regular and along with the edges of the circles gives the impression it may have been some sort of composition formed with a die?  Or leather stamped with tools?  I like it. 
« Last Edit: March 18, 2016, 08:37:56 PM by Jerry V Lape »

Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

  • Library_mod
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2081
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2016, 05:18:14 PM »
The plug is a "light weight" would that is stained but does have the appearance of a "leathery" texture. Totally foreign to me but I have little knowledge of horns. Carving appears pressed as does that of another priming Lancaster horn I have with a "rope" design but not "leathery" and it is unsigned. Was hoping someone knows some historical info????about Smith???

Offline Clark Badgett

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2260
  • Oklahoma
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2016, 07:32:20 PM »
The plug is a "light weight" would that is stained but does have the appearance of a "leathery" texture. Totally foreign to me but I have little knowledge of horns. Carving appears pressed as does that of another priming Lancaster horn I have with a "rope" design but not "leathery" and it is unsigned. Was hoping someone knows some historical info????about Smith???

It does look like tooled leather now that you mention it. Could it be a leather covered plug?
Psalms 144

Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

  • Library_mod
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2081
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2016, 09:12:35 PM »
After further examination, I think it is aged cracked varnish or shellac over a stained plug. There is a small scraped area on the plug edge that looks like fresh "white/yellowish" wood grain.

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 18388
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: "J. H. Smith Lancaster, PA" stamped horn
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2016, 10:13:25 PM »
 If you have a copy of Art DeCamp's book Great book,
 Pennsylvania "Horns of the Trade" Screw-tip Powder Horns and Their Architecture
 You will find reference to J. H. Smith and a couple of his horns on page 214-219.

    Tim C.