Description:
Leather shot holder or shot bag or shot dispenser or shot pouch with brass fittings stamped "SYKES Patent," which was in the PVMA collection (number unknown). There is a listing in the Civil War Room, Case G: "4. Shot Pouch of James C. Hitchcock." James Hitchcock (1841-1864), son of Nathaniel Hitchcock and Calista Childs Hitchcock of Deerfield, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, while serving under General Butler in the 27thr regt. Massachusetts Volunteers. In the entry of "professions and trades," Pigot's 1829 Directory for Sheffield, England, lists William and Thomas Sykes under "Powder Flask and Shot Belt Makers" for "real patent fire-proof flasks" on Arundel street; and in 1834, lists "Sykes & Son (patentees and manufacturers of the fire proof powder flask, & of sportsmen's pocket liquor bottles -- mark ' Sykes' and ' Sykes patent') Duke st." White's 1857 Directory of Derbyshire lists "Sykes & Son, mchts, & patentees and mfrs. of fire proof powder flasks, shot belts & ponchos, charges, liquor bottles, &c., 36 Duke st." under Sheffield. Sykes developed and patented a flameproof valve, for which the British Government granted this patent to Sykes after he demonstrated that a spark in the barrel was not likely to ignite the powder inside the flask. Prior to the industrial revolution, the great Guilds had protected craftsmen by recognition of the craftsman's mark on individual products. Common law also assisted in providing a legal remedy based in the action of 'passing-off', i.e. to prevent the practice of deceit whereby one manufacturer produced goods which bore the markings of another's quality product. The English case of Sykes v. Sykes in 1824 is an example of where the courts intervened to prevent the copying, by a manufacturer named Sykes, of a well known quality product with the same name, and established the right of the owner of an infringed trade mark to damages. The English Parliament then passed the Merchandise Marks Act 1862; this statute, in the English legal system, was the forerunner of modern trade marks legislation. The pouch has two compartments for gun shot which is removed using a spring release. The strap is loose.
Subjects:
Brass; Leather Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+69.0576 |
