looking for information

gordon smith · 03-03-2011, 09:59 AM

Am trying to find out what part of the country a D W Flannigan was from.He ordered a GHE vent rib trap gun on May 28, 1936
Also looking for a C V Bracher who ordered a VHE vent rib skeet gun on
Jan 8, 1936.
Would try historical societies if I knew where they lived. No address on letters.

Bill Murphy · 03-03-2011, 11:52 AM

C.V. Bracher was a Maryland shooter, shot out or Baltimore. He was listed as a professional. I don't know what company he represented. If it were Remington, I wouldn't think he would be shooting a Parker. He would probably be shooting Remingtons, although D. Lee Braun sometimes shot Parkers when he worked for Remington.

Bill Murphy · 03-03-2011, 12:03 PM

D.W. Flannigan was also a professional, shot out of St. Louis, Missouri. I don't know which company he represented either. Where did you get the provenance on these guns? I would guess not from a PGCA letter. I collect guns from Maryland shooters. Let me know what you will do with the VHE.

gordon smith · 03-03-2011, 01:06 PM

Both names are on PGCA letters. Both guns have Remington repair codes. Nothing in the letters about being repaired. The VHE is 26" & the GHE is 32" and both have silver pads.
The Vhe has straight stock.
Thanks Bill

Bill Murphy · 03-03-2011, 01:49 PM

I assume the names came from IBM cards since the order books ended in 1934 and the stock books didn't have customers' names posted. It is somewhat unusual to find a name on an IBM card except in the case of dealers or Remington pros. I would assume both of these guys were employed by Remington Arms Company. Did you find both guns in the same place? Bracher seemed to be out of Maryland shortly after the time the gun was ordered. I don't know when Wilbur Cox took over the Baltimore territory, but it was probably shortly after Bracher left, if he did in fact work as a Remington pro.

Bill Murphy · 03-03-2011, 02:01 PM

OK, I went into my Remington exhibition shooters research files and found both of these guys. Flannigan was known as "Dave" Flannigan. Bracher was known as "Vic" Bracher.

gordon smith · 03-03-2011, 02:26 PM

Both letters say " according to the Remington IBM Card "
Bought both at OGCA shows in 2008

Bill Murphy · 03-03-2011, 02:47 PM

I hope you enjoy your new found provenance and give my contact information to your wife. I am a long time and current OGCA member and miss the shows that I haven't attended for some time.