Interesting Provenance
 

I recently bought a VH 20 straight grip stock that had been refinished. It is serial number 120123. I bought it as it has the perfect dimensions for me for a grouse and woodcock gun. I plan to use it to hunt and eventually hand it down to my son. The seller had a PGCA letter which he sent to me today. The gun was made as a straight grip 20 choked RH Cyl and LH Mod. 28 inch barrels. It was sold to T.H. Keller in 1903 for $50.00 who apparently was the CEO of Peters Cartridge company. He was a big duck hunter and competitive shooter. He lived in NY. I am guessing from the way he ordered the gun he intended to use it on grouse just like me. No idea how much he hunted with it but I was fascinated to read about Mr Keller. Can't wait for October to get it in the woods.:)

T.H. Keller was the manager of the New York office of Peters Cartridge Company. He was a prolific competition shooter as well as a way more than serious hunter. He had a rather large "motor launch", whatever that is, where he and his co-owners entertained waterfowl hunters. I own Keller's DH Grade hammerless eight gauge that apparently was his gun for volume waterfowl slaughter. It is the only 30" hammerless eight Parker ever made, according to The Parker Story. It is a lightweight at about ten pounds, maybe the lightest Parker eight out there. It handles like a bird gun. Go on la84.com to search for many mentions of Keller's exploits.

Keller in 1898
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3026024.pdf

Image of Keller with Tom Marshall in 1913
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL6120034.PDF

Report of his death in 1916
http://books.google.com/books?id=VN1...J&pg=PA876&lpg

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%...20-%200567.pdf

His son 'Haze' was a Hunter Arms rep
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5216013.pdf
THE Hunter Arms Company has again "hit" the "shining mark" of enterprise in taking on two new salesmen Haze Keller, Jr., a son of Thomas Keller famous as the best-natured man who "travels the road” and Neale Moore, son of Harvey McMurchy, long in the service of the same company. These two young men give every promise of "bringing down the game" and a "rapid fire" of orders for Smith guns that will break all records, is expected from their trips in 1909. Keller will "hunt" for business in the Eastern States and Canada, and Moore in the West under the able guidance of his father.

A motor launch is simply a place from which one may launch a motor boat. It is often a covered 'boathouse' but not always.

Beg to differ... A "motor launch" is a powerboat large enough to be generally kept on a mooring or at a slip. A synonym would pe a "power yacht" as opposed to a "sailing yacht".

This is a motor launch.

Dean and Edgar beat me to it!
Beautiful launch Edgar, can you share a few details?

Having spent several college years fishing the rivers in Eastern Georgia, I can also say that some of the locals often referred to places where one could launch a boat as a "Launch". When referring to where one either found or didn't find fish, an answer might be "couple miles up river from Thompsons Launch"

Thanks,
John

John,
Rather than the risk of raising the moderator's breech pressure by hijacking the thread, I'll answer you in the off topic forum.

Very pretty little boat Edgar.

If the registration numbers were not there I would still know it is a Maine boat by the snow tires on the trailer... :cheers:

Point well taken,
Thank you!