Advertisements, Letterheads and Instructions

From Allen, his retail agents and partners

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This page shows a collection of advertisements, letterheads and instructions.  Surviving documents are extremely scarce. The majority of images have been copied from books*, but also some images have been found on internet. 

If you have an image not listed below, and you would like to share it for publication on this page, I would be grateful if you could send me a message through the contact form.

Content:

  • Advertisements
  • Instructions
  • Letterheads

Advertisements

Ethan Allen sold his guns for a large part through a rich network of retail agents.  Therefore, on the majority of the advertisements and letterheads we find the names of these retail agents. The main retail agents where J.G. Bolen and A.W. Spies & Co but many others like W. Read & Sons, Warren & Steele, P. Lovell, Hide & Goodrich just to name a few.

In addition to the retail agents, William H. Onion, the son of Allen’s sister Clarissa and her husband Leonard Onion established together with Thomas Wheelock in 1850 the importing business Onion & Wheelock at 99 Maiden Lane in New York city. The business of Onion & Wheelock moved around 1860 from Maiden Lane to 366 Broadway and would remain there until 1864, the year that Wheelock died. In the following years, Onion made several partnerships to continue the business: Onion, Bliss & Co. (1864-1866), Onion, Haigh & Cornwall (1867-1874) and Onion & Cornwall (1874-1878)

Advertisement from J.G. Bolen featuring the Grafton shieldless pepperbox
Same, but printed on blue paper. These papers were glued on the lid (inside) of cased pepperboxes. J.G. Bolen was one of the major distributers for Allen in the 1840's and 1850's
Advertisement from A.W. Spies who was one of the major resellers of Allens Pepperboxes and Single shot pistols in the 1850's
Three advertisements of Onion & Wheelock. The last one from a slighly later date since it references Allen & Thurber & Co
A rare add from Allen around 1855 , boasting new capabilities and features of his arms
Ethan Allen must have been very proud of his revolver claiming in this advertisement that the arm is unsurpassed for simplicity, strength, power of penetration and accuracy of shooting.
Advertisement for the Allen sidehammer 22rf revolver from around 1858 showing the first model of the revolver
An advertisement from Onion, Haigh & Cornwall for Allen's breech loading fifles
Advertisement for the breechloading shotgun from the Ethan Allen & Co era around 1870
Add from E.Bowen in the Chicago Tribune of Jan 26th 1864
Advertisement from the early 1860's for Allen's patent drop breech rifle
Catalog entry of Allen's drop breech rifle from the E. Allen & Co era

Letterheads

Letterhead of retail agent Warren and Steele dated 1847
Another letterhead of retail agent Warren and Steele dated 1847
Letterhead of retail agent J.P. Lovell dated 1869
Letterhead E. Allen & Co dated 1866.
Letterhead of retail agent W. Read & Sons dated 1866
Letterhead of Onion, Haigh & Cornwall dated 1873
Letterhead of Forehand & Wadsworth successors of E. Allen & Co dated 1875

Instructions

Instructions for Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Percussion revolver showing the Belt model of the revolver
Instructions for the Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer 22rf revolver from around 1859 showing the first model of the revolver

*Sources:

(1) Ethan Allen and Allen & Wheelock, Their guns and their legacy – Paul Henry (2) Ethan Allen, Gunmaker: His Partners, Patents & Firearms – Harold R. Mouillesseaux

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