Retail Agents

Hammer and barrel markings

Ethan Allen sold his pepperboxes for a large part through a rich network of retail agents.  Pepperboxes from the Grafton and Norwich era can be found with the names of these retail agents marked on the hammer. The most common found are J.G. Bolen and A.W. Spies.  Others, like Young, Smith & Company, Lane & Read, Tryon, Hyde & Goodrich, J. Eaton, Meade & Adriance, Canfield Bros, S. Sutherland, Wolf & Gillespie or P. Evens are extremely rare.

Below an overview of markings I have found on internet.  The quality of the pictures is in most cases unfortunately not optimal.

If you have a retail agent marked pepperbox, and you would like to share a marking picture for publication on this page, I would be grateful if you could send me a message through the contact form.

J.G. Bolen
104, Broadway
New York

On this address in business from the 1840’s to 1858

Standard hammer markings
Rare small marking
Rare barrel cluster marking

A.W. Spies
192 Pearl Streat
New York

Adam W. Spies was in business from 1783 to 1863.  He became an agent for Allen around 1836/1837. 

Grafton era markings
Most common encountered marking

Canfield & Bro’s
Baltimore

J. Eaton
Boston, Mass.

Hyde & Goodrich
15, Chartres
New Orleans

Lane & Read
6, Market square
Boston

Samuel Sutherland
174, Main street
Richmond, Virginia

Barrel cluster marking
Close Menu