A c. 1700 brass veterinary fleam marked: HOW. This was made by John Gray. The firm started by Ephraim How of Essex during the late 17th century was a well establish group of cuttlers. His son John How inherited the firm and later turned the firm over to Savigny in 1720. The brass case is marked John Gray. John Gray was given the right to use the How name in 1703. Pieces found with the markings HOW IN LONDON are thought to be made by John Holland of Sheffield around 1765. Seems these were the only items he marked this way.
Brass fleam marked Coach no.2 1801 and Proctor on the case and an unusual stamp on the blade. This was probably used for horses on a coach or fire-team.The Proctors were Sheffield cutlers. Charles and Luke Proctor who entered their first silver mark in 1773, they are said originally to have been makers of lancets but also made scales, weights, hunters' knives and forks, and medals. It is thought that silver production was very subsidiary to other business activities. Later Luke or his nephew, Charles's son, was a partner in Thomas Pasmore & Co. and Luke Proctor & Co. from 1784 to 1795. A new silver mark was entered in June 1792 for Proctor & Beilby. A third mark was entered in April 1795 by Charles Proctor & Thomas Beilby as a result of the departure of Luke Proctor from the firm. William Proctor who entered in March 1817 may have been Charles's son.
Three blade brass fleam inscribed Geo Oliver Shields 1828. The blade basket is an unusual brown horn insert. The mark BAM with an iron cross is that of Jonathan Sutton a late 18th century cutler at Meadow Street in Sheffield England.
A 4 bladed brass fleam. This piece has the typical scale style of a piece made c.1700-1750. The scale is marked IOHN CAM, the blades are marked IHS with a cross. This marking has heavy religious overtones as the IHS and cross mark is one emblem used by the Jesuit order, formed from the Latin spelling for Jesus, IHESUS. Research continues into John Cam.
