I wonder what year tho. I can only find examples that bare resemblance starting at WWl. The company that produced this was bought by "Asprey" in, 1888. The original owner remained in business trading other wares until 1902. So doesn't it stand to reason this predates WWl for 20/30 yrs.
Welcome Sean, Patience is a virtue. a couple of your pics You asked what year... Hang on. Site policy: "Do not post the same thread in multiple forums." How bout you go click report on your other 2 posts, and report: please delete duplicate comments.... that sound ok? As for your latest find. ie "Leuchars & Son 1880-1902? I think it was custom made for an individual. I cant' find any examples." Are you thinking it was made in England sold/distributed in Paris? Leuchars is not the maker then? or? Custom made, customized/personalized... maybe. It looks like what may be commonly referred to as "officer's kit". I could have added WW1 officer's kit but they were made before and after WW1. At the moment I don't have a guess at age of yours (i'll think about it, you maybe think about not so many posts ). My "commonly referred to" you may not want to hear… a WW1 officer's kit is not a rare item (if that's type of items it is). Yours maybe something special, maybe not. I'll follow progress and maybe check back. thanks for sharing it. omc tag @Sean C
Thanks. Yes, the earliest examples I can find is WWl but what I found is the company was completely absorbed by Asprey and out of business by 1902 I'm guessing this was made in the 1880's.
This is what I found out about the company, "Leuchars and Son," Leuchars was established at 47 Piccadilly, London in 1794 by James Leuchars. In 1820, the business moved to 38 Piccadilly shortly before James Leuchars died in 1823. Lucy Leuchars, James’ widow, continued the business under the name of L. Leuchars. In 1837, the same year as Queen Victoria came to the throne, the firm was awarded the Royal Warrant for their supply of dressing cases to the royal family. Expanding to 39 Piccadilly in 1841, the name had now changed to Lucy Leuchars & Son; the ‘Son’ referring to William Leuchars. After Lucy’s death in 1847, William gained sole responsibility for the business. Leuchars exhibited and won prize medals for his dressing cases at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the International Exhibition of 1862, winning a further silver medal at the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris. In 1870, under the name of Leuchars & Son, William Leuchars along with his son, also called William, opened a further shop at 2 Rue de la Paix in Paris. When William Sr died in 1871, William Jr took control of the business, later winning a gold medal for their dressing cases at the International Exposition of 1878 in Paris. In 1884, Leuchars moved their existing manufactory from 31 Gerrard Street, Soho, London to 8 Sherwood Street, Golden Square, London. William Jr finally agreed to sell the business, along with their Sherwood Street manufactory, to Asprey in 1888. Leuchars continued to trade from their 38 & 39 Piccadilly address until 1902.
I focused on the shop stamp and it seems they mentioned London&Paris in 1870-1902 - and the address is a later one that seems to usually appear without any London connection. The british history dosn't seem to tell anything after 1870's about what happened with the shop in Paris. Some details indicates 1880's or later, material and detail work seems to indicate late 1800's to 1920's. My guess is: later than 1902, likely 1914-17, upscale but not top notch, aimed for a senior officer with a taste for Victorian tradition.
In WWI (and later) British officers were required to provide all of their own equipment including uniforms and sidearms. During the war there was a huge industry trying to provide both officers and other ranks with all sorts of gear. Everything you can think of from body armor to food. One very popular item was the stove/tea set like yours. It was normally accompanied by a cylindrical leather case, the burner and cup stowing inside the pot which then fit into the case. They range in quality from inexpensive aluminum to all sterling.
Thanks, snwcmpr, The weird thing with this stove is that the manufacturer went out of business well before WWI. I wonder if the company that absorbed it, "Asprey" manufactured it under "Leuchars & Son." Asprey did have one similar to it around WWI. This is theirs.
Sean, We may have lost pics I "pasted" when the source of pics was removed from site. Can you post the insignia on top again (of course any detailed pics you want to add). What materials are used on the various pcs (magnetic?, for 1)? You have it in-hand, do you think it is "all original"? If not, what piece(s) do you suspect is not "original"? The finish/patina of pot and lid vs burner is different but then again. Burner is protected inside pot... was pot protected all along , or maybe not. No marks at all on burner or supports? You need not associate it w/WW1, as mentioned they were available before and after. Buyers/owners in England for sure, other countries (France) would be of no surprise. thx omc
I polished it a little and it's matching now There aren't any markings except the initials on the lid and the stamp underneath.
And materials are silver and what ever the rapping is around the handles...bamboo? Not magnetic. Could be silver plated brass? Solid silver?
Solid silver … out of my league. Silver plate... I can't relate. To mention "maybe tinned" …I have sinned : ), not metal, not tin: check. Not nickel plated brass? (maybe not, given your comment, I guess not?) But if by chance nickel, it occurs to me that enters into a discussion (that has also not been nailed down date wise iirc.): What is approx. first years of nickel plated stoves? I think it's post 1900 iirc. thx omc
Hi @Sean C the non-slip, heat-proof wrapping on the handles is cane-work. Look at the skill displayed by John @presscall in this thread: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/thompson-and-ritchie-quick-boil-kettle.24894/#post-253826 Best Regards, Kerophile.
Officers campaign or trench stove Boer War or WW1? Electro-plated nickel silver (EPNS) but would likely have been stamped as such if made by one of the large British Manufacturers from Birmingham or Sheffield, at that time. There were French, and probably German makers as well: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/french-miniature-stove-kit.33407/#post-341535 Best Regards, Kerophile.
That's interesting about the Boer War... Although, "Asprey" bought "Leuchars and Son" in 1888, it seems William Leuchars still "traded" out of his Piccadilly location until 1902, the same year the Boer War ended. Perhaps...
