Hi @Sean C . That was the second Boer War...we had a first Boer War earlier (1880-1881] Britain was always at War, so there was always a demand for equipment and kit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_Kingdom Best Regards, Kerophile.
I suspect the stampings are probably not from the actual manufacturer, but open to correction. If the company were supplying mainly cases leather work etc they woukd have outsourced the contents from the best suppliers and asked that their name be stamped. As a supplier of a large range of other items of obviously high quality then the added extras would have to reflect the company. Premium prices for the named brand even then.
Interesting...Leuchars was known for making high end Dressing Cases that even the Queen Mother used. I find all kinds of example of their other work...just not stoves.
What I see is two different stamps - first the shop in Paris trading the set - and second that it is "made in England". No manufacturer stamp, no control stamp. Search and you shalt find The shop is "Leuchars&son, Geffroy succ'r, Paris", meaning Geffroy, successor of Leuchars and son, earlier found with Piccadilly&Paris and London&Paris. Still in business in 1912 http://coupechouclub.cultureforum.net/t19217-w-leuchars-38-piccadilly Excerpt from the text: "Maître orfèvre : James LEUCHARDS s'est établi au 47 Piccadilly à Londres en 1794. Riche des succès aux expositions Universelles parisiennes de 1867 (médaille d'argent) et 1878 (médaile d'or) à Paris, son fils installa une boutique au 2 Rue de la Paix à Paris." Trouvé sur Gallica un extrait d'article de 1912: "Quand vous passerez rue de la Paix, en son- geant aux cadeaux à faire, entrez chez Leuchars et Son (Geffroy, successeur), au numéro 2 et, sans vous laisser séduire par les mille ravis- sants objets qui solliciteront tout de suite votre attention, allez au fond du magasin. Il y a là un véritable petit musée du parisianisme le plus distingué, le plus attrayant, une féerie d'adorables articles de bureau ou de salon, de sacs, de bronzes, de boîtes à ouvrage, de flam- beaux, etc., un scintillement d'or, de pierre- ries, d'émaux, vraiment imprévus, déconcer- tants et irrésistiblement jolis". And translated: "Master silversmith: James LEUCHARDS settled at 47 Piccadilly in London in 1794. Rich with success at the Paris Universal Shows of 1867 (silver medal) and 1878 (gold medal) in Paris, his son set up a shop in Paris. 2 Rue de la Paix in Paris. " Found on Gallica an article excerpt from 1912: "When you pass Rue de la Paix, in gifts to do, enter Leuchars and Son (Geffroy, successor), at number 2 and, without being seduced by the thousand objects which will immediately solicit your be careful, go to the bottom of the store. There's the a real small museum of Parisianism on more distinguished, the most attractive, a fairy lovely office or living room items, bags, bronzes, work boxes, flam- beautiful, etc., a flicker of gold, of stone- enamels, really unexpected, disconcert- irresistibly pretty ". Google can be your friend
LennartF, Thanks...that was the obvious missing piece of the puzzle...I couldn't figure out what the "Succ-æ" in "Geffroy Succ-æ" meant or even who Geffroy was--Successor...that makes sense so it was after they got out of Paris. So between So, it can be anywhere from 1888 to 1902 or 1912? That stove isn't as old as I would have liked. I much preferred dating it back to the First Boer War It's before the WWII and I guess could possibly be the Second Boer War. What do you guys think its worth?
As a srove, they are fairly common as field officers kit. As supplied by this particular company you wouod probably have to ask elsewhere for other collectors I guess. They may be more interested in the overall company and it's items than the stove per se.
Look at this thing...by Geffroy/Leuchars... https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/2...eshell-boulle-desk-set-by-leuchars-son-c1890/
OMC , This is what Martha Stewart says about Silver Plating... "Silver plate -- a coating of pure silver on a base metal such as copper or nickel silver, which is actually an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc -- was a later development. Various forms date to the 18th century. Electroplating processes were invented in England in the 1830s and 1840s."
There are some clocks marked with similar name on the market and said to be made in the 20's - and at least one photo I found looks more like a 30's-40's clock, I should bet it is made after 1902. I don't know the practice in Paris but in Sweden the most common sort of jewelry and silverware shop in the 1900's was "Ur och Guld"="Clock and Gold" marketing a wide range from nickel plated brass to gold and platinum usually from good quality commonly affordable to high end but still sellable, in clocks, "silverware" or jewelry.
I saw the clocks...one I saw was an estimate between 1900to 1920 and a group of others estimated at 1910. Why am I having a hard time dating this stove? I have guesses but nothing substantial.
Welcome to our world. Unless either the manufacturer added a date code to the item, or you can locate a dated advertisement or catalog with a picture matching your item (and even this has some uncertainty), then any assignment of date is essentially an educated guess. ....Arch
Quite often a stove was put together from parts in the bins. Maybe the parts were made yesterday, or maybe the parts were made MANY years ago. Who knows. And there is no knowing how many people altered the stove along the way. Hence the desire of some collectors to only use original parts to fix a stove. On Primus date code stamps there is a letter below the date code. No one knows what that letter means.
@Sean C. Some excellent research you've done, and confirms your findings that they made some quute high end products. It may be worthwhile contacting the auctioneers as my feeling is this may be the best way to see if there is any interest in items made by Leuchars. Unsure if eBay completed items would be of much help. There are infrequent specialist auctions where buyers of say, war memorabilia are most likely to be, only the auctioneers can advise you on that. With the info you have you can say 'no earlier than' or 'no later than' Many stoves here fit in that bracket, Optimus 96's being a prime example.
