Marcus Hartley Co.

[Sckirk]

Trying to locate the sales records of the Marcus Hartley Co. for the period 1909-1911.

 

[DWalt]

Do you mean Marcellus Hartley? I don't believe the M. Hartley Company was still in existence in the 1909-11 period. Hartley died in 1902, and in 1905, it became the H. K. White Military Goods Co., located at 3 Water Street, New York City. It would be very likely that any records have long since vanished into the mists of time.

 

[Sckirk]

Thanks for your reply. I have a letter from Mr Jinks at S&W saying that my gun was sold to the Marcus Hartley Co in NYC on April 1, 1909. I have records since 1911 linking this gun to Annie Oakley and am trying to determine who was the first retail buyer of this gun.

 

[DWalt]

You might look at some of the Hartley-related records here. You might get lucky: MS 034 - Schuyler, Hartley & Graham Papers, 1868-1963 | McCracken Research Library

 

[mrcvs]

Can you post photographs of the records (e.g., provenance), and photographs of the gun, as well? You, indeed, may have a firearm linked to Annie Oakley, or it may be circumstantial evidence or not true at all. If you post it for all to see, we can maybe help you, and give you accolades for your rare find, or give suggestions and advice before you run around trying to find additional records and provenance for something that isn't quite as good as it seems to be.

 

[DWalt]

Also be aware that even if you do find a record concerning the sale of that specific revolver, it may well not indicate Annie Oakley (or anyone else) as being the purchaser. There may be some Annie Oakley historians who could help verify whether or not it was one of her guns, but that's another search. Without indisputable proof that it was an Oakley gun, it's not an Oakley gun. In any event, if you post all information you have here (including the Jinks letter), someone may have a more informed opinion about that revolver and what your next steps should be.

 

[Sckirk]

I will upload 3 attachments including the letter from Mr Jinks.

 

[Sckirk]

Attachment 2

 

[Sckirk]

Attachment 3

 

[DWalt]

You should probably contact the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, Wyoming. That would be my first action. Annie Oakley bibliography - Buffalo Bill Center of the West
The C. R. Boone letter is interesting but doesn't provide much hard provenance. You might also try to track down any information about him that could substantiate his connection with the wild west show. It would be well worthwhile to do the search for a connection, as some Annie Oakley guns and memorabilia directly connected to her have brought huge prices.

 

[Sckirk]

Thanks. Good advice. I am from Wyoming (long ago) but plan to be in the Cody area this summer. I'll correspond with the McCracken Library at the Buffalo Bill and arrange a visit.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! Sounds like you have 1 heck of a QUEST ahead of you! Good luck with your search! We would still like to see pictures of the "OLD GIRL" Bob

 

[Sckirk]

Picture 1 of 2

 

[Sckirk]

Picture 2 of 2

 

[DWalt]

The grips on it are not original, they are from the 1920s. That may not make a great difference if the gun itself can be substantiated as being one owned or used by Annie Oakley.

 

[JSR III]

In 1876 Jacob Schuyler retired and by 1880 the firm was known as Hartley and Graham. Malcolm Graham died in December 1899 and shortly thereafter the business was incorporated as the M. Hartley Company. After the 1902 death of Marcellus Hartley, the firm continued to operate for several more years under the management of William Bruff, but most of the firm's business was picked up by Hartley's brother-in-law and long time business associate, Henry Kirke White.

 

[Sckirk]

Thanks. Very helpful.

 

[model3sw]

My son just received a Roy Jinks "Special" letter from the 2017 Symposium, for a .38 Safety hammerless Second Model ( that is ANIB ) shipped to "Marcus Hartley Company", NYC May 20, 1902.