I was able to purchase this interesting two piece shotgun shell box recently.
It's from Harry B. Fisher & Co. 7125 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia.
What was especially interesting to me was the advertisement for L.C Smith, A.H. Fox and Parker on the top lid in the lower left corner.
I've never seen these before and have not had much luck finding any information.
Two names, Harry B. Fisher and Henry Bischler are on the lid.
Anyone ever come across this box for hand loaded shells before?
Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
-
- Posts: 1174
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:16 pm
- Location: SE PA
- Has thanked: 508 times
- Been thanked: 513 times
Re: Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
I found this information in a thread by Frank (Silvers) Srebro from 2018. I should have checked here first instead of the internet.
It seems he was a known shooter, owner of fox guns and ran a sporting goods store.
"Harry Fisher was a good shooter and long-time Secretary of the Clearview Gun Club in Philadelphia. He seems to have preferred straight grips, extractors and his personal stock drops are as shown. I own another one of his Foxes (12-gauge) with those same features. Maybe this 16 bore was intended for quail - period hunting season listings do show some quail in Pennsylvania, but another possibility was for woodcock or grouse over dogs in the northern PA woods which were coming back in extensive bird cover after having been basically deforested in years prior. There are many period stories and articles attesting to then wonderful bird hunting including how city gents would travel out to those areas.
Climb on the overnight train out of Phila, PRR to a good jumping-off town like Williamsport and thence by the CPL or S&NY railroads, and Harry and his buds are hunting the next day.
frank
It seems he was a known shooter, owner of fox guns and ran a sporting goods store.
"Harry Fisher was a good shooter and long-time Secretary of the Clearview Gun Club in Philadelphia. He seems to have preferred straight grips, extractors and his personal stock drops are as shown. I own another one of his Foxes (12-gauge) with those same features. Maybe this 16 bore was intended for quail - period hunting season listings do show some quail in Pennsylvania, but another possibility was for woodcock or grouse over dogs in the northern PA woods which were coming back in extensive bird cover after having been basically deforested in years prior. There are many period stories and articles attesting to then wonderful bird hunting including how city gents would travel out to those areas.
Climb on the overnight train out of Phila, PRR to a good jumping-off town like Williamsport and thence by the CPL or S&NY railroads, and Harry and his buds are hunting the next day.
frank
Last edited by ROMAC on Fri Sep 08, 2023 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" -- Robert Ruark
-
- Posts: 1174
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:16 pm
- Location: SE PA
- Has thanked: 508 times
- Been thanked: 513 times
Re: Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
Also, November 2018 Card of the month, an "A" consigned to him (or his store).
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" -- Robert Ruark
- fox-admin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3612
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:46 pm
- Has thanked: 405 times
- Been thanked: 899 times
Re: Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
Your box is pictured on page 45 of The Encyclopedia of Shotgun Shell Boxes. Rated as very scarce value $400-$600. You have a very nice example.
-
- Posts: 1174
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:16 pm
- Location: SE PA
- Has thanked: 508 times
- Been thanked: 513 times
Re: Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
Yowzah!
Anybody want to buy it? LOL!
Thanks for the information. I knew it was interesting but had no idea it could be worth that much. I paid the barn find price.
Anybody want to buy it? LOL!
Thanks for the information. I knew it was interesting but had no idea it could be worth that much. I paid the barn find price.
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" -- Robert Ruark
-
- Posts: 1300
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:53 pm
- Location: Western, MI
- Has thanked: 389 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Harry B. Fisher & Co., Philadelphia / Hand loaded Shells
Very cool find and thanks for tying it back to other threads/info on Harry Fisher. I wonder if he had permission from Fox, LC Smith and Parker to advertise those guns on his shell box? Very interesting!
Regards - Foxnut