Don wrote:

> As far as I've been able to establish, the working dates for William
> Ash & Co. were from about 1822 to about 1845, on Norfolk Lane. And,
> that may be the most likely time frame for your gouge.

Just to add a data point, on the cover of the 1865 Buck Brothers catalog 
it states that they were "Formerly in the employ of Messrs. Spear and 
Jacksons, Wm. Ash and Co., and other First-Class Manufacturers, of 
Sheffield, England." 

http://www.geocities.com/sawnutz/buck/1865catalog.jpg

The brothers Buck were born between 1826 and 1831 and came to the US 
between 1849 and 1853, so this timeframe works with Don's dates.
http://www.geocities.com/sawnutz/buck/index.htm

Brian Welch
Worcester, MA
who FINALLY has high speed internet at home and just might update his 
website on his new free web space

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