Research Press - Print Page

Research Press
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl
Target Shooting & Musketry Instruction >> Medals, Prizes and Trophies >> Royal Doulton - BSA Shooting Cup
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl?num=1111853888

Message started by exmpa on 03/26/05 at 4:18pm

Title: Royal Doulton - BSA Shooting Cup
Post by exmpa on 03/26/05 at 4:18pm

I have recently acquired the Royal Doulton tankard shown below:

http://c:\desktop\Doulton Tankard\Doulton Tankard.jpg

The base marking indicates that it was maufactured between 1902-1930. Can anyone provide information about the competition or event for which it might have been awarded?

Thanks
exmpa

Title: Re: Royal Doulton - BSA Shooting Cup
Post by Admin on 03/28/05 at 3:55pm

Below are the pictures to accompany the above posting.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/pics/doulton_tankard1.jpg
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/pics/doulton_tankard2.jpg

Title: Re: Royal Doulton - BSA Shooting Cup
Post by nsramuseum on 04/09/05 at 10:47pm

BSA (along with a number of other gun and ammunition manufacturers) often sponsored one of the competitions held at national and local open meetings, particularly around the early 1920s. There seems to be something of a pattern so far as BSA are concerned, with them normally (but not solely) providing a rifle and possibly also prize money at meetings organised by the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs, and Doultonware at other meetings, such as those run by counties.

Take as an example the meetings run in 1922 and reported in the SMRC Handbook for 1923. That year there were four SMRC meetings. The BSA-sponsored competitions at these meetings, and the prizes provided, were:
London, BSA No. 12 rifle for the Grand Aggregate.
Perth, BSA No. 12 rifle for one of the competitions in the Grand Aggregate.
Bisley, BSA No. 12 rifle and 25 cash prizes for one of the competitions in the Grand Aggregate.
Cleethorpes, BSA No. 12 rifle and 21 cash prizes for one of the competitions in the Grand Aggregate.

The Handbook also includes the results of five meetings organised by counties, as follows:
Essex, nothing from BSA.
City and County of London, Competition 1 (Through the Ranges), Second - BSA silver mounted Doulton jug, Third - BSA silver mounted beaker.
Surrey, Competition 1, BSA No. 12 rifle, fitted with sights.
North Riding of Yorkshire, nothing from BSA.
Middlesex, Scratch Teams of 4, 1st place, 4 silver mounted Doulton beakers.

Similar prizes can be found in other SMRC Handbooks around the time, and further cases, I think, are reported in The Rifleman. Sadly as the Doultonware items are not dated except by reference to a hallmark on those which are silver mounted, it is now almost impossible to tie a BSA Doulton piece to a particular person or meeting.

Title: Re: Royal Doulton - BSA Shooting Cup
Post by exmpa on 04/12/05 at 6:05pm

Thanks for the information regarding BSA sponsored prizes. I believe that the tankard I have would once have possessed a silver rim. I have also heard that there is a rarer version of these tankards with a green glaze and a "Kynoch" motif. Maybe we could persuade Eley to re-institute the tradition.

exmpa