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They remodeled and revamped the struggling mill, renaming it the Reeves Iron Company, and beginning production in 1883. By 1896, the
Reeves firm was the largest industrial employer in the region, employing 850 workers. In 1898, Jeremiah allowed his son Samuel to take over
running of the business, and in 1899, Samuel decided to sell the company to American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, a subsidiary of U.S.
Steel. In early 1900 or early 1901, Samuel, in partnership with A.J. Krantz, established the Reeves Manufacturing Company, which produced
galvanized sheet steel and other building materials. However, on 15 March 1901, Samuel lost his battle with typhoid fever and died at the age
of 30. Upon his sons death, Jeremiah assumed control of the Reeves Manufacturing Company and guided it successfully for over a decade
before handing it off to his son-in-law Herbert Greer in 1912. This revolver was shipped in 1899, and appears to have been delivered to the
Deardorff’s, a prominent family who appear to have founded the town of Dover and were involved in many businesses there. It is quite likely
that this revolver was ordered by the Deardorffs as a gift for Samuel Reeves either to celebrate his ascendancy to the head of the Reeves
Iron Company, or celebrating its successful sale. A gilded set such as this would have made a fantastic gift for a successful industrialist of the
Gilded Age!
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the beautiful gold finish, the revolver having been regilded during the period of use (possibly by
the factory), with a few scattered small specks of light flaking overall, and the inscription remaining very crisp. The grips are also excellent
with fantastic flame figure and a very small chip at the top of the right panel. Mechanically excellent. The extra barrel is excellent with 98%
plus of the original gold plating and some scattered light handling marks. The extra grips are very fine. The case is very fine with some minor
handling/storage marks on the outside and some light wear/staining on the interior. A fantastic, factory inscribed and gold plated Smith &
Wesson combination set that is a tangible piece of American Gilded Age style!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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