Collecting Spencer Memorabilia

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Do any of you collect Spencer memorabilia   What do you collect   And how do you display it   It would be great if those of you who do collect Spencer memorabilia would indicate what you have and how you display it.

When I bought my first Spencer, I searched the Internet, and old books for photographs of the Spencer.  It was slow going at first, but eventually, I managed to collect a number of Spencer Carbine and Spencer Rifle photographs that were taken during the Civil War and Indian War periods. Many of these photos have been posted on SSS.  Of course they are copies, but with my computer photo program, I made adjustments in the copies so that they would appear more like antique photographs.  I keep my photo collection in one of those magnetic page albums.  For example:


and

and


I've also been collecting original Spencer cartridges to be displayed in a wooden mounting frame that I am making.  I frequent Ebay always on the lookout for old magazines and literature dealing with the Spencer or anyone connected with the Spencer.  I probably have one copy of every magazine article ever written on the Spencer, or close to it.  Just recently, I came across a report on the Spencer written by a student who attended Wichita State University in the 1950s.  Sometimes, "Spencer" appears in the footnotes or bibliography of articles already in print and this gives me "leads" to other sources of information about the Spencer.

Finally, I visit antique stores whenever I can, you just never know what you'll find there.  I'm still searching for a reasonably priced original Blakeslee or an original Civil War Spencer Insignia attributed to General Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi.  I'd like to find a photo of Lt. Francis O. Lombard, reputed to have been the first Union soldier to fire a Spencer (most probably a rifle) during the Civil War.  My list of "hope to finds" keeps on growing

I'll repeat what I wrote in my opening paragraph: It would be great if those of you who do collect Spencer memorabilia would indicate what you have and how you display it.

Two Flints

[St. George]

Original packets of cartridges, the Blakeslee box, various pouches, a Carbine Sling - and the gun tool associated with the Spencer can all add to a display.

So can battlefield pick-ups of fired Spencer rounds.

However - Wilson's Cavalry Corps used a Sharps Carbine as a part of their Corps Badge - 'not' a Spencer...

They're generally an Officer's late war private purchase, and jeweler-made of gold - so an original will take some unearthing.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Fox Creek Kid]

I've never seen that 2nd photo before. Notice anything strange about the "rifle"?  It looks as if someone added a carbine sling farther back than normal. Definitely non-issue IMO.

[Two Flints]

Thanks St. George,

Your comment, "However - Wilson's Cavalry Corps used a Sharps Carbine as a part of their Corps Badge - 'not' a Spencer..."  has been mentioned before, but the Wilson Insignia was referred to in this manner on page 152 by William B. Edwards in his book entitled, Civil War Guns: 



and he shows the Wilson Insignia on page 150:



In any case, I'm still looking for an original of Wilson's Insignia of the Spencer

Two Flints

[St. George]

Wilson's Cavalry Corps - Military Division of the Mississippi - July 1865 

"Few if any original examples exist

Documentation of consideration of the design exists."

Dr. Howard Lanham - 'Union Army Index and Uniforms of the Civil War'.

Look closely at the proposed badge drawing - the long receiver's stock attachment is that of the Sharp's.

Now, looking for a real one is how things do get discovered - and I wish you Luck, since you never know 'what' may come out of the woodwork for a diligent searcher.

Should something appear - be absolutely certain of its provenance, as Civil War Corps badges are faked and some are faked 'very' well - though Wilson's isn't, probably due to the known rarity factor and the certain questioning that might follow.

If it 'is' a real one - it's worth more than a couple of excellent-condition original Spencers.

Look for a 'Veteran's Ladder' - the nickel-silver assortment of hanging bars that feature a soldier's former unit, and made up on the spot at a GAR Convention - there are some sleepers and these things pop up 'far' more often than actual Corps Badges.

Again - Good Luck!

I found 'my' GG Grandfather's Veteran's Ladder for the 2d Iowa Volunteer Cavalry (w/Sheridan's Cavalry Corps badge beneath)  at a gun show 50 miles from home, so as I've said before - "Treasures Abound"...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Two Flints]

St George,  thanks again for your comments,

Earlier in this thread I mentioned that I would like to find an original Civil War photo of Lt. Francis O. Lombard, reputed to have been the first Union soldier to fire a Spencer (most probably a rifle) during the Civil War.  I plan on traveling to the Springfield, MA area, Lombard was from Springfield, and visit as many antique shops as I can; also, any libraries in the area, where Civil War collections may exist.  My search will continue maybe this Winter, after I head back to MA from Maine after Thanksgiving.  Last year I sent a form letter to every Lombard living in the Springfield area to see if Francis O. was a relative, but the responses were all negative.

It took me over a year to find Lombard's grave site, and finally finding it was not the result of scholarly research on my part , but the result of "indirect luck" while searching for something else.



My Spencer-Lombard search will continue

Two Flints

[Harve Curry]

Thanks All. This has been a enjoyable topic. Have a great Thanksgiving.
, Bill

[Major 2]

 

[Two Flints]

Major 2,

That's not fair    Just a photo and no text    C'mon, give us the particulars, please

Two Flints

[St. George]

As an aside regarding the grave marker...

I had no idea where my GG Grandfather was actually buried - but thought that he may've been buried within the 'GAR Circle' at Wyuka Cemetary (oldest in Nebraska), so I went looking one Fall afternoon.

It's a circle, all right - and a good-sized one, at that, as there are a large number of soldiers interred there.

Alas - not one of mine, after a good looking over.

I went back to my vehicle, opened the door - and there was his stone - I'd parked 'right' in front of it - on the outside edge of the Circle.

The 2d Iowa Volunteer Cavalry carried .36 Remingtons and Model 1859 Sharps Carbines when he'd served - those older weapons going to the troopers who'd fought in the Western Theater.

[Major 2]

Major 2,

That's not fair    Just a photo and no text    C'mon, give us the particulars, please

Two Flints

It's an glass advertisement mirror approx 24 x 30" the silvered area backs the wood cut image of Sherman's cavalry ( I have the same wood cut print in the book "Sherman's March")
The Maroon reflects & and allows the gold leaf foil to stand out boldly, All applied from the back .
The Frame is Solid Oak.

[Arizona Trooper]

One interesting, and cheap bit of Spencer memorabilia is Billings & Spencer tools. Spencer was associated with several business ventures after the war, including the Billings & Spencer company. They started off making boilers, but soon branched out into general forging work (including subcontracts to Marlin and Winchester). They also made a line of hand tools right up until the company closed in the 1970s. I've bought several B&S hand tools on e-bay for not a lot of money. They are high quality and quite useful, as well as being Spencer memorabilia.