| Name | Street | Town | State | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks, A. B. | corner of 2 Exchange Street and Dock Square | Boston | Massachusetts | 1825 | 1833 |
| Fairbanks, A. B. | Court Street | Boston | Massachusetts | 1833 | 1841 |
| Patent | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | for |
|---|---|
| Product |
|---|
|
Aaron Bliss Fairbanks (1804 - 1841) was born in Brimsfield, Massachusetts and died in
August 1841 in Dorchester. Son of Henry and Margaret Bliss Fairbanks.
He apprenticed as a gunsmith between the ages of 16 to 21. Henry and Margaret had six children of which Henry (1813 - 1858) was also a gunsmith. At age 21 Aaron moved to Boston and extablisched as a gunsmith. He figured in an 1826 Boston Street Directory at Williams Lane. However, his shop was at the corner of 2 Exchange Street and Dock Square. Mid 1830 John P. Lovell was one of his apprentices. At that time Aaron was doing business with gunsmiths and agents outside of Boston. In 1833 Aaron married Abigail (Abby) Bliss Janes from Brimsfield. Abby already died in 1839 at age of 25. They had one child named John Hassam Fairbanks. About one year after Abbey's dead and despite of his failing health, he married Nancy Sargent of Dorchester, Massachusetts. John P. Lovell at the age of 19 was charged of daily operations of Aaron's shop in 1839. One year later Aaron gave him a half interest in the shop which became Fairbanks & Lovell for a short time. Than Lovell & Grover and finally J.P. Lovell which was purchased by Iver Johnson's Arms and Cyvle Works in 1891. All-metall single barrel shotgun marked "FAIRBANKS & LOVELL", sold at auction is the only known testimony of the Fairbanks and Lovell partnership. In March 1831 a small newspaper article appeared in several New England newspapers. " Mr. A. B. Fairbanks, a very ingenious gold- smith has invented and patenied a neat and handsome walking cane, with he advertises to-day. It consists of a gun barrel, percus- sion lock, and rammer. It appeart to possess all the requisites of a good gun, but probably would not pass a militia muster." A patent granted to Faibanks could not been located. Maybe it was lost when the patent office burned down in 1836 or he did never patent his cane gun invention. Fairbanks all metal pistols were brass-frames and grips and were available with two different prip designs and barrel lengths. Those with bag grips have 3" barrels and those with pointed grips have 7" barrels. Both barrels are part octagonal and part round. Both models were stamped "FAIRBANKS BOSTON" in wto lines and on another barrel flat "CAST STEEL" in one line. Serial numbers are stamped on the frame and on the underside of the barrel and on the hammer. Highest serial numbers known today is 33 on a 3" barrel and 19 on a 7" barrel pistol. However, the 1841 shop inventory listed 530 pistol barrels. Though the "serial number" was probably a sequential or batch number. The frame and grips of the pistols are brass and cast in two pieces fixed by brass pins. When the hammer is cocked the folding triger snaps into fire position. Both are only served by one V-spring. Aaron's all metal pistols are scarce. Total output is believed at about 100 to 150 guns. .33 caliber percussion, Fairbanks all metal pistol, barrel length 3" or 7", marked "Fairbanks Boston. Cast Steel." picture |
