Hi All,
This is a puzzle, I have never come across a Tomlinson before on a P1796 (or any other sword for that matter) but of course that doesn't really mean anything at all. However, I certainly do not consider Bezdek as an authorative source on anything (and for various reasons I regret my collaboration with him) so, upon checking the Birmingham trade directories between 1797 and 1821, I can say that there is no Tomlinson listed as a sword maker. As Ian says, there is a Samson Tomlinson listed and also a Tomlinson & Bickley but both of these are listed as "Factors", not "Sword Makers" (I'm not 100% sure what the trade of "factor" is). However, I guess the sword stands as it own evidence but this Tomlinson has certainly borrowed Gill's slogan "Warranted Never to Fail" and I am wondering if maybe he has also "borrowed" blades actually made by other people and proclaiming as his own. Anyway, below is the list of sword makers in Birmingham from Chapman's Directory of 1800 and later from the 1816-17 Commercial Directory. Interesting to note how the list has contracted in later years.
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