Cantelo or Maxim Inventor of the machine gun?

[Greg]

Dear all,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23709471

Thsi little bit of froth appeared on the BBC website

Greg:

[Guest]

Interesting. This might be him in the 1901 Census Click

I don't have world-wide subscription anymore, but it might be worth a look in the passenger lists to and from America.

Mike

Edit 6:51 am There is a death registered for the above William R Cantelo in 1915 Click

[NigelS]

Interesting. This might be him in the 1901 Census Click

I don't have world-wide subscription anymore, but it might be worth a look in the passenger lists to and from America.

Mike

Edit 6:51 am There is a death registered for the above William R Cantelo in 1915 Click

I think that's the son Mike, they both appear in the 1881 census in Southampton Ancestry Click

NigelS

[Guest]

OK thanks Nigel.

Mike

[T8HANTS]

There was a Cantelo motor-cycle and bicycle maker in Sandown I.W. Unfortunately the buisness caught fire and was destroyed just before the Great War, which is presumably why you dont speak of Norton, Bsa, Triumph, and Cantelo. Wonder if there was a link?

G

[eairicbloodaxe]

What a fascinating story!

It prompts the question... What tales were there of Hiram Maxim prior to 1880? Any evidence - apart from his autobiography?

Regards

Ian

PS. I used to live in Southampton and know Bargate Street well. How would you test a machinegun in a basement without dying? (Unless loaded with blanks, but even so...)

[centurion]

He was apparently the rep for an American company when he came to Europe in 1881 and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour whilst working in Paris in the early 1880s for work in chemistry and electricity so there should be some French record. He was apparently the rep for an American company. His original work at Hatton Garden was on a repeating rifle to be fired from the shoulder but by 1885 this had changed to the machine gun as we know it.

PS Firing into something soft and shock absorbing one assumes Maxim must have had the same problem in Hatton Garden

[Guest]

Cantelo seems to have been a regular in the courts for various reasons. The last mention I can find in a newspaper is October 1892

Hampshire Advertiser - Wednesday 19 October 1892 Thomas Norton V William and John Cantelo Non payment for work done on a boat?

Isle of Wight Observer - Saturday 13 March 1875

William Cantelo, convicted of forging an acceptance for £33 10s 8d, purporting to be accepted by Thomas or Tom James, at Brading, on Jully 22nd, with intent to defraud, was called up for sentence. The Judge said it was a crime that seemed on the increase, and it was important to put a stop to itin the interests of the commercial community. He was about to pass a sentence of a very light character for such an offence, and it was one of twelve month's hard labour.

Isle of Wight Observer - Saturday 14 November 1891

Edward William Cantelo, of Sandown, ironmonger, was summoned for neglecting the registration of his premises as a seller of gunpowder. Supt Duke DCC, said this obligation was imposed upon the retailers of gunpowedr by the Eplosives Act of 1875, and the defendant had not registered since 1889. The yearly payment was a shilling, but, but there was no time specified when it should be paid. The defendant was fined 10s and 11s costs.

Mike

[Guest]

Daily Echo 20/8/2012

Mike

[Guest]

The mystery of Mr Maxim City of Southampton Society

Mike

[centurion]

Cantelo seems to have been a regular in the courts for various reasons. The last mention I can find in a newspaper is October 1892

Hampshire Advertiser - Wednesday 19 October 1892 Thomas Norton V William and John Cantelo Non payment for work done on a boat?

Isle of Wight Observer - Saturday 13 March 1875

William Cantelo, convicted of forging an acceptance for £33 10s 8d, purporting to be accepted by Thomas or Tom James, at Brading, on Jully 22nd, with intent to defraud, was called up for sentence. The Judge said it was a crime that seemed on the increase, and it was important to put a stop to itin the interests of the commercial community. He was about to pass a sentence of a very light character for such an offence, and it was one of twelve month's hard labour.

Isle of Wight Observer - Saturday 14 November 1891

Edward William Cantelo, of Sandown, ironmonger, was summoned for neglecting the registration of his premises as a seller of gunpowder. Supt Duke DCC, said this obligation was imposed upon the retailers of gunpowedr by the Eplosives Act of 1875, and the defendant had not registered since 1889. The yearly payment was a shilling, but, but there was no time specified when it should be paid. The defendant was fined 10s and 11s costs.

Mike

Blows apart the whole story given that by 1891 Maxim's gun was already in production by Vickers

[Guest]

Blows apart the whole story given that by 1891 Maxim's gun was already in production by Vickers

If it's the right William? Not certain it's correct guy, but sounds like it?

Mike

[keithmroberts]

Looking at death records Maxim was apparently born about 1840. That of course is if they are a correct, and b I have the right Maxim.

Keith

[Guest]

Hampshire Advertiser - Wednesday 15 April 1885

" Master and Servant Act. Joe Hebdon, 10. Spa-Gardens, mechanic, summoned William Castelo, Chantry-road, engineer, for 7s 11d, wages due-Mr Cantelo claimed 4s 8d for work spoilt. By the advice of the bench plaintiff compromised the matter, and accepted the amount offered by Mr Cantelo. "

Hampshire Advertiser - Wednesday 19 October 1892

Southampton County Court

" A remitted action-Thomas Norton v. William Cantelo and John Cantelo.-Mr Killby appeared for plaintiff, a smith, who sought to recover of defendants, engineers, of Chantry road, the sum of £32 13s 5d for work done upon a yacht, building at Belvidere.-The action was remitted from the High Court.-Plaintiff said defendants asked him to do work for a yacht buildings at Summers and Payne's. They said it would be a ready-money job, and asked him to put down just what he paid out, saying they would pay a profit on it and share it. Mr Page, in defence, said the time charged was twice or three times as much as it ought to have been. The men delayed and idled, with the result that the actual cost had been doubled or trebled. Plaintiff, in cross examination, said, defendants never objected to the account till after they had the writ. Mr Page cross examined Plaintiff at some length upon his account, and eventually his Honour said he should like to try the case upon its merits with an assessor.-Mr Page said it was a case that ought to go to reference.- His Honour said he would not refer it, and, after a brief delay, an adjournment was ordered for the parties to agree before the Registrar in Cambers upon an assessor.- The adjournment was fixed for the 15th of November. "

Mike

[centurion]

Looking at death records Maxim was apparently born about 1840. That of course is if they are a correct, and b I have the right Maxim.

Keith

1840 - 1916 born in Sangville Maine. 1st mg patent 1883

[Guest]

William Cantelo RootsWeb I think the bottom few on this page might be useful? I don't have worldwide subscription.

Mike

[Steven Broomfield]

PS Firing into something soft and shock absorbing one assumes

To be fair, Southampton still has a reasonable number of those available ... Have you walked along Above Bar recently?