Rare Antique Tramway Brass Fittings Catalogue – Gabriel & Co. Birmingham (c. 1905–1912)

This is a scarce, comprehensive original trade publication from the golden age of British municipal transport, produced by Gabriel & Co. at 4 & 5 A.B. Row, Birmingham. This volume was designed as a dense working depot manual packed with mechanical illustrations, dimensions, and product numbers for thousands of brass, gun-metal, and iron components used to construct and maintain Edwardian electric tram networks across the UK and the British Empire.

Format and Publication Details: Large oblong quarto paperback trade catalogue (approx. 12.5 x 10 inches). Features original paperback covers with a striking lithograph of an early double-decker streetcar, backed by a heavy thread-bound spine reinforced with red cloth edge binding. The manual spans 35 numbered pages, densely printed on both sides of heavy stock (approx. 70 pages of schematics). Precise industrial schematics are drawn to Full, Half, and Quarter Size scales with cross-sections and historical wholesale pricing matrices throughout.

Comprehensive Content Breakdown: Pages 1–3 feature full-size plates detailing cast brass door pulls, sliding door plates, winged safety handles (No. 1734), and anti-glare "Dead Dipped" Bell Rod handles. Pages 4–7 detail commode rails and seating architecture, including serpentine grab rails, seat division brackets, decorative spiral rails, and platform End Commode Brackets. Pages 8–9 cover saloon sliding door track systems with malleable iron frames, brass rollers, heavy guide shoes, and specialized bottom rollers fitted with rare, self-lubricating Lignum Vitae wood wheels. Pages 10–17 offer interior cabin luxury fittings, including dioptric lenses, diamond-back sockets, curtain rod hardware, window blind rollers, window lifts with leather pull tabs, and butterfly-wing hinges. Pages 18–19 showcase cab ventilation and smoking saloon ephemera, featuring roof ventilation quadrants cast with "OPEN" and "SHUT" indicators, spring catches, and cast brass match-striking plates.

Pages 20–23 feature plates mapping vehicle warning bells and gongs cast in resonant "Bell Metal" bronze, including cutaways of canopy-mounted Rotary Bells, Horse Bells, and massive 9-inch under-chassis "Patent Foot Bell" gongs operated by the motorman. Pages 24–25 present compartment locks and keys, featuring deep-profile rim locks, striking plates, spring-loaded roller catches, and guards' T-bar keys. Pages 26–33 document the vehicle lighting transition from oil to electricity, detailing "Electric Frog Eye" saloon lamps, rubber-loop ceiling fittings, and massive "Japanned Head Lamps" with 11-inch parabolic reflectors alongside traditional Colza oil / Queen Anne burners. Page 34 outlines six distinct folding lattice security platform gates featuring wrought iron scroll openwork, noting "Prices are subject to fluctuations of the Iron Market." Page 35 finishes with an internal cutaway diagram of the Imperial "S.C." Acetylene Gas Generator (No. 1807), mapping out calcium carbide chemical lighting reactions for early transit networks.

Condition

The covers are generally darkened with some marking, general edge wear with some corner creasing, some wear to cloth at spine ends. Internally some light handling marks, some light staining to lower page edges,

Interior Drawing Cutout (Page 21): A past tramway depot worker or owner has neatly clipped out the small drawing window depicting "Tram Car Lamp No. 1784." Please see photos that show both sides of the page with the cut out piece.

Please study the pictures as all contents are shown so condition can be seen.

EU Customers Please note   since the UK has now left the EU, it is the customers responsibility to be aware of any import taxes and VAT that may be incurred when buying and importing from a Non EU Country,  and they should expect pay any taxes that are now due  this is also the case with certain U.S States, Canada, and Australia, Sorry but these changes are out of my hands

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