Check page 43 of Ray Smith's biography of Pope's Barrels. It states clearly that after the shop was destroyed Pope salvaged almost nothing except a muzzle clamp, and a couple small hand tools.
It also states he left San Francisco afterwards and went to work in Los Angeles for John Sidle for about one year, at which time Sidle retired, and he was out of work again. Smith doesn't say where the money came from then to return to New Jersey, but infers Pope supplied the funds, which we know isn't correct.
I've read that Pope contacted Schoyen, and wanted to stop there in Denver and form a partnership. But Schoyen and AW Peterson were already partners, and Schoyen and Peterson didn't accept his offer of joining them, so he headed home to Jersey City. 

PS-It was Ray Smith who stated Pope worked for Sidle in L.A., not me. Sidle's shop was always in Philadelphia as far as I know?

From the San Francisco Chronicle May 14 1906 ... not even a month after The Great Earthquake

Thanks, Joe Do, for reassuring me that my memory hasn't yet failed completely.

Also, the Los Angeles Times note does strongly suggest that Pope did find someplace to work in L.A., so maybe Ray Smith was right that Sidle had relocated from Philadelphia, at least for a while.  Which brings up this question: Does anyone possess or know of a Sidle telescope with Los Angeles markings?

Bill Lawrence

On page 44 of Smith's book he shows a copy of an ad that lists Pope's address as 530 S. Spring St. Los Angeles Ca. It's dated June 29, 1906.
It lists all his normal offerings, and also states, "Barrels for Krag Rifles a Specialty". So wonder how he went from SF to LA, and got equipment and a building to restart the business in such a short time, with no steady income? One can't help but think it's quite possible he was loaned or given monies by friends and admirers to help him restart?

" So wonder how he went from SF to LA, and got equipment and a building to restart the business in such a short time, with no steady income? " 

He was earning an income he was employed by John Sidel and one would think he had his own money to get to get LA to go to work for John. He couldn't have moved to SF and to setup shop if he was dead broke all of the time. Nor to pay for the shop space, the rent where he lived and everything else that is related to opening and running a business. One would think he was just like everyone else and had the money in a bank account / saved up to keep him going until his business took off. Most new business start out taking a lose until such time their is enough money coming in to put it into the black and this could take quit a bit of time and possibly even a few months. I just don't believe he was broke would you move across the country and start a new business if you didn't have enough money set aside to back it all up?

oneatatime wrote on Jul 28^th, 2020 at 12:21pm:


And that is exactly what it means. An existing shop and machinery with a new star in town. This is not uncommon at all there were lots of big hardware and general goods type operations that hired and gunsmiths on a regular basis. They offered the service and hired the mechanics as employees, or on a percentage basis. Pachmayr did it at one time, as did the King Gun Sight Co. in San Francisco. I think Parker Ackley worked in shops of this type several times putting together a stake. 

BTW Western Hardware was at the time probably the largest hardware and small arms supplier in So Cal. My grandfather was in the business of supplying farms, ranches and general public including the Navajo nation in the SW with whatever they couldn’t get out in nowheresville. He did lots of business with this company including bringing them gun repair business from CO, AZ to the desert region or So Cal. Most of this was shipped on the Southern Pacific RR then trucked or wagoned to the nearest settlement.  I wonder if he knew Pope ? 

Rick

JLouis wrote on Jul 28^th, 2020 at 12:12pm:


John, Ray Smith's mention of Sidle and Los Angeles is cloudy, and I believe incorrect. I believe that the move to Los Angeles was to set up shop at Western Hardware, and that is likely where he stayed until he later moved back East and went to work for Sidle in Philadelphia.
Since Sidle was not in L.A. and he retired not long after Pope returned to the East to work for him. Considering Sidle's age, and long existence in business in Philadelphia, I see no reason he'd ever go set up shop in L.A. so close to retiring?
I think the chain of moves was to San Francisco-his shop, then Los Angeles-Western Hardware, and then back East in  Philadelphia-John Sidle's shop. It's been rumored he may have worked his way back East by stopping in Denver, or other large cities to work, but I've not seen any hard evidence of this yet?