40cm (16in) x 36cm (14in)
With ash hoops painted, fitted with rope tension system, drag rope, and brass cylinder emblazoned with the Egypt Sphinx and battle honours dating from Ramilles to Baghdad. Emblazon label of Henry Potter & Co. The aluminium cylinder stamped with the maker’s name of ‘Henry Potter & Co / Makers / 36 West Street / Charing X Road / London / 8 /’.
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The firm of Henry Potter of West Street, Charing Cross, London was established as an independent concern in 1872. The business was owed its origins to Drum Major Samuel Potter (1772-1836) who enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in 1786 at the age of 14. He founded the Potter dynasty of Army musical instrument makers in 1810 by setting up Henry Potter & Co., in the name of his new born son, Henry Samuel Potter (1810-1876), as military regulations disallowed his direct involvement in a commercial venture. Drum Major Potter compiled and published in 1815 the authorised Bugle, Drum and Fife Calls, including the Last Post which in revised form is still in use today. In 1817 he was recorded as ‘infirm’ and was admitted as a pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He worked in the business at 20 King Street, Westminster, after leaving the Army. Henry Samuel carried on his father’s business at 37 Marsham Street, and later at 2 Bridge Street, before moving to 30 Charing Cross in 1858. Henry Samuel was succeeded in the business by his eldest son, also Henry (1840-1935).
In 1868 Henry’s brother George (1846-1924) established George Potter & Co., at Bank Street, Aldershot. Henry (1840-1935) and his eldest son Henry Alfred Sach Potter (1875-1931) continued the business supplying instruments to British and Imperial forces across the British empire from 36/38 West St., Charing X Road, London WC2. During Potters’ heyday in the 1920s and 30s the firm’s catalogues further offered silver ceremonial drums, drum-major’s maces, regimental plaques, drum tables and other associated items. Two of Henry Alfred Sach Potter’s younger brothers, Frank William and Edward, an estate agent and temporary lieutenant in the Warwickshire Regiment, were killed in action during the First World War, the former with the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Givenchy in 1915. Their first cousin, George James Ravenscroft Potter (1881-1968) also served in the First World War, and afterwards opened the well known shop at the intersection of Aldershot’s Queen’s Road and Grosvenor Road, aka ‘Potter’s Corner’ in 1918. His firm continued the hand emblazoning of band drums in the traditional manner until the introduction of rod tensioned and transfer decorated drums in the 1960s, and as presentation pieces until the 1990s.