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V. Francotte, May et Cie.

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Commonly Known as: VFM

Full Company Name: V. Francotte, May et Cie.

Location: Liège, Belgium

Additional Information:

Like many early cartridge companies, V. Francotte May & Cie can trace its beginnings back to a percussion cap factory. This factory was founded in 1843 by Louis Falisse in a small city near Liége, Belgium. In the early 1860’s the company’s name changed to Société Wasseige, Dewalque et Cie and began using the trade name, Capsulerie Liégeoise. The company began making pinfire cartridges by at least 1867 when they were showcased at the International Exposition in Paris. It is unknown what headstamps (if any) the company used at this time. In 1871 the company’s name changed to V. Francotte May & Cie with the managing partners listed as, Victor Francotte and Henry May. The cartridges and box with the VFM wording are from this era. VFM was also one of the providers of cartridges to the Liége proof house. Their boxes for these cartridges listed Capsulerie Liégeoise and V. Francotte May & Cie on them with no specific mention that they were for the proof house. The following 7mm cartridges with the eprueve headstamp are from those boxes.

 

Documentation: 

Listing of their showcase of Lefaucheux cartridges at the Exposition Universelle de 1867 à Paris.

Boxes:

Size
V. Francotte, May et Cie. Pinfire Box 9mm
V. Francotte, May et Cie. Pinfire Box 15mm

 

Cartridges:

Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGEHeadstamp: EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: EPREUVE LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGEHeadstamp: EPREUVE LIEGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE LIEGE
Size Headstamp
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE 5mm VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE 5mm Dummy VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE 5mm Blank VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE 5mm Blank VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE 5mm Blank VFM&C [over] 5 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGE 7mm EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGE 7mm EPREUVE [over] 7 [over] LIÉGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE 7mm Dummy VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE 7mm VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE 7mm VFM&C [over] 7 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE 9mm Dummy VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE 9mm VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE 9mm VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE 9mm Blank VFM&C [over] 9 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGE 12mm Dummy VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGE 12mm VFM&C [over] 12 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE LIEGE 14g EPREUVE LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE 15mm VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE 15mm Dummy VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE 15mm VFM&C [over] 15 [over] LIEGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE LIEGE 32g EPREUVE LIEGE
Headstamp: EPREUVE LIEGE 32g EPREUVE LIEGE