ThePortForum.com

DRT wrote:The first two letters could be "Fr".

Yes. It could be a lower case 'f' also - it could almost be 'friends' but the last letter is most definitely an 'm'. Or at least it's not a 'ds'.

I read it as "friend"

Looks like "frieum" to me, which makes no sense. I suspect that "friend" was intended.

It could be his last name, "Fieum" or "Feium"

I see "Messrs Stanley and frien?".
1. Compare the n to previous ones, it is identical.
2. All other capitals are fully above the line, so I believe the f is most likely to be lower-case.
3. The end doesn't make much sense, with an odd up-stroke.
On the evidence, I would go with "friend"

“Mess^rs Stanley & friend” does not make sense in the context. Not, I hasten to add, that I have better.

Another, from the same catalogue—the usual participle acting on a colour is “sealed”. Not here.

Cemented.

jdaw1 wrote:“Mess^rs Stanley & friend” does not make sense in the context. Not, I hasten to add, that I have better.

Why ever not? I appreciate that I do not have the context here but it seems that Stanley might well have had an anonymous friend with him.

DRT wrote:Cemented.

This was my immediate thought but I bet it is dismissed.

DRT wrote:Cemented.

LGTrotter wrote:This was my immediate thought but I bet it is dismissed.

I thought the same, but it was unusual in that context. Presumably those bottles were difficult to open.

Or sealed with some sort of plaster rather than wax?

...and I still think it is friend. Perhaps someone who didn't want his presence to be known? Perhaps a lover? Perhaps someone who just said "please put me down as his friend".

Friend makes sense. It's just that the last letter really is an 'm'.

djewesbury wrote:Friend makes sense. It's just that the last letter really is an 'm'.

Exactly, hence why I thinks it's his last name.


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Bowen McKechnie?

jdaw1 wrote:
Bowen McKechnie?

Looking at the 'n' in 'vintage' in the line above I would agree. It is definitely not McKechmie but if they are 'special' with their lower k, it could possibly be McKenckie...but I think that unlikely.

jdaw1 wrote:
Bowen McKechnie?

I would say yes McKechnie - especially as that is a surname that is not uncommon, whereas other potential interpretations produce surnames I've never heard of. Bowen? Looks right, more common as a surname than a first name. Perhaps Bowen McKechnie is a partnership business of some sorts, rather than an individual.

flash_uk wrote:Perhaps Bowen McKechnie is a partnership business of some sorts, rather than an individual.

Considering that the line below it appears to say "Corney & Barrow" I'd say that's likely.

Settled: Bowen and McKechnie were whisky distillers. The firm still exists, at the same address as Allied Domecq. Thank you all.

jdaw1 wrote:The firm still exists

Not quite. The link says the company is dissolved. Also, it was incorporated in 1954, well after the port samples your handwriting refers to, were dispatched.

There was a wine merchant Basil Woodd, but this isn’t it. Whence came this Offley 1868?

Morse & Woods wine & spirit merchants.

Justin K wrote:Morse & Woods wine & spirit merchants.

Agreed. But I can't figure out what the rest of the text says c

Agree on Morse Woods. See here.

....
part ??? part ???
as may be arranged

??? took and paid for
10 doz or 120 bottles

I am missing one word:

Nov 10/80. •¿?•, fine wine, but wants keeping, rich & sweet, very firm crust & good colour. R.J.

April 28/83. Very sweet. R.J.

Aug 6/84. Very fine wine, rich & good crust, rather too sweet, but flavor is behind. R.J.

Looks like "Tried" to me...

Glenn E. wrote:Looks like "Tried" to me...

I see 'tried' as well.