The Franco-Midland Hardware Company (1989-2004)
The Franco-Midland Hardware Company (FHMC) was an organization of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle enthusiasts founded in 1989 by Philip Weller.
It was formed as a regionally-meeting group which catered primarily for Holmesians living in the Midlands of the UK. The name of the group was taken from that of the company formed in the Midlands in The Stock-Broker's Clerk. As interest in the group developed rapidly, the aims of the group changed to focus more upon providing Doylean and Holmesian activities for those who could not easily get to the meetings of societies on a regular basis, and this development took place on a truly international scale.
The society ceased activities around 2004.
Publications
Main publications
The FMHC annual publications package comprised an issue of "The New Baker Street Pillar Box", posted in the Summer, and two issues of "The FMHC Memo", posted in the Spring and Autumn.
Other publications
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes & Freemasonry, by Robert T. Runciman.
- The Winning Shot : One of Arthur Conan Doyle's other Dartmoor stories, annotated.
- Alphabetically, My Dear Watson : Pocket referenced list of all characters.
- The Cannon in the Canon : A firearms case study from DANC. Due Soon
- Canonical Roads : Victorian roads and their Canonical connections.
- Dartmoor Letterboxing : Guide to hidden letter stamps on Dartmoor.
- Dartmoor Locations of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' : Site guide.
- Doublox : Shirt-pocket cross-reference for Doubleday to Oxford.
- Écarté : Guide to the Hound card game.
- Elementary Holmes : The best-selling pocket guide to Holmesian Studies.
- The Game is Afloat : Canonical Thames site guide.
- Guavas the Tinner : Baring-Gould Dartmoor story with many Hound links.
- Sixpence Only : Baring-Gould Dartmoor escape story with Hound link.
- Sherlock Holmes & Scotland Yard : A love-hate relationship examined.
- The Story of the Sepulchre : The grave of a possible Hound source.
- The Tale of a Dartmoor Fog : An escaped prioner story with Hound links.
- Terror in the Snow : Fletcher Robinson text with Hound elements, annotated.
- The Tragedy of Thomas Hearne : Robinson text with Hound elements.
- Under the Deerstalker : Interviews with Douglas Wilmer - BBC TV Holmes.
- Where & When in SIXN : Geography and chronology of that case.
Sub groups
Conan Doyle sub-groups
Sherlock Holmes sub-groups
- The Baskerville Hounds
- The Cardboard Boxers
- The Crew of the SS May Day
- The Diogenes Club of Dallas
- The Friends of Dr. Watson
- The Glades of the New Forest
- The Japanese Cabinet
- The Napoleons of Crime
- The Amateur Medicant Society
