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Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981 PDF

513 Pages·2004·42.407 MB·English
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W I NCH EST ER W I N C REPEATING ARMS COMPANY H E I H & D 1865 1981 TS ISTORY EVELOPMENT FROM TO S T E R R E P E A T I A N lthough the name Winchester is known complete picture of the fi rm’s complex development worldwide and is still used generically for is presented. G its rifl es and shotguns, a comprehensive Many commonly held beliefs about Winchester’s history of the company has never been published. growth and operations, such as the orderly A Herbert G. Houze, the former curator of corporate succession from the New Haven R the Winchester Arms Museum, has Arms Company to the Winchester M written a complete account of the Repeating Arms Company or Winchester Repeating Arms the reasons for its fi nancial S Company’s development from collapse in 1930, are dispelled. C the founding of its predecessor, In addition, seven new models O the New Haven Arms Company of Winchester fi rearms are in 1856, to the sale of the fi rm identifi ed and fully described. M by Olin Corporation in 1981. Houze also sheds new light on the P Using corporate records and other development of more familiar models sources that have come to light during and the men who designed them. A the last decade, Houze reconstructs many aspects The entire spectrum of the Winchester Repeating N of the Winchester Company’s history unknown to Arms Company’s history, its successes, as well as its Y previous researchers. As a result, a new and far more failures, is presented here for the fi rst time. W HOUZE ISBN: 0-87349-786-4 $34.99 U.S. ($52.99 CAN) 53499 C P U HERBERT G. HOUZE 0 4608100786 6 9 780873497862 WWRR0011SSFFuullllCCVVRR..iinndddd 11 77//1122//0044 44::0044::5588 PPMM WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981 HERBERT G. HOUZE WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 11 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2244 PPMM © 1994 and 2004 by Herbert G. Houze Published by An imprint of F+W Publications, Inc. Our toll-free number to place an order or obtain a free catalog is (800) 258-0929. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet. The tradename and trademark “WINCHESTER” is owned by Olin Corporation and is used with Olin Corporationʼs express permission. Neither the author, nor the publisher, are sponsored by or associated with Olin Corporation. Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2004094035 ISBN: 0-87349-786-4 Designed by Kara Grundman Edited by Don Gulbrandsen Printed in the United States of America WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 22 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2266 PPMM DEDICATION To my family, Alec, Andrew, Jennifer and Lynn, for their unending patience and support during the time this book was being written. AND To Winchester enthusiasts everywhere. WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 33 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2277 PPMM CONTENTS Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................5 Preface .............................................................................................................................................6 Introduction THE ORIGINS OF THE WINCHESTER ARMS COMPANY .............................................................8 Chapter 1 OPERATIONS FROM 1865-1866 AND 1866-1871 .........................................................................29 Chapter 2 THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY’S SEARCH FOR NEW MARKETS: 1872-1883 ..................................................................................................82 Chapter 3 THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY COMES OF AGE: 1883-1900 ............................................................................................................................124 Chapter 4 THE NEW CENTURY: 1901-1913 .................................................................................................156 Chapter 5 WORLD WAR I: 1914-1919 ............................................................................................................179 Chapter 6 REORGANIZATION, COLLAPSE AND RESURRECTION 1919-1939 .........................................208 Chapter 7 WORLD WAR II: 1939-1945 ..........................................................................................................228 Chapter 8 RESURGENCE AND CHANGE: 1946-1960 ..................................................................................286 Chapter 9 THE FINAL DECADES: 1961-1981 ................................................................................................304 PART II Preface .........................................................................................................................................345 Introduction ................................................................................................................................346 Chapter 10 THE BEGINNING OF THE ULRICH ERA ....................................................................................359 Chapter 11 A PERIOD OF CHANGE ...............................................................................................................402 Chapter 12 DECLINE AND RENAISSANCE: 1924-1936 .................................................................................439 Epilogue ALDEN GEORGE ULRICH’S LEGACY: 1936-1981 .......................................................................496 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................506 Index ............................................................................................................................................508 WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 44 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2277 PPMM Acknowledgments During the course of writing this study, assistance and information was received from a great num- ber of individuals. While I have tried to record the names of all those contributors, I fear that many have been accidentally overlooked and, consequently, omitted from the list below. To them I offer my sincere apologies, and to those mentioned, my profound thanks. The principal debt of gratitude must be extended to Olin Corporation and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the two largest repositories of the former Winchester Repeating Arms Company’s records. Without their cooperation this book could not have been written. At Olin Corporation, I would like to thank Melvin Neisloss, former secretary to the company; Bruce E. Burdick, senior counsel; Thomas E. Hall, former curator of the Winchester Gun Museum; Thomas E. Henshaw; and John Walsh. At the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the following were of particular help: Dr. Paul Fees, senior curator; Howard M. Madaus, the Robert W Woodruff Firearms Chair of the Cody Firearms Museum; Christina Stopka, librarian; Frances Clymer, associate librarian; Joan Murra, library assistant; Devendra Shrikande, photographer; and Lucille Warters, assistant photographer. In addition, I would like to express my appreciation to the Historical Center for their granting me permission to publish photographs and extracts of material in their collections. Mention must also be made of the cooperation offered by the following institutions: the Baker Library, Harvard University for providing extracts from the records of the R.G. Dun Company, and to Dun & Bradstreet Company for permission to publish those extracts; the British Patent Offi ce; and the National Archives of the United States. Among the many private parties who provided invaluable information were Howard L. Blackmore, John C. Davies, Charles Dupont, R.C. Romanella and the heirs of General Schurz. Special thanks are also due to Dena Hollowell for transcribing my manuscript into readable form; Lynn Houze and Ned Schwing for reading the completed text and offering valuable suggestions for its improvement; and to Patricia Klug, Mary Sieber, as well as Ron Kowalke of Krause Publications for transforming it into the present book. Finally, I wish to thank the administrators of the Kinnucan Arms Chair of the Cody Firearms Museum for their generous fi nancial assistance in partially underwriting the costs associated with the photographs reproduced in this book. Photograph Credits With the exception of those illustrations noted as having been supplied by Olin Corporation, or otherwise credited, all the photographs reproduced in this book were taken by Devendra Shrikande and Lucille Warters. 5 WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 55 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2288 PPMM Preface to the Soft Cover Edition For an author, preparing revisions for a previously published book is a source of considerable nervousness. Questions fl ood the mind. How many glaring errors will be found? What was omitted in the original? How much new information has come to light since the fi rst book was issued? And, the most troublesome thought of all: how much of the text needs to be rewritten? Countering all of these worries is the happy opportunity to improve the book and offer a better product to the reading public. Resisting the impulse to rewrite the entire book, the fi rst edition’s contents were evaluated as to their accu- racy and completeness. Fortunately, they have withstood the test of time and only a few minor changes needed to be made. For example, while recent research has completely corroborated Oliver F. Winchester’s activities in developing and manufacturing new models during the 1865-1868 period, fi rst discussed in the 1994 edition, it also revealed a mistake in that account. The series of iron frame carbines and muskets originally assigned the model date of 1867, should be more correctly called the Model 1866 Iron Frame carbines and rifl es (pp. 60-62). It has also become clear that the Year 17 Murata Sporting Rifl e previously described as having been made by the Winchester company, was in fact the product of someone else’s hand. The Winchester company did, how- ever, make the machinery used by the Japanese Government to produce the Year 17 Rifl e and an illustration of that arm has been included in this edition (p. 112). While most of the new information which has come to light since 1994 concerns the Winchester company’s 19th-century operations, recent examination of the concern’s 20th-century records have proved fruitful. It is 6 WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 66 77//1122//0044 22::4477::2299 PPMM now known that Thomas C. Johnson designed a bolt-action sporting rifl e during 1917 and 1918 that was intended for introduction into the company’s product line in 1920. Identifi ed at various times in its development phase as the G27C, Model E and “Imperial” rifl e, it was offi cially given the designation of Model 51 in 1919 (page 201). Chambered for the .270 WCF, .30-06 and .35 Whelen cartridges, this mod- el was designed for big game hunting not only in the United States, but also in Africa, Asia and India. However, excessive production costs combined with limited sales projections caused the model to be abandoned before it was publicly advertised. Although some critics have described the fi rst edition of this book as a revisionist history since it challenged and discredited a number of long-cherished myths concerning the Winchester company’s operations, all of the challenged statements made in 1994 have been further corroborated over the past 10 years. Since the volume of new evidence that has been uncovered over the last decade is far too great to incorporate into this volume, readers should consult the following three works which dis- cuss specifi c aspects of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company’s history: The Winchester Model 52: Perfection in Design (Krause Publications: 1997); Winchester Bolt Action Military and Sporting Rifl e 1877- 1937 (Andrew Mowbray Publishers: 1998); and The Winchester Model 1876 “Centennial” Rifl e (Andrew Mowbray Publishers: 2001). Finally, I want to express my sincerest appreciation to the following indi- viduals and companies who provided assistance during the preparation of this edition: Doug Beneck, Bonhams & Butterfi elds, Russell R. Dutcher, Paul Goodwin, Don Gulbrandsen, and my wife, Christine. 7 WWRR0011SS__11--77..iinndddd 77 77//1122//0044 22::4477::3300 PPMM INTRODUCTION WW THE ORIGINS OF THE WINCHESTER ARMS COMPANY A lthough it is a matter of the purest ■ speculation, one must wonder whether Oliver F. Winchester or not the name Winchester would be (Nov. 30, 1810 - Dec. 10, 1880) so closely associated with fi rearms Like his contemporary Samuel Colt, Oliver F. today had the Volcanic Repeating Arms Winchester’s earliest business ventures were not suc- Company proved to be successful. For cessful. Indeed, by the time he moved from Baltimore, it was the circumstances of that com- Maryland, to New Haven, Connecticut, in 1845, he was pany’s failure which propelled Oliver F. virtually penniless. His self-confi dence and energy had, Winchester from being merely a com- however, not been adversely affected by the reversal pany stockholder and corporate offi cer of his fortune, and over the next ten years he slowly into an active participant in the arms recovered to become one of New Haven’s wealthiest industry. Ultimately, this turn of events citizens. was to lead to the formation of one of the world’s largest and most respected fi rearms manufacturing companies: the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. guaranteed by mortgages issued against the company’s assets. Based upon sur- While the collapse of the Volcanic viving corporate records, the primary Repeating Arms Company has been gen- lenders during this period were the fi rm’s erally attributed to poor fi nancial man- president, Nelson H. Gaston, and its vice agement, aggravated by poor sales, the president, Oliver F. Winchester, although root cause was its over-capitalization in other offi cers evidently contributed small machinery during the concern’s set-up in amounts at one time or another3. 18551. By spending the greater portion of the monies it raised through stock sub- By late 1856, the situation had deterio- scription on capital equipment, the fi rm rated to such an extent that the company did not have suffi cient reserves to cover was borrowing money, not only to meet its operating expenses when sales did payroll costs, but also merely to retire not meet expectations. Consequently, it previous debt.4 While it is evident that was forced to borrow money from its offi - Gaston and Winchester were prepared to cers to meet these shortfalls beginning in subsidize the company until such a time mid-18562. Unlike those funds generated as sales did increase, Gaston’s sudden by stock sales, which were for all practi- death in December 18565 brought the mat- cal purposes unsecured, the loans were ter to a head. Faced with the prospect of 8 WWRR0011SS__88--2288..iinndddd 88 77//1122//0044 22::5511::5566 PPMM THE ORIGINS OF THE WINCHESTER ARMS COMPANY having to lend the company approximate- ly $24,000 to redeem Gaston’s advances, The products of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Winchester entered into an agreement Company never achieved the success the fi rm had with the executors of Gaston’s estate hoped for, despite the receipt of glowing testimoni- to force the bankruptcy of the Volcanic als such as the following: “I consider the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company themselves.6 Repeating Pistol the plus ultra of Repeating or In this manner, their interests would be Revolving Arms, and far superior in many’ respects protected even if an outside creditor fi led to Colt’s much extolled revolver.” (C.F.W Behm, - a claim. Consequently, when two thirty- March 10, 1855) day payment drafts issued to himself and Gaston fell due on Jan. 10 and 13, respectively, Winchester declined to lend the Volcanic company the money needed as the Volcanic company’s executors to cover them7. When they were not hon- and ordered them to prepare a list of all ored, Winchester and Gaston’s executors creditors, mortgage claims and assets14. initiated legal proceedings to foreclose Eli Whitney, Henry Munson and Charles on their mortgages. The receipt of their Ball were also appointed by the court writs of attachment on Feb. 2 and 3, 18578, at that time to appraise the company’s was the catalyst which forced the direc- property15. tors of the Volcanic company to declare their fi rm insolvent9. On March 13, Talcott and Morse pre- sented their report, which indicated On Feb. 4, in compliance with bankrupt- that the former Volcanic Repeating cy proceedings, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company’s total assets amounted Arms Company transferred all their to $57,714.53 against which the follow- assets to two trustees, Samuel L. Talcott ing mortgages totalling $65,632.06 were and Gardner Morse, and petitioned the held16: Probate Court of New Haven, Connecticut Oliver F. Winchester $30,673.80 for permission to liquidate the company’s Nelson H. Gaston $24,317.04 assets10. Immediately, Winchester began Tradesmens Bank of protecting his claim and that of Gaston’s New Haven $10,641.22 estate (which he had by then assumed) Judge Cyprian Willcox then instructed by lending the company’s trustees such Talcott and Morse to sell the assets of funds as were necessary to redeem other the company either by public or private loans which were secured by mortgages sale so that the mortgage claims could or that could be recovered by legal be paid17. On March 31, 1856, Talcott and action involving the attachment of the Morse carried out the court’s instruc- company’s assets11. He also advanced tions, and Oliver E Winchester purchased the trustees the money needed to pay off the right to redeem both his mortgage the company’s obligations to Courtland and that of Gaston’s for $80518. He also Palmer, Horace Smith and Daniel B. purchased 2,000 arms in the process of Wesson, so that their patents were fully being fi nished for $2,000, three lathes not paid for and totally under the control included in the mortgage claims for $475 of the trustees-12. As a result of this and miscellaneous other items for $50019. maneuver, Winchester became the sole His agents, E. Benjamin and B.F. Parder, mortgage holder of the former Volcanic purchased an additional $628.25 worth Repeating Arms Company, at a cost which of material including 102 pistols at $5 ultimately amounted to $35,438.7413. each20. As a result of these purchases and On Feb. 18, the Probate Court approved two subsequent payments to Courtland the appointment of Talcott and Morse Palmer, Winchester became the sole 9 WWRR0011SS__88--2288..iinndddd 99 77//1122//0044 22::5511::5599 PPMM

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