Were Parker shotguns made when ordered?

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I like Greg's thinking and I'll take it one further: The Parker Gun was acquired by Remington based on bad accounting analysis and shut down based on bad accounting analysis.

[Fishtail]

"The Remington Arms Co. Would of most likely needed a much higher contribution margin to cover overhead and be "profitable"

That's an excellent point. If Remington hung their overhead rate on the Parker works, it could turn a profitable factory into a money loser with the stroke of a pen.

People love to blame lawyers but I'll take a lawyer any day over an accountant!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by greg conomos

If Remington hung their overhead rate on the Parker works, it could turn a profitable factory into a money loser with the stroke of a pen.

That's exactly what Remington did.... Instead of integrating the Parker Gun Works into the Remington gun production facility when they moved the Parker Gun operation to Illion, then, (aparantly partially because of 'bad blood' on the factory floor) the Parker Gun Works was set up in its own facility with all its own machinery and personnel... which probably sent the operation's 'overhead' far above and beyond what they had anticipated.
The worst years of the Depression were from 1929 through about '34. By the time he Parker Gun Works was moved to Illion in '37 the economy had begun to improve somewhat. But then we were drawn into the war....






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[Craig Larter]

It seems to me the long term lack of capital investment killed all of the SxS manufacturers. They were starved for capital. They had to compete in a market dominated with simpler to manufacturer pumps and autos after 1895. In that market there was never enough profit to invest in the business, they were all doomed with outdated equipment and processes. In that period the logistics of moving off shore to lower costs was not a option and flexible manufacturing equipment and processes were not yet developed. It's a sad story and has affected many great US manufacturers and quality products.

[Jean Swanson]

According to information that I have recently seen and read----after 1920 ALL Parker barrels that went into inventory will be choke full and full with 2 1/2 chambers.

Allan

[Dean Romig]

That makes perfect sense Allan. Cutting both the chambers and the chokes per the orders that come in, thereby reducing both cost and waste.





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[Fishtail]

I think what killed double gun makers are the same cultural attributes that we see today.

The average person lacks taste, refinement, and makes his/her judgements based on the wrong criteria. And the world has a lot of average people - that's why they're average.

Why buy a well balanced finely made Parker when you can pay 3X less for a gun that holds twice as many shells? Why buy a Parker that begs to be cared for when you can buy a pump gun that you can toss in the corner and never clean?

It's the same reason Budwesier is the #1 selling beer and Michael Jackson, even dead, sells more records than 100 other people who can actually make music.

[Big D]

Just remember - 50% of the folks in the world are below average

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Careful Greg- I like Bud.

[Phil C]

Originally Posted by Allan H. Swanson

According to information that I have recently seen and read----after 1920 ALL Parker barrels that went into inventory will be choke full and full with 2 1/2 chambers.

Allan

I would enjoy reading more on this piece of Parker history.