Collecting In Difficult Times

[George Lander]

Dave & Bruce: This may be a little O/T but wern't Thompson SMGs manufactured in Bridgeport?

Just Wondering......George

[J.B. Books]

Bruce, you make some good points and your tips on looking for vintage cases, cleaning rods etc it is good advice for some good fun. However, I have in the past read some slightly disparaging words from participants in this web board towards Trojans in particular. An orginal condition, with good dimensions Trojan, especially in 20ga is not easy to find and is a joy to shoot. I have also read disparaging comments on restorations which may not be for everyone, but IMO a family heirloom or rare/unique gun is worthy of restoration if it has gone past the point of no return. There is and should be room for everyone at the table, from the person who has their grandfathers Trojan to the owners of high grade and extensive collections. On another point I believe these hard economic times are bringing some guns out of closets and making them available for sale. I am aware of a Remington-Parker Skeet gun that became available after being in the same family since 1940. Cash is King these days as they say.

[Autumn Daze]

George,Thompsons were made by Auto Ordinance in West Hurley NY. Some early ones were made by Colt in Hartford,CT for Auto Ordinance.

[George Lander]

Dave: The reason that I asked is because I recently got to handle one that was marked: :THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN
CALIBER .45 M1A1 on the left &

AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION
BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT U.S.A on the right

It belonged to an old friend, recently deceased, who brought it back from WWII. I went back today to recheck the markings. I wonder if there is anything left of the AUTO-ORDNANCE factory.

Just Wondering.........George

[Autumn Daze]

George,I don,t really know.I would suspect that they may have moved to BPT. The history I found on them was that they were in NY in about 1927. Maybe they were manfactured by Remington under contract for Auto Ordinance during the war. As EDM says:"Investigation continues"

[Autumn Daze]

Here are a few pieces....some Parker some not

[MarketHunter]

The Sycamore Loading Block actually appears to be made out of sycamore wood. It was a common lumber for drawer sides and bottom as it wore very even and smooth with time and use. We had some at home one time when I was a kid, it's super had and dense. Reminded me of beech only maybe harder actually, pretty stuff full of cross grain and curlyque.

DLH

[Bill Murphy]

George and Dave, Auto Ordnance was in Bridgeport starting in 1941 or thereabouts for a time, but the West Hurley address is after Numrich Arms Corporation started using the Auto Ordnance name in 1974 to build their Thompsons. Apparently, Numrich didn't buy the company, just started using the name, no fuss, no muss.

[George Lander]

Thanks Bill: There are some nice looking GH & PH Damascus Parkers in the Rock Island sale yesterday & today. Did anyone here get one? They seemed to have very low estimates.

Best Regards, George

[Autumn Daze]

Bill,Thanks for the information.I was closing in on it but ya beat me to it! Also I found the original building for the BPT Gun Implement Co. Its on the corner of Helen St and Barnum Ave.in BPT. I will check it out when I get a chance.

I was talking to our own Ken Waite yesterday and he is a distant relation to Marcellus Hartly of Remington Arms Corp.Marcellus Hartly and Marcellus Hartly-Dodge(his son) were also a principles in BGI Co.