MANILLA CARDS

[Roundsworth]

B.G.I. aka Bridgeport Gun Implement, was a subsidiary of Union Metallic Cartridge. They catered to the shooting sportsman with top quality reloading and cleaning gear. They also sold golf clubs and bicycle accessories. I have been on a quest to acquire BGI tools and have been successful via the internet. I have unused BGI loading kits and cleaning gear in their original boxes. Someday I need to figure out a way to display all the items. Ideal shotshell tools are out there, but do not seem to be as common as B.G.I. or U.H. (Union Hardware) marked tools. 'Eureka' is a tradename on some tools sold by U.H. and B.G.I., but I don't know if U.H. acquired B.G.I. or vice versa. While it has become an obsession, it is still very rewarding! Cheers.

[Autumn Daze]

Mark, The old Bridgeport Gun Implement building is about a mile from my house. It is still standing and is on the corner of Helen St. and Barnum Ave. in BPT,CT

They made great tool's for the sportsman of the day and I have a nice sampling of their wares also.

Just thought you might be interested to know....

[Roundsworth]

I have a BGI catalog from the turn of the century and thought it would be neat to acquire all the items, excluding golf clubs! The last item I bought was a mint Budd-Petmecky(sp?) bore cleaner for the 12 gauge. The main body of the tool is actually a UMC brass case modified to work with the cleaner. The little box was intact, too! I cannot afford lots o' Parkers, but I can afford accoutrements. Dave, is the building occupied? Cheers!

[Autumn Daze]

Mark, I believe the building is in use. Also it is right next door to the Remington Arms plant. Unfortunately the Remington plant is abandoned and has undergone a series of disasterous fires the last few years and is now in the process of being torn down as it poses a serious hazard. From what I read in the local papers they are going to save the fabulous shot tower that has been a symbol around here for quite some time.

Marcelus Hartly was the owner of the BPT Gun Implement Co. and also was a past president or director for Remington so the close vicinity of the two busineses is no coincidence.

In a few conversations I have had with Mr. Ken Waite one of the PGCA past BOD members and a retired Remington employee he told me that Marcelus was a relative of his. Small world.....

[Keith Parrish]

Now that info I got to say Thanks for!! I will share this with others that I introduce to my BGI roll crimper. They Sure made quality merchandise I can say first hand. I have not a single complant bout the peice I have.

Dave,
Do you know for what reason they left that location? Was it their last operating plant??

[Autumn Daze]

Keith, I havn't really done any research to find out what became of BGI. But now that you ask I may do some looking around.

Mark, Just to set this straight BGI is a decendant company of Union Metallic .

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

Being near BPI I bought a bag of 12 and 16 overshot cards reasonably priced. The idea of punching cards from discarded shell boxes is worth considering. What you need to do now is go to someone that makes rubber stamps and get some made with the shot size so you can imprint them on the OS cards before you insert them over the shot and before you crimp. Try a craft store or a office supply store. I had a set made some years ago and still use them. Makes a nice end product.

[Keith Parrish]

I'm considering geting something of the sort.
What I am in the search for is a punch with the diameter of 12ga OS cards. tried taking a copper ferrule and sharpening the end but it has gotten dull after 20 cuts on to stacks of 2 manilla folders. I am going to the hardware store this weekend to see if i could find a much harder steel (pipe maybe) and will take my dremel to it to give it a sharp edge. I plan to make a type of clamp with handles, easily released, and solder the punch out (pipe maybe) to the end of it and have a flat piece of metal for the base.

WISHFUL THINKING I BELIEVE!!! but we'll see....

[Autumn Daze]

Keith, Hole punches are available commercialy. Try Manhattan Supply Co. or McMaster- Carr.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Mark,
I found some information in "Remington Arms In American History"
by Alden Hatch. M. Hartley started a business with
2 partners in 1854 as Schuyler,Hartley and Graham.
They sold imported and domestic firearms, ammunition,
accessories and fancy hardware. By 1856 they were the largest
dealers in America and had sales offices in England and France.
Hartley eventually bought out Schuyler as the business
grew. In 1867 Hartley with some minor partners started
Union Metallic Cartridge. In 1878 he formed Bridgeport
Gun Implement Company (BGIC), that made reloading
equipment and acessories including their own line of
gun cleaning items. When E. Remington & Sons went
bankrupt in 1888 Hartley bought that company as well
and changed the name to Remington Arms Co. Marcellus
Hartley was a prominant and respected figure in the
firearms industry owning 4 different yet related
businesses. In January of 1902 Marcellus Hartley died;
by then the Hartley & Graham had become M. Hartley Co.
On the day Marcellus Hartley died, he died during a board meeting
of the American Surety Company, John Browning was waiting
to meet him to discuss Remington manufacturing a gun that
Winchester and he couldn't come to terms about; the A-5
autoloader. 28 year old grandson Marcellus Hartley Dodge took over
running M. Hartley Co. Several years later, Marcellus Hartley
Dodge would run all 4 companies: M. Hartley Co., Union Metallic
Cartridge, Bridgeport Gun Implement, and Remington Arms Co.

Jack Kuzepski