Armory Method Characteristics
- interchangeable parts
- precision tools, gauges
- no hand fitting or filing
- factory system
- specialization of labor
A. "Idea in the air"
1720's - Chris. Polhem in Sweden - also clocks
1778-88 - H. Blanc at St. Etienne, France
1785 - Thomas Jefferson visit
1798 - Quasi-War creates need for guns
B. Eli Whitney
1793 - cotton gin at Cath. Greene's Mulberry Grove
1798 - contract for 10,000 muskets - was advocate
1799 - Mill Rock factory in New Haven, Conn.
1801 - delivered first 500 muskets, but not by machine
1809 - contract fulfilled, but some parts hand-made
C. "Community of Craftsmen"
1790 - Samuel Slater at Pawtucket, RI
- "father of the factory system"
1799 - Simeon North in Middletown, Conn.
- first to use milling machine, not files
1806 - Eli Terry & Seth Thomas in Plymouth, Conn.
- "Pillar & Scroll" clock - cheap for home market
1813 - Francis C. Lowell & Boston Associates
- machinist Paul Moody - power loom
1815 - Micajah Pratt at Lynn, Mass. - 1st shoe factory
D. Government arsenals
1794 - at Springfield MA and Harper's Ferry VA
1807 - James Stubblefield at Harper's Ferry
- specialization of labor - 21 for lock, 9 for barrel
1815 - Roswell Lee at Springfield
- machine tools - Wilkinson, Nash, Blanchard lathes
1819 - John Hall at Harper's Ferry Rifle Works
- breechloader tested in Seminole War 1819
- self-acting machines made complete IC parts
1842 contract musket - all IC for $17.50
- but "clock strike" against 10-hour day, child labor
1854 - President F. Pierce ended reforms, own appts.
1861 - Rifle Works burned April 18 by CSA
E. Transfer of technology to private companies
1852 - Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson breechloader
- from Robbins & Lawrence, Browne & Sharpe
1852 - Oliver Winchester at Volcanic Armes Co.
- improved by Tyler Henry = Henry rifle
1856 - Wesson patent for .22 rimfire cartridge
F. Samuel Colt
1830 - made copy of 1818 Collier revolver
1832 - factory at Patterson, NJ with John Pearson
1836 - Paterson model with 6-shot cylinder
1846 - Sam Walker orders 1000 for Texas Rangers
- Walker model 6-shot, .44 cal. , 7-in. rifled barrel
1846 - 2nd factory at Hartford - Elisha Root, Frederick Howe
1851 - Navy model .36 cal. for $21 - gifts to Congress
- also made by factory in London after 1851 Crystal Palace exposition
1855 - 3rd factory; largest armory in world; Armsmear home
1862 - left $15m, wife Eliz., son Caldwell
1873 - "Peacemaker" model - .45 cal. single action
1877 - double action model - "gun that won the west"
see History of Colt
Resources:
revised 1/28/02 | Modernization
