[MrGompers]

I was having a discussion the other day with some folks regarding American history. I brought up that one of Conn's greatest contributions to American history is it's gun manufacturing. (at least in the early years of America) After all, it is the home of Samuel Colt - the inventor of the revolver.

I can name these gun makers that had plants in Conn at one point or another.

1. Colt
2. Remington
3. Winchester
4. Sturm & Ruger


Did I miss any other gun makers? I was thinking Browning?

BTW, years ago I visited the Conn Historical Society Museum next to the state capital building in Hartford. At the time they had an excellent collection of early Colt firearms.

I also went tooling around on my motorcycle last year around the Colt facility. It's quite expansive & it's too bad nothing is being done with it.

P.S. I realize any topic on guns can become explosive and veer off topic quickly. I'm just interested in the history of gun makers in Conn.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

I was having a discussion the other day with some folks regarding American history. I brought up that one of Conn's greatest contributions to American history is it's gun manufacturing. (at least in the early years of America) After all, it is the home of Samuel Colt - the inventor of the revolver.

I can name these gun makers that had plants in Conn at one point or another.

1. Colt
2. Remington
3. Winchester
4. Stern & Luger


Did I miss any other gun makers? I was thinking Browning?

Smith and Wesson:History - Smith & Wesson

[Slipperman]

Marlin is another though they seem specialize in rifles..

Marlin

[Rich Cabeza]

Mossberg. Nice to see a post other than "Where sould I live..."

[JViello]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

I was having a discussion the other day with some folks regarding American history. I brought up that one of Conn's greatest contributions to American history is it's gun manufacturing. (at least in the early years of America) After all, it is the home of Samuel Colt - the inventor of the revolver.

I can name these gun makers that had plants in Conn at one point or another.

1. Colt
2. Remington
3. Winchester
4. Sturm & Ruger


Did I miss any other gun makers? I was thinking Browning?

BTW, years ago I visited the Conn Historical Society Museum next to the state capital building in Hartford. At the time they had an excellent collection of early Colt firearms.

I also went tooling around on my motorcycle last year around the Colt facility. It's quite expansive & it's too bad nothing is being done with it.

P.S. I realize any topic on guns can become explosive and veer off topic quickly. I'm just interested in the history of gun makers in Conn.

Not sure how long ago you drove around the complex but the Colt Building is "on again" being restored and turned into housing and business units.

CT was to the industrial revolution what silicon valley was to the technology boom. We even manufactured our own brand of automobiles in Hartford at one time! A the turn of the century Hartford - yes Hartford was considered the Automobile capital of the world as half the cars produced came from here! Pope Automobiles: http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z...-Hartford.aspx

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by JViello

Not sure how long ago you drove around the complex but the Colt Building is "on again" being restored and turned into housing and business units.

CT was to the industrial revolution what silicon valley was to the technology boom. We even manufactured our own brand of automobiles in Hartford at one time! A the turn of the century Hartford - yes Hartford was considered the Automobile capital of the world as half the cars produced came from here! Pope Automobiles: 1911 Pope Hartford Images, Information and History | Conceptcarz.com

We also had a aicraft company in South Glastonbury, called the Harriman aircraft company. They would launch the new aircraft down a looong grassy slope to gain speed, and right out over the river they went!

[SLippi]

Originally Posted by JViello

Not sure how long ago you drove around the complex but the Colt Building is "on again" being restored and turned into housing and business units.

CT was to the industrial revolution what silicon valley was to the technology boom. We even manufactured our own brand of automobiles in Hartford at one time! A the turn of the century Hartford - yes Hartford was considered the Automobile capital of the world as half the cars produced came from here! Pope Automobiles: 1911 Pope Hartford Images, Information and History | Conceptcarz.com

Yes luckily Henry Ford had a great idea to manufacture gasoline engine automobiles, otherwise we'd still be making those electric automobiles here in CT.

Enfield (Hazardville) used to manufacture gunpowder for all the guns made in CT. Powder Hallow in Hazardville used to be the Hazard Gunpowder Company or something like that.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by SLippi

Yes luckily Henry Ford had a great idea to manufacture gasoline engine automobiles, otherwise we'd still be making those electric automobiles here in CT.

Enfield (Hazardville) used to manufacture gunpowder for all the guns made in CT. Powder Hallow in Hazardville used to be the Hazard Gunpowder Company or something like that.

Pope as far as I know, only had one electric vehicle...the rest were gasoline powered and the most powerful of their time. One model was good for 50mph back in 1910!

I do find it funny that gunpowder was made in "Hazardville".

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by JViello

Not sure how long ago you drove around the complex but the Colt Building is "on again" being restored and turned into housing and business units.

CT was to the industrial revolution what silicon valley was to the technology boom. We even manufactured our own brand of automobiles in Hartford at one time! A the turn of the century Hartford - yes Hartford was considered the Automobile capital of the world as half the cars produced came from here! Pope Automobiles: 1911 Pope Hartford Images, Information and History | Conceptcarz.com

I was riding around the Colt complex last summer (2009) many of the buildings were boarded up. I did see some apartments for rent. That looked like they were in an old Colt factory building.

There is also some old style apartments currently in use. (looked like the ghetto element was there though) They were probably built for Colt factory workers in the old days. Those buildings remind me of some of the housing you see in New Britain around Stanley Works.

As for Pope autos. I don't know if its the same man/company, but I read a story somewhere that said the Hartford/Springfield area could have been Detroit. How is this possible?

The story said a man in Springfield (who was building cars) sued Henry Ford for patent infringement (regarding autos). The man lost the case to Ford. After the case was won Ford moved forward building his cars and creating the factory line etc. in Detroit.

While on the topic of transportation. Weren't Indian motorcycles founded and built in Springfield, MA? I swear in the 80's I went to an Indian dealer in Springfield somewhere (possibly was on Main St.)

And thanks for the info on Marlin guns. I never heard of them before. Interesting stuff.

[LRPct]

Yes, Indian motorcycles were indeed founded and bulit in Springfield. There were also MANY auto manufactuers in Springfield, including even Rolls Royce from 1921 till 1931.