Title
Women Manufacturing Colt Weapons
Subject
Colt Manufacturing; Connecticut Firearm Production in World War I
Description
Pictured here are female workers on a Colt factory line producing weapons during the Great War era. Due to the length, weight, and shape of the material they are working with, it appears they are manufacturing barrels for the Colt Vickers machine gun. The time frame for which the picture is placed would also indicate the Vickers as the likely weapon pictured.
In order to meet the demand of such large government orders Colt had to drastically increase their workforce, which subsequently raised their overall payroll expenditures, and a rise in Hartford's industrial population. In Metal Industry which published in 1920, it is noted that "From 1914 to 1920, Hartford's industrial population grew from 20,066 to 30,000...The capital in Hartford industries wasnincreased from $53,791,000 in 1914 to $100,000,000 in 1919-1920, and the yearly factory payroll jumped from $14,662,000 to $45,000,000" (Metal Industry, 47).
According to the Small Arms Defense Journal, between 1915 and 1916, over four-thousand Vickers machine guns were ordered from Colt from international allies during the war. When the United States joined the fight in 1917, additional machine guns were sent to the front lines. Over seven-thousand were produced by wars ends, many being saved in reserve until World War II.
In order to meet the demand of such large government orders Colt had to drastically increase their workforce, which subsequently raised their overall payroll expenditures, and a rise in Hartford's industrial population. In Metal Industry which published in 1920, it is noted that "From 1914 to 1920, Hartford's industrial population grew from 20,066 to 30,000...The capital in Hartford industries wasnincreased from $53,791,000 in 1914 to $100,000,000 in 1919-1920, and the yearly factory payroll jumped from $14,662,000 to $45,000,000" (Metal Industry, 47).
According to the Small Arms Defense Journal, between 1915 and 1916, over four-thousand Vickers machine guns were ordered from Colt from international allies during the war. When the United States joined the fight in 1917, additional machine guns were sent to the front lines. Over seven-thousand were produced by wars ends, many being saved in reserve until World War II.
Source
Library of Congress
Date
1914-1918
Contributor
James Annunziato
Rights
Public Domain
Format
.jpg
Language
English
Type
Photograph
Original Format
Photograph