Title
Colt Co. Will Get Government Order
Hartford Courant Headline from 1916
Hartford Courant Headline from 1916
Subject
Colt Manufacturing; Connecticut Firearm Production in World War I
Description
An article from a 1916 issue of the Hartford Courant, describing the government purchase of over 4,000 Vicker Machine Rifles from the Colt Company.
Due to the increased demand for the Colt Vickers machine gun, Colt expanded it's factory, hired more employees, and even opened up branches in other parts of Connecticut.
The production of a Vicker Machine gun was an extensive undertaking, though. Despite large government orders, Colt fell behind in manufacturing, and struggled to meet the demand. "According to Dolf Goldsmith, each US division in WWI had a total of 192 guns but because the US entered WWI with such a hideously inadequate number of machine guns, the US Army was forced to depend on the British and French for weapons" (VickersMG.Com).
Soldiers trained with "dummy" versions of the Vickers machine gun, as working versions of the weapon were reserved for war.
This was not the first government order that was requested for Colt products. Their reliable .45 caliber handguns were mass produced for the United States and English military.
Due to the increased demand for the Colt Vickers machine gun, Colt expanded it's factory, hired more employees, and even opened up branches in other parts of Connecticut.
The production of a Vicker Machine gun was an extensive undertaking, though. Despite large government orders, Colt fell behind in manufacturing, and struggled to meet the demand. "According to Dolf Goldsmith, each US division in WWI had a total of 192 guns but because the US entered WWI with such a hideously inadequate number of machine guns, the US Army was forced to depend on the British and French for weapons" (VickersMG.Com).
Soldiers trained with "dummy" versions of the Vickers machine gun, as working versions of the weapon were reserved for war.
This was not the first government order that was requested for Colt products. Their reliable .45 caliber handguns were mass produced for the United States and English military.
Creator
The Hartford Courant
Source
ProQuest
Publisher
Hartford Courant
Date
November 11, 1916
Contributor
James Annunziato
Rights
Published prior to 1923-Fair Use
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Newspaper article