Firearm Factory of the Month: Baltimore Arms Co

The Baltimore Arms Company started life as the National Arms Company of Baltimore, founded by Ansley H Fox in 1896. Shortly after being founded the company reorganized as the Fox Gun Company of Baltimore. When the business floundered Fox sold his interest to a new company, where he became an employee.

Organized in 1900, this one called the Baltimore Arms Company. The investors set up shop on the corner of South Sharp and Stockholm streets. 

Fox had left shortly after starting work at Baltimore to become a professional shooter for Winchester.

Fox apparently did not sell his rights to his patents as the company began building shotguns based on Frank Hollenbeck's patents.  

By February of 1904 the company was going under, Hollenbeck started his own company and may have paid for or retained license to build guns under his patent. Either way the investors forced the company into receivership.

Somewhere around 6000 guns were made before they closed up shop. In late 1904 the tooling and equipment was auctioned off, much of it purchased by AH Fox.

Fox went on to launch a successful gun company in Philadelphia.



What Remains:

The guns made by Baltimore Arms are no doubt sought by shotgun collectors.

The factory building is long gone, rumor was it was used by a paint company after Baltimore Arms folded. It was probably demolished during construction for Interstate 395. The Fox factory that preceded Baltimore Arms was said to be a block away from this location, none of the buildings within a block of this intersection look old enough, I assume that building has also been razed. 

Sources:

 https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=409580

A.H. Fox Shotguns: A Look Back | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanrifleman.org)

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=298518#Post298518