Stories vary on how exactly Eliphalet Remington II got into the gun business, and we will get to that part, first we need to tell you who the founder was.
The founder of the company: Eliphalet Remington II was the only surviving son of Eliphalet & Elizabeth (Kilbourn). Being brought into the world on October 28th, 1793 in Suffield, CT. His family was originally from Yorkshire England.
His father was in the carpentry trade and was a general maker of durable goods of all sorts.
His parents had lived through the Revolution, although it is not known if they were loyalists or patriots.
On March 22, 1799 Eliphalet the elder purchased 50 acres of land from James Smith. The land was in the Mohawk Valley, near the present town of Litchfield, New York. Later he purchased an additional 300 acres of land.
The most important feature of the land purchase was a small river named Steele Creek that ran through the land. In 1800, when Eliphalet the younger was just 6 years old, Remington moved his family to Litchfield.
In 1810 Remington had a two story stone house built near the creek.
A short while later Remington built a forge on the banks of the creek, in what is known as "Ilion Gorge". Water from the creek provided power for machines via a water wheel.
In the "finery forge" they would turn pig iron into wrought iron and make a variety of iron and steel products.
How they got into the gun business is debated. One story tells of Eliphalet the younger wanting a rifle, but his Father refused to buy him one, so he made his own barrel, then walked to nearby Utica to have a gunsmith finish the rifle.
The second story says his Father had inquiries about making guns, so he sent his son to buy a barrel and watch the forging process so they may duplicate it.
The third story has his father wanting a gun, so he sent his son to collect the parts, the younger was not impressed with the quality and thought he could built a better rifle.
There are also stories of Eliphalet entering shooting matches with his homemade gun and garnering the attention of local gunsmiths.
It is hard to know which of these stories is the correct one, but Eliphalet the younger was 23 in 1816, so while he worked for his father, he was his own man and would probably be looking to secure his own rifle either way.
Which ever story is true, in 1816, at the age of 23, Eliphalet Remington II built himself a gun which included a barrel (and possibly other parts) made in the family's foundry. There is a story of which I cannot verify, that Remington finished his rifle on a Saturday, but didn't test fire it until Monday as he was a devout Methodist and did not wish to break the Sabbath.
At any rate people who saw his work were impressed and soon orders for barrels started pouring in.
Before long the Remington Forge on Steele Creek was not large enough for the barrel making business.
Opportunity came knocking in 1825 when the Erie Canal was finished, it just happen to run right through Ilion. Ilion was not far from Litchfield, just down the valley where the Steele Creek flowed into the Mohawk River.
For those that don't know the Erie Canal connected the Hudson River (which flows into the Atlantic at NYC) at Albany to Lake Erie at Buffalo, cutting a fairly straight east west line across upstate New York.
In 1828 Eliphalet the younger purchased land that bordered the canal and began building a new forge.
This new forge included power hammers (powered by water from the canal).
The Remington factory circa 1840
The Canal also meant that Remington barrels and eventually rifles could be shipped to the new frontier or to the port at New York City and eventually shipped around the world. The cost of shipping was much less than methods previously available, which meant that Remington products could be sold at a more competitive price. The expanded shipping also gave Remington exposure to new customers.
Of course the Canal became irrelevant once the rail road came to fruition, but I am getting ahead of myself.
It wasn't long before Remington was making all the parts necessary to assemble a rifle in house. The workers at Remington also began to experiment with "crucible steel" (cast steel) as a means of lowering costs and speeding up production.
In 1845 Remington was granted a contract to build 5000 model of 1841 Rifle for the U.S. Government, the contract was later increased to 10,000 units. This would be the first of many government contracts given to Remington.
A Remington manufactured model of 1841 "Mississippi Rifle"
By this time Eliphalet the younger's three sons (Philo, Samual and Eliphalet III) had entered the business and the incorporation of E. Remington and Sons began.
In April of 1861 the Slave owning Democrats, unhappy with the election of a Republican (sound familiar?) decided to seceed from the Union sparking the Civil War. That same year, on August 12th Eliphalet Remington II died at the age of 67.
Also that year Remington produced its first revolver, the Beal's patent six shot revolver
A year later Remington introduced their own "improved" revolver, the Remington model of 1861
The Ilion plant received more contracts, in 1864 they received a contract to build 40,000 model of 1861 rifled muskets.
Before the War ended a new invention was on the scene. The breach loading rifle and Remington began experimenting with designs.
Designed during the later part of the war from the "split breech" and introduced in 1867, the Remington Rolling Block had a big impact on military rifles. Although it failed to get adopted by the U.S. Military, mainly due to the excess inventory of Springfield rifles that were converted to the "Trap Door" design. The U.S. Government did buy plenty of them, as did 43 other nations.
Remington also got into manufacturing of other goods during the war including sewing machines and soon after typewriters.
The typewriter business was spun off and sold to The Standard Typewriter company. A venture instituted by former Remington employees. The sale included the rights to the Remington name.
The typewriter business was spun off and sold to The Standard Typewriter company. A venture instituted by former Remington employees. The sale included the rights to the Remington name.
On March 7th, 1888 the Remington family decided to sell the gun business to the investors at Hartley and Graham of New York....the investors included Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The new company was named "Remington Arms Company".
Hartley and Graham were purveyors of Sporting Goods and had also acquired Union Metallic Cartridge Company of Bridgeport, CT.
In 1912 Remington Arms and Union Metallic were merged into one company known as Remington-UMC. The new headquarters would be in Bridgeport.
In 1914 war broke out in Europe and the need for arms meant lucrative contracts for Remington. A new plant was built in Bridgeport, a short distance from the UMC plant and company headquarters.
Construction began in the winter of 1914/1915 (picture is from March 3rd 1915), the contracts were for M1891 Nagant rifles for the Russian Imperial Army. The Russians supplied a pre-payment of 7.5 million dollars.
The plant became the largest manufacturing facility in the world, with close to 1 million square feet of production space. See my write up on that plant here.
Remington also received contracts from the British to build the Pattern 14 Enfield rifle. They partnered with the Baldwin Locomotive Works to build the rifles in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, see my write up on that plant here.
That same year Remington also began construction of new, modern buildings at the Ilion campus. Some of the original 1828 buildings were torn down to make way for more modern, electrically powered buildings.
All three Remington plants were humming along until November of 1917, it was then that the dirty Communist Bolsheviks seized control of the Russian government. Typical of Communists, they told Remington to stuff their contract, they were not paying for any of the delivered rifles nor the ones under construction. Not that Remington would see payment anyways, the old Imperial Russian Government was near bankruptcy and people were starving in the streets.
The losses nearly bankrupted Remington, they were forced to lay-off thousands of workers. Fortunately the U.S. Government entered the war and purchased the finished rifles and rechambered them in 30-06 Springfield.
The U.S. Government also took over the contracts at Ilion and Eddystone, the rifles would now be going to the American Expeditionary Force.
The Bridgeport factory was sold to General Electric in 1920, GE used the factory until 2007, by 2012 it was gone. See my post about this factory here.
The losses nearly bankrupted Remington, they were forced to lay-off thousands of workers. Fortunately the U.S. Government entered the war and purchased the finished rifles and rechambered them in 30-06 Springfield.
The U.S. Government also took over the contracts at Ilion and Eddystone, the rifles would now be going to the American Expeditionary Force.
The Bridgeport factory was sold to General Electric in 1920, GE used the factory until 2007, by 2012 it was gone. See my post about this factory here.
That same year (1920) Remington-UMC's headquarters are moved back to Ilion.
Also in 1920 Remington, like rivals Winchester and Marlin, added non-firearm sporting goods to their catalog
A few years later they also start marketing Remington labeled clothing.
In 1933 E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. purchases 60% of Remington, the influx of capital helps Remington expand.
The following year Remington purchased King's Mill Ohio based Peter's Cartridge Co.
In 1940 Remington is awarded a contract by the U.S. Government to oversee the construction and operation of five new Arsenals including Lake City (MO) Denver, Salt Lake, King's Mill & Lowell (MA).
During WWII Remington received a contract to manufacture the M1903 rifle. The Government even sent them the tooling and samples. Remington redesigned some of the parts to speed up and lower the cost of manufacturing, the new model would be called the M1903A3.
Later Remington would also produce the Sniper version, named the M1903A4.
Remington also received contracts for their 512, 513T and 550 .22 rifles as well as their model 11 & 31 shotguns for use in training new troops.
After the war Remington went back to concentrating on the civilian market and in 1950 introduced the 870 Wingmaster shotgun, a gun that would become the best-selling shotgun ever.
The model 700 rifle, one of the most popular rifles ever, was introduced in 1962
By 1980 Dupont had acquired 100% of Remington
In 1993 DuPont announces the sale of Remington to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a NY City base private equity firm.
In 1997 Remington opens a new factory in Mayfield, Kentucky
In 2007 Remington is purchased by Freedom Group and the Remington Outdoor Company is formed. The group includes several other gun companies, most notably Marlin, H&R, Bushmaster and DPMS.
In March of 2018, ROC announces it has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
June of 2020, ROC files for Chapter 11 again, this time it is for good, by September, the pieces of company are auctioned off. The Remington gun brand is purchased by the Roundhill Group.
Timeline of Events:
1793 Eliphalet Remington II is born in Suffied, CT
1799 Eliphalet the Elder buys land near Litchfield, NY
1810 The Remingtons build a forge on Steele Creek
1816 Eliphalet the Younger builds his first rifle
1825 The Erie Canal Opens
1828 Remington builds his new factory on the banks of the Erie Canal
1845 Remington receives its first military contract
1861 Civil War breaks out in the U.S.
1861 Eliphalet Remington II dies at the age of 67
1862 Remington manufactures their first handgun
1864 Remington begins making sewing machines
1865 The U.S. Civil War ends
1867 Remington introduces the breach loading Rolling Block rifle
1868 Remington begins producing typewriters
1886 Remington sells its typewriter business to former employees
1793 Eliphalet Remington II is born in Suffied, CT
1799 Eliphalet the Elder buys land near Litchfield, NY
1810 The Remingtons build a forge on Steele Creek
1816 Eliphalet the Younger builds his first rifle
1825 The Erie Canal Opens
1828 Remington builds his new factory on the banks of the Erie Canal
1845 Remington receives its first military contract
1861 Civil War breaks out in the U.S.
1861 Eliphalet Remington II dies at the age of 67
1862 Remington manufactures their first handgun
1864 Remington begins making sewing machines
1865 The U.S. Civil War ends
1867 Remington introduces the breach loading Rolling Block rifle
1868 Remington begins producing typewriters
1886 Remington sells its typewriter business to former employees
1888 Remington Family sells the business to Hartley & Graham
1912 Remington Arms and Union Metallic Cartridge merge
1914 World War 1 breaks out in Europe
1915 Contracts from numerous European governments are awarded to Remington, they build two new plants and renovate Ilion Campus.
1920 Remington sells the Bridgeport plant to General Electric
1920 Remington begins making knives, cash registers and household utensils
1926 Remington gets into the garment business
1931 Remington sells cash register business line to National Cash Register Co.
1933 Remington sells 60% of the company to DuPont
1934 Remington purchases Peters Cartridge Co.
1912 Remington Arms and Union Metallic Cartridge merge
1914 World War 1 breaks out in Europe
1915 Contracts from numerous European governments are awarded to Remington, they build two new plants and renovate Ilion Campus.
1920 Remington sells the Bridgeport plant to General Electric
1920 Remington begins making knives, cash registers and household utensils
1926 Remington gets into the garment business
1931 Remington sells cash register business line to National Cash Register Co.
1933 Remington sells 60% of the company to DuPont
1934 Remington purchases Peters Cartridge Co.
1986 Remington closes the Bridgeport UMC plant
1993 DuPont sells Remington to a NY based investment firm of C, D & R.
2007 Remington is acquired by Cerebrus Capital Management
2007 December - Remington purchases Marlin Firearms
2010 Remington introduces the R1 1911 handgun
2016 Remington closes Mayfield, Kentucky plant
2017 CBS produces a hit piece on the model 700 X-mark trigger
2020 March 20 - Remington ordered to close due to COVID-19
2020 July 28 - Remington files for bankruptcy protection
2020 September - An auction is held, and Remington is sold off in 7 different pieces.
2020 October 26 - Remington plant closed due to bankruptcy
2021 May - An agreement is reached between the union and the new owners of Remington and workers are called back to work
2021 November 8 - Remington announced it will move its headquarters to LaGrange, GA
What Remains:
While the old finery forge on Steel Creek is gone, a marker has been placed to keep its history alive
Here is a Google satellite image, you can see the road that crosses Steel Creek is called Remington Road. Between Remington Road and the creek is where the forge stood. The historical marker is placed on the other side of NY route 51
The Remington-UMC factory in Bridgeport was torn down in 2012
The Eddystone plant is all but gone as well, only a few buildings remain. A Walmart takes up much of the space.
The current Remington Ilion plant, built on the remnants of the original 1828 forge still stands.....as for now. It is hard to say what the future will hold for this old factory. As of this writing the new owners (Roundhill Group) has reopened the factory and resumed operations.
Sources
https://www.remingtonsociety.org/the-erie-canal-transports-remingtons-goods/
https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/remington-timeline-1816-remington-is-founded/248396
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/5/16/remington-goes-to-war/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eliphalet-Remington
https://herkimer.nygenweb.net/ilion/earlyilion.html
http://landmarkhunter.com/167898-remington-house/
https://exploringupstate.com/remington-arms-museum-ilion/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Rolling_Block_rifle
https://www.al.com/business/2014/02/198_years_in_the_gun_business.html
http://americanshootingjournal.com/the-history-of-remington/
Bankrupt Remington Sold Off: Here Are The Winners - Pew Pew Tactical
https://www.ammoland.com/2019/10/this-day-in-history-gun-maker-eliphalet-remington-is-born/?utm_source=Ammoland+Subscribers&utm_campaign=a8ee7c2c74-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6f6fac3eaa-a8ee7c2c74-20676141
https://books.google.com/books?id=cSYu0x8JCRoC&pg=PR29&lpg=PR29&dq=where+was+remington's+first+forge&source=bl&ots=f4rXyxWi8s&sig=ACfU3U3HbOZY7xm69JIpKyHCPf_FDNddcg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-4O7Pk7_lAhUJt54KHfDMDqM4ChDoATANegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=where%20was%20remington's%20first%20forge&f=false
https://www.ammoland.com/2019/10/this-day-in-history-gun-maker-eliphalet-remington-is-born/?utm_source=Ammoland+Subscribers&utm_campaign=a8ee7c2c74-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6f6fac3eaa-a8ee7c2c74-20676141
https://books.google.com/books?id=cSYu0x8JCRoC&pg=PR29&lpg=PR29&dq=where+was+remington's+first+forge&source=bl&ots=f4rXyxWi8s&sig=ACfU3U3HbOZY7xm69JIpKyHCPf_FDNddcg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-4O7Pk7_lAhUJt54KHfDMDqM4ChDoATANegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=where%20was%20remington's%20first%20forge&f=false
No comments:
Post a Comment