There were several companies already contracted to make weapons and other war materials for the UK, France and Russia, but our own armories would not be able to take on the task.
This led the War Department to look at alternatives for manufacturing weapons. Companies that made complex machined parts were tasked with making guns, these included Union Switch & Signal, Rockola Juke Box, Remington-Rand Typewriter Company among others.
One of those companies that was sought out was the Singer Sewing Machine Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Singer was founded by Isaac Singer in 1873, he purchased 32 acres of land on the bay in Elizabeth New Jersey and soon took over the sewing machine market.
During World War I Singer was contracted to make 75mm canons.
In 1939 with another war looming on the horizon, Singer was provided with funds for a feasibility project, the Army asked if Singer could produce the 1911A1 pistol at a rate of 100 guns per hour.
After the machinery was set-up, an order came through for 500 pistols (W-ORD-396), Singer produced the pistols no problem, but they could not produce them fast enough.
This led the Army to seek out other companies that could meet the demand.
The pistols produced by Singer were of very high quality and the company was subsequently asked to produce other machine parts that needed a high degree of precision.
What Remains
The machinery was shipped off to Remington-Rand and/or Ithaca Gun Company for 1911 production.
After the war Singer went back to making sewing machines, in 1982 after 109 years, the factory was closed.
Most of the factory buildings still stand on Trumbull/Pueblo Plaza streets.
view from Trumbull Street
overhead view showing how large the complex was.
A view from the water
The 500 1911A1 pistols produced by Singer were distributed among the Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) and very few exist today.
The one pictured above was recovered from a B-24 wreck in Iceland in 1943, it is the most pristine example of a Singer M1911A1. Note the mfg mark and city.
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