Technology used in making original WALKERS

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Oyeboten

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I have been curious about the Machinery and processes used in the manufacture of the 'WALKER' Colts.


I would be just as interested of course, with regard to the Dragoons which followed.


Has enyone ever run across anything on this?


At that time, manufacturers were pretty well having to manage proprietary Machinery, designed and made by them, or, designed by designates, and made to order.


This link, referenced in the WALKER thread, shows an original one in very nice condition -

http://www.juliaauctions.com/auctions/252/selected_highlights.asp



If you click on any of the smaller images, you get a larger sheet of even more images, among which, is one image which shows the progressive twist Rifleing.
 
This doesn't refer to what you ask, but is an interesting read anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Colt
I have read a number of article about the Walker Colts, but to date I don't remember any reference to the machinery which they were manufactured on, however, in the right hand pane of the Wiki article is a reference to Eli Whitney as being the maker.
Hope that helps.

Ray
 
Thanks R.Clem,



So far so good...since any WALKER info and History will be a pleasure to learn about...even if we never find much on the Machinery and Tooling, it will be fun seeing what else may turn up along the way.


Eli Whitney proper, had passed away in 1825.

His Armory was passed on to others, where, looks like it was his son, and, his Nephews made the Walkers -

http://www.eliwhitney.org/new/museum/eli-whitney/family
 
Here is an image of a German Milling Machine of about the right period -

http://www.deutsches-museum.de/uploads/pics/13_40094_300.jpg


http://www.deutsches-museum.de/uploads/pics/13_40094_300.jpg


The early Milling Machines used a Transverse Table on which Work would be held, and, had an adjustable, stationary Cutter, past and under which, the Work would move...this then not being a Rotating Cutter, as later designs introduced.


The Whitneyville Armory, would have had Forging, Foundry, and Machines for subsequent operations upon the Forgings and Casting they would make.

The Contract for the WALKERS was agreed between Mr. Colt and Mr. Walker, including for the Revolvers to be made and delivered within six months...whereupon Mr. Colt then arranged the agreements with the Whitneyville Armory, for 1,000 of them to be made....so, production was accomplished with a very short lead time.
 
I recall reading that during that time of the industrial revolution, much of the machinery was belt driven. The belts receiving their power from a water wheel or steam engine. I believe the Springfield Armory used belt driven machinery also.
 
Waterveilet Armory Arsenal has some very old machinery in their collection. Some are belt driven and would have evolved from the machinery that prevailed in Sam Colt's time.
 
Yes, belt-driven, often by water power, from overhead shafts, and lit by daylight - hence the huge windows and tall ceilings often found in mill buildings of many kinds right up into the early 20th century. OP, this is a cool question and thread.
 
A visit to the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming will allow you to see a barrel rifling machine room removed from the Winchester factory in it's entirety. It looks as though the machines were turned off on friday afternoon and are waiting for the machinists to return and continue their work. Precision machining has been done for several centuries. It required very experienced persons and lots of diligence. Almost any modern handgun (polymer excepted) could have been made by these craftsmen.
 
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