Colt’s Patent Firearms Mfg Factory Photo Tour Hartford, CT. July, 1942. ~ Image Vault

AmmoLand Image Vault Series

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Welcome to the AmmoLand News image vault. Here is where we dig deep into some of our collection of historic firearms photos for our readers to enjoy. In this series, we visit the Colt’s Patent Firearms Mfg. Co., Hartford, Conn. July 1942.

These images feature the production of wartime machine guns and handguns of various calibers. Images and comments are by era photographer Andreas Feininger from the United States Office Of War Information and preserved on Nitrate negatives. AmmoLand Editors have reprocessed and digitally enhanced these photos so you can better see the details and imagery of these important photos. Be sure and click on each image for full-size images views.

This is the first time these images are being seen in print in sixty plus years. If you like this series please leave us feedback in the comments if you would like to see more vintage photo digs like this.

Production Colt 45-Caliber Pistols: Production. 45-caliber pistols. John Ignacek pierces trigger hole guards on .45-caliber automatic pistols in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms. The plant produces pistols, machine guns and other weapons that will soon be spreading trouble for the Axis. Many men and women are employed in this plant which produces pistols, machine guns and other essential weapons for the armed forces.

Production Machine Guns: Machine guns of various calibers. Walter Newman, the operator of a high-speed lathe in a large firearms plant, performs an operation on the barrel of a machine gun. Many women workers are also employed in this plant in producing essential weapons for the armed forces.

Production 45-Caliber Automatic Pistols: Anthony Freda drills the barrels of .45-caliber automatic pistols in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms. Many men and women are employed in this plant which produces pistols, machine guns, and other essential weapons for the armed forces.

More Production 45-Caliber Automatic Pistols: William Watson gauges and inspects barrel drilling holes on .45-caliber automatic pistols in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms. Many men and women are employed herein producing pistols, machine guns and other essential weapons for the armed forces.

Production Machine Gun Barrels: Machine guns of various calibers. High-speed lathe operators in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms perform precision operations on the barrels of machine guns.

Production Grinding Trunnion Blocks: Machine guns of various calibers. Grinding trunnion blocks for .50-caliber machine guns, produced in a large Eastern plant. Note how the operators are protected by respirators.

Production 50 Caliber Machine Gun: Agnes Mahan, bench lathe operator at a large Eastern firearms plant, makes oil drills for .50- caliber machine gun barrels. Many women workers are employed in this plant, producing essential weapons for the armed forces. Note the Colt’s [sic] ID Badge.

Production Bench Lathe Operator: Building machine guns of various calibers. Dorothy Taylor, bench lathe operator at a large Eastern firearms plant, makes oil drills for .50- caliber machine gun barrels.

Production Milling Machine Operator: Mayna Lentz performs a milling machine operation on the pawl pin of a machine gun that will tell the Axis about the superiority of American weapons. This girl operator in a large Eastern plant is one of many women arsenal workers.

Production .38-Caliber Revolvers: Angela Cherubini, hand miller at a large firearms plant, machines bolt holes on the cylinder of .38-caliber revolvers. Many women, as well as men, are employed in this plant which produces machine guns and automatic pistols for the armed forces.

Production Drop Forge Shop Colt’s MFG: In the drop forge shop of a large firearms plant, a skilled operator shapes a forging for the trunnion block of a .50-caliber machine gun.

Production Machine Guns Lathe Work: Miss Newman, operator of a high-speed turret lathe in a large firearms plant, performs an operation on the barrel of a machine gun.

Production Drilling Operator Colt’s MFG: A drilling operation on the pawl pin of a machine gun in a large Eastern plant. This girl operator is one of many women making a direct contribution to the all-important job of keeping our men in the field well armed for the task ahead.

Production 45-Caliber Pistols: Norman Rand forges frames for .45- caliber automatic pistols in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms. Note the drop forge hammer in motion and 45 auto frames piling out the back.

Production Machine Gun Parts: Machining a switch pivot for a machine gun in a large Eastern plant. Women’s hands are playing a prominent role in this plant producing essential weapons.

Production 45-Caliber Automatic Pistol Ejectors: Anna Healey turns and drills butt millings on the ejector of .45-caliber automatic pistols in the plant of a large manufacturer of firearms. This plant produces pistols, machine guns and other weapons that will soon be spreading trouble for the Axis.

If you enjoyed this look back and want to see more let us know in the comments below.

*Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [LC-USE6-D-006258 (b&w film nitrate neg.) LC-DIG-fsa-8b07473 (digital file from original neg.)]

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