AZAndy
Member
An in-house film from Union Switch and Signal about building their 1911 pistols during WWII. No CNC on these bad boys! Silent film shot in 16mm.
For the 1911 history fans
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Corpral_Agarn
Member
Cool!
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
Mizar
Member
There is something, bordering to magical, when you see such a gun made by a bunch of delicate creatures like women, don't you think?
By the way, that ridge on top of the slide forging is so simple and genius that it hurts - a simple solution to a simple problem. I cannot stop admiring at the engineers of the years past.
By the way, that ridge on top of the slide forging is so simple and genius that it hurts - a simple solution to a simple problem. I cannot stop admiring at the engineers of the years past.
Doublehelix
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That was so very cool to watch. Thank you for sharing this.
It is weird to think that most of those people in the video are probably dead by now, or at the very least, are very very old.
Technology has come a long way since then!
It is weird to think that most of those people in the video are probably dead by now, or at the very least, are very very old.
Technology has come a long way since then!
bannockburn
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AZAndy
That was awesome to watch! Really neat to see all the workers at the various milling machines doing all of the necessary operations to turn that raw forging into a 1911 receiver. Thanks for the trip in the Way Back Machine!
That was awesome to watch! Really neat to see all the workers at the various milling machines doing all of the necessary operations to turn that raw forging into a 1911 receiver. Thanks for the trip in the Way Back Machine!
Interesting video. The 1940 vintage pallet truck that was loading the rail car was interesting when compared to current models.
I've seen photos of the rooms where the Garands were made. There were rows and rows of machine tools doing one operation each. I'm sure Union Switch and Signal's shop was similarly equipped.
I've seen photos of the rooms where the Garands were made. There were rows and rows of machine tools doing one operation each. I'm sure Union Switch and Signal's shop was similarly equipped.
Delicate? I think not. Those were strong minded women back then. My mom didn't work there, but she did, like many moms, work during the war (TNT plant). I can assure you she was neither delicate or soft when it was needed.
Good Ol' Boy
Member
Very cool, thanks for sharing.
I think I'd like to have been the guy "testing for accuracy" all day long.
I think I'd like to have been the guy "testing for accuracy" all day long.
gotboostvr
Member
That's my favorite type of talking head commentary...
... none!
That was actually a very interesting video to watch. I found myself more intrested in the period manufacturing techniques and machines (and lack of modern PPE/warning signs etc) than the pistols themselves which is rare indeed.
While the guns themselves are more or less functionally identical nowadays, that factory is just completely outside of my comprehension and scope working in a modern production facility.
... none!
That was actually a very interesting video to watch. I found myself more intrested in the period manufacturing techniques and machines (and lack of modern PPE/warning signs etc) than the pistols themselves which is rare indeed.
While the guns themselves are more or less functionally identical nowadays, that factory is just completely outside of my comprehension and scope working in a modern production facility.
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
Amazing. Wonderful film clip. I don't know if it was joy in their faces. But the was much more resolve painted there than what can be found today. Hands drenched in oil. Metal slivered fingers. Standing on a concrete production floor for ten hour days. Fighting for the right to do so. One would be hard pressed to find a Man to do these Woman's jobs today. Let alone one under the age of thirty.
I feel both Pride and Shame. What so many humans did to ensure freedom. And how some seem to loath freedom today.
Thank you Andy. Excellent footage.
I feel both Pride and Shame. What so many humans did to ensure freedom. And how some seem to loath freedom today.
Thank you Andy. Excellent footage.
Mizar
Member
Walkalong, "delicate" has more meanings than the simple "easily damaged"...
Speedo66
Member
Great video of the war effort. Though I think a modern OSHA inspector would have had a heart attack. Bare hands in with who knows what chemicals in the cutting oils, breathing hot oil fumes coming off the cutting operations with no respirators, and little or no hearing protection for the test firing operations. All on a steady and prolonged basis.
Hopefully they did not cause health problems for these workers in later life, but unfortunately I'm sure they did.
Hopefully they did not cause health problems for these workers in later life, but unfortunately I'm sure they did.
JD Pinardi
Member
That's awsome,
Thanks
JD
Thanks
JD
rskent
Member
Very cool indeed. It amazes me that they got anything done back then. A hundred operations on a frame.
I guess that means a hundred machines and a hundred operators. And a hundred chances to screw up.
A chip or a piece of crud in the wrong place, a worn cutter. I guess that’s why they needed a bit of hand fitting.
Still the groups seemed good.
I guess that means a hundred machines and a hundred operators. And a hundred chances to screw up.
A chip or a piece of crud in the wrong place, a worn cutter. I guess that’s why they needed a bit of hand fitting.
Still the groups seemed good.
Panzerschwein
member
A shame no one seems to make a quality M1911A1 that is a true replica today.
chaim
Member
The first thing I thought was, the youngest of those people would be in their 90s if they are even still with us today.
45_auto
Member
cooldill said:
Hard to imagine anything much closer than a Colt Series 70 Government Model. The slightly taller (but still crappy) sights could be easily changed to the even crappier originals if that makes you happy, not sure what you could do about the roll markings.
http://www.colt.com/Portals/0/Specs/2016/o1970A1CS.pdf
kBob
Member
Thanks for posting this.
While the red sweater was nice it was sort of icing on the cake as it were. I thought it was neat to see the inspectors and testing as well as the cutters. I was not familar with the uniform the Ord inspector was wearing and it was interesting to see her stamp the finished firearm. Learning that the accuracy standard was only a four inch group at 45 feet was a bit of a disappointment, but then that does mean the gun was capable of 100 percent hits on the intended target at 50 yards, the range a GI was expected to make 50 percent hits at. Also the ragged one hole group shown in the example was sort of neat.
US&S's little shot showing how important their other efforts (the rail road switch and signals) were to the war effort was a nice touch on the part of their PR folks as well.
While folks might not like the assumed quality of modern made 1911A1s as much.....consider how much those guns made that way would cost today.......
-kBob
While the red sweater was nice it was sort of icing on the cake as it were. I thought it was neat to see the inspectors and testing as well as the cutters. I was not familar with the uniform the Ord inspector was wearing and it was interesting to see her stamp the finished firearm. Learning that the accuracy standard was only a four inch group at 45 feet was a bit of a disappointment, but then that does mean the gun was capable of 100 percent hits on the intended target at 50 yards, the range a GI was expected to make 50 percent hits at. Also the ragged one hole group shown in the example was sort of neat.
US&S's little shot showing how important their other efforts (the rail road switch and signals) were to the war effort was a nice touch on the part of their PR folks as well.
While folks might not like the assumed quality of modern made 1911A1s as much.....consider how much those guns made that way would cost today.......
-kBob
I can't imaging a better era, not only from manufacturing, inventiveness and togetherness.
Many development in areas of engineering, weaponry, communications, food, aviation, cars are still in use today.
Thanks for the clip, I always take my time to see them.
Many development in areas of engineering, weaponry, communications, food, aviation, cars are still in use today.
Thanks for the clip, I always take my time to see them.
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